Huqingyutang in Hangzhou is one of the two extremely famous
traditional Chinese medicine stores in China, the other being
Tongrentang in Beijing.
Founded in 1864, Huqingyutang used to be a famous State pharmacy
and workshop devoted to the production of traditional medicine.
Known as a court-style pharmacy, it features a high roof and a
plethora of shelves housing the medicines distributed by the
clinic.
Patients who come to Huqingyutang can watch their prescriptions
being prepared and measured by hand by the pharmacists.
When referring to Huqingyutang, one man can never be forgotten -
Hu Xueyan, the founder of the famous store.
A merchant in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), his illustrious
commercial exploits are often overlooked in the history books in
favor of his status as Hangzhou's renowned man of medicine.
In the late 1800s, life was good for Hu inside the cozy confines
of Hangzhou's most luxurious mansion. Having made a fortune from
the local silk trade, Hu felt confident in his power to do whatever
he wanted.
He quickly poached the best doctors around Hangzhou and built
the imposing headquarters of Huqingyutang, roughly translated as
"Hu the 'auspicious happiness in superabundance' traditional
medicine maker."
Though launched later than Zhangtongtai, the most ancient such
store in Hangzhou, Huqingyutang enjoys far greater popularity in
China's TCM sector.
"Huqingyutang is more famous than Zhangtongtai, because the
founder of Huqingyutang was a mandarin-merchant. He could provide
sufficient capital and a spacious workshop, but the founder of
Zhangtongtai was a poor scholar. So it is reasonable that they grew
stronger than us," said a TCM doctor from Zhangtongtai.
In addition to the stores of Huqingyutang and Zhangtongtai,
there is a newly developed TCM store that is also making a name for
itself in Hangzhou - Guangxingtang Chinese Medicine Hall.
Debuting in November 2005, Guangxingtang is an unassuming center
for the study and application of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Located in the former residence of a government official, the
premises appear more like an artist's abode than the home of a TCM
museum.
It is possible to make an appointment with a TCM doctor in one
of the small, calligraphy-adorned rooms or simply browse the
exhibition hall showcasing ancient texts and TCM equipment. A
special massage room at the medicine hall provides visitors with a
room fragrant with a therapeutic combination of incense and herbs
for traditional healing.
(China Daily November 23, 2007)