Medically reviewed by Dr. Wang, Medical Editor, ChinaCureLink
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Introduction
China has more than 38,000 hospitals, but international patients usually choose from a small group: Grade 3A public teaching hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, plus a few private international hospitals. The right choice depends on the condition, the city, the hospital's international department and how the patient will pay.
International patients have been coming to Chinese hospitals in growing numbers. Major hospitals recorded about 1.28 million international patient visits in 2025, 73.6% more than three years earlier. Patient numbers from Europe and North America doubled over the same period.
This guide explains how the hospital system in China is organised, which hospitals international patients most often consider, and what to check before choosing one.
How the Hospital System in China Works
The hospital system in China is mostly public. The large public hospitals are usually affiliated with a medical university, so they combine treatment, teaching and research. Private hospitals and international clinics sit alongside them, mainly in the largest cities.
Public, Private and International Hospitals
Type | What it is | Best suited for |
Public teaching hospital (Grade 3A) | Large university-affiliated hospital with hundreds of specialists | Complex diagnosis, cancer, surgery, rare diseases |
International department of a public hospital | A separate service inside a public hospital, with English booking and higher fees | International patients who want top specialists with language support |
Private international hospital | Privately owned hospital with Western-style service and English-speaking staff | Routine care, smaller procedures, patients who want direct insurance billing |
Specialist hospital | Single-specialty hospital (cancer, eye, chest, children) | Patients whose condition matches the specialty |
Hospital Grades and What Grade 3A Means
Chinese hospitals are graded on three levels by their size, services, teaching and research. Each level is divided into A, B and C, and Grade 3A is the top rating.
Grade | Typical size | Role |
Grade 1 (primary) | Fewer than 100 beds | Township and community care, prevention, basic treatment |
Grade 2 (secondary) | 100 to 499 beds | City, county or district hospital with general specialties |
Grade 3 (tertiary) | More than 500 beds | City, provincial or national referral hospital with full specialist care, teaching and research |
To reach Grade 3A, a tertiary hospital must score at least 900 points out of 1,000 in its evaluation. At the end of 2023 there were 1,795 Grade 3A hospitals in mainland China. For international patients, Grade 3A is a useful first filter, but it is not enough on its own: the hospital also needs a strong team for the specific condition and a working international service.
Table of Contents
Top Public Hospitals in China for International Patients
The hospitals below are Grade 3A teaching hospitals that appear at or near the top of China's national rankings, or that run designated international services. Each has a dedicated international department or international medical centre.
Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Beijing)
Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) is ranked first in China's best-known national hospital ranking, published every year by Fudan University's Hospital Management Institute. It is known for diagnosing complex and rare diseases and for its multidisciplinary consultations. PUMCH is one of the 17 international medical service providers listed in Beijing's official Medical Guide for Foreigners.
West China Hospital of Sichuan University (Chengdu)
West China Hospital ranked second in the Fudan national ranking for 12 consecutive years, and it ranks first among Chinese healthcare institutions in the Nature Index for research output. It is one of the largest hospitals in the world by capacity. Patients come for complex surgery, critical care and transplantation.
Ruijin Hospital (Shanghai)
Ruijin Hospital is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and is one of Shanghai's designated pilot hospitals for international medical services. It is known for endocrinology, haematology and blood cancer treatment, including CAR-T cell therapy.
Huashan Hospital, Fudan University (Shanghai)
Huashan Hospital is a national centre for neurology and neurosurgery, and it is also one of Shanghai's pilot hospitals for international patients. Its international department reports a steady rise in overseas patients, and robotic surgical equipment is part of what draws them.
Renji Hospital (Shanghai)
Renji Hospital is known for liver transplantation, including living-donor transplants for children. In September 2025 its team performed a living-donor liver transplant on an infant from Mongolia.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou)
The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU) runs international services on two campuses. The Nansha campus has a dedicated international medical centre building with 17 consultation rooms and 150 beds. Under the Greater Bay Area policy, the hospital can also use certain drugs and devices already approved in Hong Kong and Macao.
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou)
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center is China's largest public eye hospital. In 2025 it recorded 7,353 outpatient visits and 336 inpatient procedures from international patients, mainly from the Americas, Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe. It has direct billing agreements with more than ten domestic and international insurers.
Private and International Hospitals in China
Private international hospitals offer English-speaking staff, Western-style service and, in many cases, direct billing with international insurers. They suit routine care, check-ups and many planned procedures. For complex cancer, transplant or rare-disease cases, the most experienced specialist teams are usually in the large public hospitals.
United Family Healthcare runs hospitals and clinics in several cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
Jiahui International Hospital (Shanghai) treated a New Zealand patient with a solid tumour using CAR-T cell therapy in 2026. That case is covered in the CCL solid tumour CAR-T case study.
Other private and joint-venture hospitals operate in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Chongqing. Service levels vary, so each one should be checked on its own merits.
Leading Hospitals by City
City | Hospitals international patients often consider | Known for | Read more |
Beijing | Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking University International Hospital, United Family | Rare and complex diseases, national referral centres | |
Shanghai | Ruijin, Huashan, Renji, Zhongshan, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Jiahui | Cancer, CAR-T, neurology, transplantation | |
Guangzhou | First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital | Eye care, Greater Bay Area drug access | |
Chengdu | West China Hospital of Sichuan University | Complex surgery, critical care, transplantation |
Programmes for International Patients
Several Chinese regions now run official programmes that designate hospitals for international patients:
Beijing launched its international medical initiative in 2019 with seven hospitals, and about 20 hospitals take part now. A city guide lists 125 hospitals that offer full foreign-language services, and 28 institutions accept English booking through the "Jingtong" mini-program.
Shanghai has designated 13 public hospitals, including Ruijin and Huashan, as pilot hospitals for international medical services. It also introduced China's first provincial-level standard for international medical services.
Guangdong named its first 25 pilot hospitals for international medical services in March 2026. Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, for example, runs 2 outpatient clinics and 54 inpatient beds for international patients.
International services run separately from routine public hospital care and charge higher fees. Under national rules they may make up less than 10% of a hospital's services, so places can be limited.
Visa rules have also eased. Citizens of 57 countries can use the 240-hour visa-free transit policy when travelling on to a third country. Planned treatment usually needs a visa, and the rules depend on nationality, so patients should check with the Chinese embassy or consulate before booking.
How to Choose a Hospital in China
The best hospital in China overall is not always the best hospital for a particular patient. International patients get better results by working through these questions in order:
Condition first. Which department or specialist team has the most experience with this diagnosis? National rankings measure the whole hospital, not each specialty.
Hospital type. Does the case need a large public teaching hospital, a specialist hospital (cancer, eye, chest) or a private international hospital?
International service. Does the hospital have an international department with English booking, interpreters and a coordinator?
Treatment access. Is the required treatment or clinical trial available to international patients at this hospital?
Payment. Does the hospital bill the patient's insurer directly, or will the patient pay first and claim afterwards? See the guide to medical insurance in China.
Follow-up. How will results, prescriptions and follow-up care continue after the patient returns home?
What to Expect When Going Directly to a Chinese Hospital
Some international patients contact Chinese hospitals on their own. It can work, but patients should know the limits before they travel:
Language. International departments speak English, but specialist wards, test reports and discharge papers are often in Chinese only.
Finding the right specialist. Hospital websites rarely say which doctor leads which treatment, and it is hard to compare teams across hospitals from abroad.
Medical records. Scans, pathology slides and reports from home usually need translating, and some tests may be repeated on arrival.
Booking and waiting. International departments have limited places, and appointment systems often require a Chinese phone number or app login.
Treatment decisions on arrival. Without a review before travel, a patient may find on arrival that the planned treatment is not suitable.
Payment. Many hospitals ask for a deposit before admission, and direct billing works only with partner insurers.
After returning home. Follow-up, ongoing prescriptions and communication with the home doctor are usually left to the patient.
How a Medical Facilitator Helps
A medical facilitator such as ChinaCureLink works on the patient's side, not the hospital's. Applying is free, and the process starts with a free advisory call. ChinaCureLink then compares up to three suitable hospitals for the patient's condition and arranges a video second opinion with a Chinese specialist before any travel. Only after the patient decides to go ahead does ChinaCureLink coordinate the treatment, and a moderate service fee applies on site.
Get a Second Opinion Before You Fly to China
For suitable cases, ChinaCureLink can then coordinate an online consultation with the specialist to discuss the technical treatment details directly. The purpose is to help the patient understand which treatment option and which specialist center may be most appropriate before making an international treatment decision.
What Patients Say About ChinaCureLink & Medebound HEALTH
China CureLink operates under Medebound HEALTH — an internationally recognized healthcare navigation company incorporated in New York, with operations across North America and Asia-Pacific.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are hospitals like in China?
Hospitals in China range from small community clinics to very large Grade 3A teaching hospitals that see thousands of patients a day. The top public hospitals have modern equipment and highly experienced specialists, but they are busy. International departments offer a calmer, English-speaking service for a higher fee.
What is the best hospital in China?
Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing is ranked first in Fudan University's national hospital ranking, and West China Hospital in Chengdu has ranked second for 12 consecutive years. For an individual patient, the best hospital is the one with the strongest team for their specific condition.
How many hospitals are there in China?
China had 38,159 hospitals at the end of 2025, within more than 1.1 million healthcare institutions in total. At the end of 2023, 1,795 of them held Grade 3A, the highest grade in China's hospital classification system.
Can foreigners be treated at public hospitals in China?
Yes. Many large public hospitals have international departments for foreign patients, and Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong have designated pilot hospitals for international medical services. These departments offer English booking and interpreters, and they charge higher fees than routine public care.
Do Chinese hospitals accept international health insurance?
Some do. Several public hospital international departments and most private international hospitals have direct billing agreements with international insurers. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, for example, works with more than ten insurers. Patients should confirm cover and direct billing with their insurer before travelling.
References
National Health Commission of the PRC. China sees wider healthcare access as system continues to grow. https://en.nhc.gov.cn/2026-09/02/c_86634.htm
QQ News. 2025 statistical bulletin on health development (hospital and visit figures). https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20260829A061X100
Wikipedia. Classification of Chinese hospitals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_Chinese_hospitals
Sixth Tone. As services expand, more foreigners seek treatment in China (13 Feb 2026). https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1018204
Yicai Global. China draws growing number of medical tourists seeking faster, cheaper care (15 Jan 2026). https://www2.yicaiglobal.com/news/china-draws-growing-number-of-overseas-patients-seeking-faster-cheaper-care
Beijing Municipal Government. Beijing further enhances multilingual healthcare services (10 Nov 2025). https://english.beijing.gov.cn/latest/news/202511/t20251110_4267485.html
Guangzhou Municipal Government. International medical services in Guangzhou (8 Apr 2026). https://www.gz.gov.cn/guangzhouinternational/home/citynews/content/post_10759988.html
Shenzhen Government Online. Guangdong pilot hospitals for international medical services (May 2026). https://www.sz.gov.cn/en_szgov/news/latest/content/post_12777525.html
Sichuan University. West China Hospital has ranked second among Chinese hospitals for 12 consecutive years. https://wudo.scu.edu.cn/info/1015/2214.htm
Shanghai International Services Portal. 240-hour visa-free transit policy. https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Individuals-ImmigrationandVisas-Visa-freepolicies/20260709/d70a1231ba4641ff9a024e53751ad480.html
About ChinaCureLink
ChinaCureLink helps patients across the world access the best cancer treatment at China's top hospitals, without the delays, language barriers, and administrative confusion that typically come with seeking care abroad.
We connect patients directly with China's top cancer hospitals, ensuring that from the first case submission through to treatment and follow-up, every step is guided, translated, and coordinated by a team experienced in cross-border patient care.
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Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical or financial advice. Treatment eligibility, protocols, and costs vary by individual case — confirm specifics with a coordinator and treating physician before making any decisions.
