Special Supplement: Hangzhou: The home of TCM

The West Lake in Hangzhou is not only famed for its serenity, but has also been home to noted scholars, artists, and national heroes for centuries. Today, a host of restored former residences stand as shrines of remembrance to the achievements of those celebrated historical figures. Among them is the legendary merchant Hu Xueyan of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), who is widely commemorated for his status as Hangzhou's noted man of medicine.

Hu was the founder and owner of Hu Qing Yu Tang drugstore, one of the most renowned TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) drugstores in China. Today, the beautifully preserved Qing Dynasty architecture of the original building serves as the location of Hangzhou's Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum.

Situated at the foot of Wushan hill on the southeast of the West Lake, this museum is the first of its kind in the country, with an area of more than 4,000 sq m. It comprises an exhibition hall, a healthcare clinic, a pharmacy, a sales department and a restaurant serving medicinal diets.