[3] "Learning from the West with its advanced science and technology；Invigorating the Chinese nation", Tang had often heard the hometown folks talk about reform and revolution in his childhood.

When China was often called the "sick man of Asia", Tang determined to study medicine science.

[3][4] After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1938, he founded the Central Epidemic Prevention Laboratory in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan province, and served as its director.

[4] After war he established China's first antibiotic research and penicillin production workshop, as well as normal BCG vaccine laboratory.

[3] In 1950 he joined the newly created National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and Biological Products, working as its director.

[3] Tang was denounced and labeled as "capitalist academic authority", "scum of the nation", "a faithful running dog for the Kuomintang reactionaries", "American spy", "International spy", "a large white flag on the socialist positions", "ride on the backs of the people", "pseudo scientist", "sell the interests of his own country".

[6] In 1925, Tang married He Lian (何璉), daughter of He Jian, a warlord and governor of Hunan province.