Tong Tianhe Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop
This century-old pharmacy, located at No. 60 Daxin Street, is the renowned Tong Tianhe Traditional Chinese Medicine Shop.
The original Shikumen stone-gate entrance is still preserved, with the shop name “Tong Tianhe Guoyaohao” (Tong Tianhe National Pharmacy) elegantly inscribed above the door. On either side of the entrance, two embossed wooden signboards read “Tong Tianhe Hall – Medicinal Herbs from All Provinces.”
The shop was renovated and its golden-lettered signboard was re-engraved in the 3rd year of the Guangxu Reign of the Qing dynasty (1877). By the 16th year of Guangxu (1890), the Tong family owner expanded its capital by adding 12 new shares from relatives in their hometown of Ningbo, making it the largest pharmacy in Zhujiajiao, with assets surpassing one-third of the town’s total pharmaceutical trade.
Tong Tianhe gained widespread fame for its commitment to sourcing authentic medicinal herbs, operating its own workshops, and meticulously processing herbal decoctions. The skilled pharmacists were renowned for their precise knife techniques and mastery in preparing traditional remedies, including Six-God Pills, Marching Powder, and Ginseng Rejuvenation Pills, among other pills, powders, plasters, and elixirs.
Over the years, the pharmacy invited renowned physicians to consult and prescribe on-site, creating a perfect synergy of “master doctors and fine medicines” that drew patients from far and wide.
In 1956, the shop was nationalized during the public-private partnership reforms. In 1986, its original name was restored, along with its traditions of on-site herbal prescriptions and consultations with veteran TCM doctors.
In the summer of 2000, Tong Tianhe underwent a comprehensive restoration, bringing back its Qing-dynasty appearance and showcasing unique traditional pharmaceutical tools. Today, it is not only a functioning pharmacy but also an important tourist attraction in Zhujiajiao Ancient Town, offering visitors a glimpse into the heritage of traditional Chinese medicine.
