A shorter route to answers
Some hospitals offer rapid access to imaging and laboratory reports. Confirm the actual appointment and report date before booking your trip.
See details and evidence ↗YOUR JOURNEY, CONNECTED
Medical tourism in China.
Clarity at every step.
Your China medical guide for a planned visit: compare hospitals, prepare reports and coordinate appointments. Explore medical tourism in China and fit your hospital visit into a China tour after the hospital confirms arrangements.
Official sources. Clear service scope. No obligation.
Shanghai, China
Less uncertainty. More understanding.
Support across languages and borders.
Information you can check
Direct links to official hospital sources.
Help with the practical details
Appointments, language and visit coordination.
You stay in control
Agree on the scope and fee before paid work.
WHY CONSIDER CARE IN CHINA
Specialist care. More possibilities for your time and budget.
A well-planned visit can bring consultations, tests and follow-up closer together. Compare the hospital, the care pathway and the complete trip—not just the headline price.
10.15 billion care encounters
China’s 2024 national total reflects a large clinical system. These are visits, not unique patients or proof of a doctor’s quality; assess experience with your condition.
See details and evidence ↗Public tariffs worth comparing
Published Shanghai tertiary-hospital base tariffs translate to about US$28 for CT and US$64 for MRI. International care, extras and travel change the final total.
See details and evidence ↗Access to Chinese medicine
Explore clinician-led acupuncture and Chinese medicine consultations. Evidence differs by treatment and condition; discuss suitability with a qualified practitioner.
See details and evidence ↗PLAN WITH REAL EXAMPLES
What can you save in time and cost?
Examples checked 29 September 2026. They cover specific providers and different care pathways; they do not establish a national league table. Confirm a personal quote and available dates.
| Care step | China · published example | United Kingdom · published reference |
|---|---|---|
| MRI · access to a scan | A March 2026 Shanghai government report describes a Jinshan Hospital patient sometimes obtaining an MRI on the day of booking. This is a reported experience, not a waiting-time statistic. Chinese source ↗ | Royal Cornwall NHS Trust: 90% of patients receive MRI within 8 weeks (1 September 2026). One UK trust, not a UK average. NHS source ↗ |
| CT · report after the scan | Lanling County People’s Hospital publishes a 2-hour routine CT reporting target; appointment waiting is separate. Chinese source ↗ | NHS patient guidance says CT results usually arrive in 1–2 weeks, sometimes up to 4. This includes communicating results, not just producing a radiology report. NHS source ↗ |
| Blood tests · results | Lanling publishes 30 minutes for a blood count and same-day routine biochemistry. Specialist tests take longer. Chinese source ↗ | NHS guidance: results may take a few days, usually within a few weeks. Different panels and clinical-review steps make this an illustration, not a matched speed comparison. NHS source ↗ |
| Planned surgery | Request a date after specialist review, pre-operative tests and bed confirmation. We have no verified comparable national waiting-time figure and cannot promise surgery within days. | England’s NHS has an 18-week referral-to-treatment right, with exceptions. This is a service standard, not the average surgery wait or a guaranteed booking. NHS source ↗ |
The US can also be fast: Georgia Health Imaging advertises MRI and CT appointments within the same week. Availability, insurance authorization and test type matter more than a country-wide promise. UK figures above do not represent all of Europe. US provider ↗
| Provider / pricing pathway | CT · one area, no contrast | MRI · one area, no contrast | Scope and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai · published tertiary-hospital tariff | ≈ US$28 | ≈ US$64 | 2025 base tariff, per body area, before add-ons. Includes reporting and digital imaging. Not an international-department package; confirm eligibility and the current total. Shanghai Healthcare Security Bureau · PDF ↗ |
| US · Nashville Healthcare Diagnostic Imaging | US$300 | US$500 | Published self-pay prices without contrast, including facility and reading costs. Physician order required. Provider price list ↗ |
| UK · Somerset NHS Parkside private care | ≈ US$536 | ≈ US$606 | One body area; includes scanning and consultant fees. Contrast is extra. These are private prices, not what eligible NHS patients pay. Parkside price list ↗ |
These examples suggest potential savings on public-hospital imaging, not a guaranteed saving on a trip. Add consultation, contrast or specialist sequences, translation, flights, accommodation and follow-up. Blood-test panels and surgical packages require itemised, like-for-like quotes; no verified comparable total is shown here. Currency reference · 2026-09-28 ↗
Acupuncture and herbal medicine: choose by evidence
Acupuncture may help some chronic pain conditions. Evidence for Chinese herbal products is mixed; interactions and product quality matter. Discuss all medicines with a qualified clinician and keep necessary conventional care.
US NIH · NCCIH evidence overview ↗Build your visit around care, then travel
Leave space for results and follow-up. Plan sightseeing and the return flight around your clinician’s advice, particularly after surgery. Your written plan should show confirmed care dates, recovery time and the full budget.
Plan my visit ↗ More planning guidance ↗FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Get to know your hospital options.
BeijingPUMCHPublic university hospital
International Medical Services
Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Explore the hospital’s international patient pathway and its official English booking options.
View hospitalShanghaiSUFHPrivate general hospital
Changning campus
Shanghai United Family Hospital
A general hospital with an international care environment. Confirm the department, language and fees before booking.
View hospitalDirectory listings are informational and do not imply a partnership or endorsement.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
Clear information before you travel.
START WITH YOUR NEEDS
Find a hospital by specialty.
Already have a diagnosis?
Start with a condition guide to prepare your questions and hospital enquiry.
Browse condition guides ↗01
Tell us what you need
Share a brief summary and how to reach you.
02
Understand the next steps
We discuss the available support and a written quote.
03
Prepare for your visit
Proceed only once the hospital and service details are confirmed.
CHINA MEDICAL GUIDE
Planning a China tour with a medical visit?
Medical tourism in China begins with confirmed hospital information, the right reports and time for follow-up. Use our China medical guide to prepare questions, compare cities and understand coordination fees before arranging travel.
BEFORE YOUR FIRST ENQUIRY
Questions worth asking first.
Can I contact the hospital directly?
Yes. Hospital profiles link to official information. Our paid coordination is optional; agree on its scope and price before it begins.
How do I choose between a specialty and a condition guide?
Use a condition guide when you already have a diagnosis. Specialty guides help you compare contact routes. If unsure, ask the hospital to direct your enquiry.
Is medical care in China always cheaper?
No. The total depends on the hospital, service pathway, investigations and follow-up, plus travel and accommodation. Compare written estimates for the same scope of care.
Does an enquiry confirm an appointment?
No. We record your request for coordination. The hospital must confirm the clinician, date, clinic and admission requirements separately.
Not sure where to begin?
Start with a conversation. No payment to submit an enquiry.