Cities for medical care in China: Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen

The three cities we cover

We chose these three because each has a government programme for international medical services and direct international flights. That is a practical filter, not a judgement that other cities are worse.

How the cities differ

Shanghai

Shanghai designated 13 public hospitals as international medical tourism pilots in September 2024, and is also a trial area for fully foreign-owned hospitals. It is where our first hospital research is concentrated. Read the Shanghai guide.

Beijing

Beijing began an international medical initiative in 2019. Press reports put participation at around 20 hospitals now. Its two main airports are far apart, which matters if you are planning a short stay. Read the Beijing guide.

Shenzhen

Shenzhen's advantage is position: many visitors fly into Hong Kong and cross by land. Guangdong named its first international medical service pilot hospitals in March 2026, four of them in Shenzhen. Read the Shenzhen guide.

Choosing a city

Start from the care, not the city. If a specific specialist or hospital is the reason for your trip, the city follows. If you need routine planned care such as a health checkup or a scan, choose the city that is easiest to reach and where you can find a hospital that answers in your language. Then check the visa route for your passport and port of entry, and how you will pay the hospital.

Two practical points are easy to miss. First, the 240-hour visa-free transit policy applies only at listed ports and within designated areas, and it does not list treatment as a purpose. Second, international departments in all three cities usually ask for an insurance card and a guarantee letter if you want direct billing; see preparing for a hospital visit.

Questions to settle before choosing a city

1. Which airport or land port will I enter through, and does my entry permission cover it?
2. How far is the hospital from the airport, and how long will the transfer take on arrival day?
3. Does the hospital in this city answer emails in my language?
4. If I need a follow-up visit, how easy is it to return to this city?
5. Where will I stay, and how will I get to early-morning appointments?

Guides that apply in every city

• Which visa do you need for medical treatment in China?China's visa-free and transit rules list tourism, business and family visits, not treatment. What the official texts say and what to ask the embassy.
• How to pay for medical care in China as a visitorHow visitors pay Chinese hospitals: mobile payment limits since 2024, international cards, cash, insurance direct billing and guarantee letters.
• Preparing for a hospital visit in China: documents and stepsWhat to bring to a Chinese hospital as a visitor: passport, translated records, insurance letters. How booking and registration work, and what to ask.

Frequently asked questions

Which city has the most international hospitals?

We do not have a reliable national count by city, so we do not rank them. Shanghai has a named list of 13 public pilot hospitals; Beijing reports around 20 hospitals in its programme.

Is Shenzhen a good choice if I fly into Hong Kong?

It can be, because you can cross by land. Check that your entry permission covers the land port you plan to use.

Will you add other cities?

Yes, once we can verify hospitals there. Guangzhou and Chengdu are next on our list.

Sources

1. 240-hour visa-free transit extended to 57 countries and 65 ports, Xinhua (relaying National Immigration Administration), 20 Aug 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026. Official announcement relayed by state media; original NIA notice not located.
2. China Draws Growing Number of Medical Tourists Seeking Faster, Cheaper Care, Yicai Global, 15 Jan 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026.
3. China's AI healthcare and medical tourism, TravelMole, 1 Jun 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026. Relays National Health Commission annual report.
4. Guangdong names international medical service pilot hospitals, Shenzhen Government Online, 1 Mar 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026.
5. How can I get medical treatment in China?, China Daily (chinaservicesinfo.com), 14 Aug 2025. Read 19 Oct 2026. Date taken from the URL.

Related

• Hospitals in China for international patientsHow we choose which Chinese hospitals to profile, what each profile shows, how public and international departments differ, and which questions to ask first.
• Medical costs in China: prices we can sourceMedical prices in China we can trace to a source: public hospital price caps, US survey medians and patient accounts, each labelled with what it leaves out.
• Which visa do you need for medical treatment in China?China's visa-free and transit rules list tourism, business and family visits, not treatment. What the official texts say and what to ask the embassy.
• Guides to planning medical care in ChinaPractical guides for patients planning care in China: which visa to apply for, how to pay a Chinese hospital, and what to bring to your first appointment.