From early imperial rarities to widely loved everyday products embraced by households across the nation, and from "Made in Guangdong" to "Smart Manufacturing" leading the way — the meaning of "Guangdong Goods" has continually evolved with the times, reaching far beyond the province and gaining popularity nationwide.

The northward journey of southern medicinal herbs can be traced back to Ge Hong of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. According to the Book of Jin, Ge Hong lived in Guangzhou for many years, bringing Central Plains medicine to the Lingnan region.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, southern Chinese herbal medicine flourished, with numerous effective remedies emerging. However, their short shelf life made large-scale northward distribution difficult. In the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, Chen Liji — founded during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty — pioneered the wax-shell pill encapsulation process. This technique involved mixing beeswax and wood wax, casting it into shells, cutting them into hemispheres, encasing the pills inside, and sealing them with wax. This innovation extended the shelf life of medicines from months to years, enabling large-scale distribution of products like Wuji Baifeng Pills and Shexiang Pills across the country.

By the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty, Chen Liji's pills were widely recognized as superior domestic remedies. Chen Liji (Xinghetang) in Guangdong, Tongrentang in Beijing, and Huqingyutang in Hangzhou were known as China's three great "medicine halls" of the era.

Source: Guangzhou Daily
English Author & Editor: Wen Junhua