“Cure-all pills” might sound like a modern marketing gimmick. But at Li Chung Shing Tong Ancestral Shop it represents a century-old legacy. We are standing in front of the place where it all began.
Li Chung Shing Tong Ancestral Shop holds the secrets to Po Chai Pills. These tiny brown spheres have offered relief for generations. They address everything from indigestion to hangovers.
Let’s step back to 1896. Li Shiu Kei founded Li Chung Shing Tong in Foshan during the Qing dynasty. It was located at Man Ming Lane of Foshan Ancestral Temple Street. He started by selling Puji tea. This herbal tea used a special recipe. Mr. Lee offered herbs or herbal tea for free to locals with gastrointestinal issues.
He then created Po Chai Pills. The pills quickly gained popularity. Locals and traveling merchants valued their effectiveness. They treated diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, indigestion, and cold symptoms. Li Chung Shing Tong remained committed to the community despite its success. It actively supported education and charity. They frequently donated medicines to those in need.
After the Chinese Civil War, the Li family moved to Hong Kong. They re-established their company. The mainland property was nationalized. Now, two manufacturers produce Po Chai Pills. Li Chung Shing Tong is in Hong Kong. Guangzhou Wanglaoji Pharmaceutical Company is in Guangzhou. Each has their own market.
Jacobson Pharma bought Li Chung Shing Tong in 2010. By then, Po Chai Pills was a household name. Around 90% of people in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Macau knew them.
The recipe includes 14 traditional ingredients. The manufacturing process has been revamped. A pharmacist named Kevin Chu oversaw the changes. The factory now produces 10 million boxes of Po Chai Pills each year.
Po Chai Pills even uses pop singer Angela Yuen Lai-lam in commercials. These target younger consumers. The packaging features modern graphic designs.
The product range will expand. New lines will focus on gastrointestinal problems. People say if there are Chinese people, there are Po Chai Pills. Now that’s quite a statement.
Li Chung Shing Tong believes in “performing duties from the heart”. This belief has been passed down through generations. Po Chai Pills is renowned domestically and internationally. The company integrates technology with tradition. It constantly refines its products. Po Chai Pills are 100% Hong Kong made. It is a family medicine that has been trusted for over a century.