Zhangtongtai Pharmacy

Zhangtongtai Pharmacy

Zhangtongtai Pharmacy is a protected cultural heritage site of Hangzhou.

The founder of Zhangtongtai Pharmacy, Zhang Mei, was a native of Cixi, Zhejiang. In the fifth year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1800), he opened the Maochang Pharmacy under the Xin Gong Bridge in Hangzhou. In the tenth year of Jiaqing, he acquired Shen Tongtai Pharmacy and renamed it Zhang Tongtai. In the early years of the Xianfeng reign, he purchased over four acres of land to expand Zhang Tongtai into one of the premier pharmacies in Hangzhou, and also established Yiyuan Ginseng branches in areas such as Xue’erhexia. Zhang Tongtai produced various pills, powders, ointments, elixirs, and medicinal wines, earning a prestigious reputation in the Hangzhou–Jiaxing–Huzhou region. It was ranked alongside Hu Qingyu Tang and Ye Zhongde Tang as one of the “Three Great Pharmacies of Hangzhou.” In the first year of the Republic of China, after extensive renovations, the new pharmacy building was completed, and the stone gate wall was rebuilt, featuring the “Wanxiang” trademark. The gilded characters “Zhang Tongtai” shone brightly, and copper plaques reading “Zhang Tongtai Authentic Medicinals” hung on either side of the entrance. The pharmacy produced over 360 varieties of traditional proprietary medicines. During the Cultural Revolution, the carved plaques, inscriptions, and decorative features of the Zhang Tongtai storefront were all destroyed, and the pharmacy was renamed Chun Guang Pharmacy. The original building covered an area of 2,596 square meters. In 1981, part of the structure was converted into housing for a pharmaceutical station. The street-facing storefront retained its original appearance, but most of the rear buildings had been demolished. In 1988, the original name “Zhangtongtai Pharmacy” was restored.

Protected Area: East to the west curb line of Zhongshan North Road, south to the northern boundary of the 6-story and 7-story buildings, west to the east curb line of Yongfeng Lane, north to the southern curb line of Haier Lane, with a total area of 1,560 square meters.

Construction Control Zone: East to the eastern boundary of the 17-story and 18-story podium buildings, south to approximately 20 meters beyond the protected area, west to the western boundary of the 7-story building, north to the southern boundary of the 7-story building, with a total area of 11,088 square meters.