It operates 8,000 stores and 1,500 pharmacies in 15 Asian and European markets, including Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, mainland China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Known as the "Big Medicine Shop" (Chinese: 大藥房; Cantonese: Dai Yeuk Fong), the dispensary's main customers were soldiers and sailors.

Located in Beijing's newly opened Palace Hotel, the shop's products were all shipped from Hong Kong, and were therefore for sale in foreign exchange certificates only.

The Palace Hotel was partly owned by the People's Liberation Army, which required all shop staff to complete a month-long boot camp.

[12] Watsons personal care stores were subsequently opened in Malaysia (1994), Thailand (1996), and a revival in the Philippines (2002) after 92 years.

[18] As of 2021, there are around 8,000 stores and more than 1,500 pharmacies in 14 Asian and European markets, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.