City guide
Medical care in Shanghai for international patients
Shanghai is where we start. It has two international airports, a large foreign community, and a government pilot that lets selected public hospitals run international medical services.
Hospital profiles in Shanghai
The public hospital pilot
In September 2024 Shanghai designated 13 public hospitals, including Huashan Hospital and Ruijin Hospital, as pilot units for international medical tourism. Reporting in January 2026 described double-digit growth in overseas patients at international departments since 2024, with more than half receiving inpatient care or surgery.
A profile goes live only after we have confirmed, from the hospital itself, that its international department accepts patients from abroad, which languages its staff actually use, and how appointments are made. Read how we verify, or the hospital index for all cities.
Foreign-owned hospitals
Shanghai is one of nine trial areas where fully foreign-owned hospitals may now be set up, under national rules issued in late 2024. These hospitals are another option alongside public hospital international departments. We will list them on the same terms once we have checked them.
Shanghai at a glance
| Topic | What to know | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Airports | Pudong (PVG) for most international flights; Hongqiao (SHA) closer to the centre and the high-speed rail station. | City comparison |
| Entry | Shanghai has ports under the 240-hour transit policy, but treatment is not a listed purpose. | Visa guide |
| Payment | National rules apply; international departments may bill insurers directly. | Payment guide |
| Prices | No city-specific price list yet; one patient reported about CNY 30,000 for hip surgery in Shanghai. | Costs |
| Kinds of care | Checkups, imaging, dental and eye care suit a short trip. | Treatments |
Campuses and districts
Several of Shanghai's large public hospitals run more than one campus, sometimes in different districts. An international department is usually based at one of them. When a hospital confirms your appointment, ask for the full address of the campus and the building, and book your hotel from that, not from the hospital's head office address.
Getting around
Pudong airport is far from the city centre, so allow time on arrival day. If your hospital is in central Shanghai, a hotel nearby saves early-morning stress. Check the hospital's address on its profile before booking accommodation.
What we are checking next
- Which pilot hospitals take direct bookings from patients abroad, and which ask for a referral or coordinator.
- Published prices for health checkup packages at international departments.
- Payment methods that work for visitors without a Chinese bank account at each hospital.
Compare Shanghai with Beijing and Shenzhen, and read what to bring to your appointment.
Planning a Shanghai trip, step by step
- Pick the care and the hospital first. Use the profiles above and the treatments page. Ask the international department for written confirmation of your date.
- Choose your airport. Pudong has most long-haul flights; Hongqiao is closer to the centre if you connect from elsewhere in China.
- Sort your entry route. Ask the embassy which visa applies; do not rely on transit rules for treatment.
- Set up payment. Link your card to a mobile wallet before you leave and test it.
- Book a hotel near the campus. Large hospitals have several campuses; confirm the address of yours.
Guides for your trip
- 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.
Questions to ask a Shanghai hospital
- Is your international department part of the Shanghai pilot, and does it accept patients from abroad?
- Which campus will I be seen at, and what is the exact address?
- Which languages do your doctors use in consultations?
- Do you bill my insurer directly?
- Can you send a written estimate before I travel?
Frequently asked questions
Which Shanghai hospitals are in the international medical pilot?
Shanghai named 13 public hospitals in September 2024, including Huashan and Ruijin. We publish profiles once each hospital confirms its details.
Which airport is better for hospital visits?
Hongqiao is closer to the centre; Pudong has most international flights. It depends on your flight and hospital location.
Can I see a doctor in English in Shanghai?
Many international departments offer English, but we confirm languages hospital by hospital before publishing.
Sources
- China Draws Growing Number of Medical Tourists Seeking Faster, Cheaper Care, Yicai Global, 15 Jan 2026. Read 19 Oct 2026.
- New rules on fully foreign-owned hospitals, Shanghai Municipal People's Government, 2 Dec 2024. Read 19 Oct 2026.