Medically reviewed by Dr. Wang, Medical Editor, ChinaCureLink
Key Takeaways |
China medical tourism is growing fast. Major Chinese hospitals recorded about 1.28 million international patient visits in 2025, up 73.6% in three years, and patients from Europe and North America doubled. |
Some treatments are hard to get anywhere else. China approved the world's first CAR-T for a solid tumour in 2026, and the Boao Lecheng pilot zone in Hainan offers drugs approved abroad but not yet in mainland China. |
Real costs are often a fraction of Western prices. Reported 2025–2026 cases include gallbladder surgery for under US$2,000 against about US$10,000 in the US. |
Many patients can enter without a visa. Hainan's 30-day visa-free policy names medical treatment as a permitted purpose for citizens of 61 countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. |
Introduction
China medical tourism has moved from a niche option to a mainstream route for patients seeking advanced treatment faster and at lower cost. Patients from Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand are part of the same shift, helped by short flights and wider visa-free entry.
This guide explains what China offers in 2026, which treatments international patients travel for, what care actually costs, how foreigners can enter China for treatment, which city or zone suits which need, and when China is not the right choice.
Why Is China Medical Tourism Growing So Fast?
China now combines scale, speed and access to new treatments. Its major hospitals recorded about 1.28 million international patient visits in 2025, according to the National Health Commission, up 73.6% from three years earlier. Around 850 medical institutions in 57 Chinese cities now offer international medical services.
Growth is backed by policy. Beijing's international medical initiative grew from seven hospitals in 2019 to around 20. Shanghai has approved 22 public institutions as international medical tourism pilot units since September 2023, and its public hospitals treated 73,200 foreign patients in 2025. In April 2026, Guangzhou opened an International Medical Tourism Service Center offering visa help, remote pre-arrival consultations and remote follow-up.
The Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan recorded 865,300 medical tourism visits in 2025, up 109% on the year before.
Patient need | What China offers in 2026 | Open to international patients? |
Advanced cancer care | Approved CAR-T for blood cancers and the world's first solid-tumour CAR-T | Yes, after records review and hospital acceptance |
Drugs not yet approved at home | Boao Lecheng special access to drugs and devices approved overseas | Yes, within the Hainan pilot zone |
Type 2 diabetes | Approved umbilical cord stem cell therapy in Boao Lecheng | Yes; an international patient has completed it |
Personalised cancer vaccine | Approved DC vaccine in Boao Lecheng | Yes, within the pilot zone |
Diagnosis and health checkups | Fast imaging and specialist review at international departments | Yes, often within a visa-free stay |
Table of Content
What Treatments Do International Patients Seek in China?
International patients travel to China for treatments that are new, scarce or very expensive at home. Five areas lead.
Advanced Cancer Care and CAR-T
China approved its first CAR-T therapies in 2021 and runs one of the world's largest CAR-T programmes for lymphoma, leukaemia and multiple myeloma. In June 2026, it approved satri-cel, the world's first CAR-T therapy for a solid tumour, for advanced Claudin18.2-positive, HER2-negative stomach cancer. ChinaCureLink's cancer cure China guide sorts which Chinese cancer breakthroughs are approved and which are still in research.
Case study: from New Zealand to Shanghai for solid-tumour CAR-T. A 59-year-old man from New Zealand with advanced gastroduodenal cancer had progressed through chemotherapy and immunotherapy at home. He travelled about 9,000 kilometres to Shanghai, completed satri-cel treatment over more than a month and returned home in August 2026 with a cross-border follow-up plan.
Case study: a former Olympic captain at Ruijin Hospital. South African paddler Oscar Chalupsky was told in several countries that his late-stage multiple myeloma was nearly hopeless. He chose Shanghai's Ruijin Hospital for CAR-T therapy after researching his options.
Imported Drugs and Devices in Boao Lecheng
The Boao Lecheng pilot zone is the only place in China where hospitals may import and use drugs and devices approved overseas but not yet approved by China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). By May 2025, 530 advanced medicines had been introduced under the zone's special policies, benefiting more than 200,000 patients. Patients from as far as Vietnam and Greece have travelled there for authorised drugs.
Personalised Cancer Vaccines
Boao Lecheng also offers an approved personalised dendritic cell (DC) cancer vaccine, built from the patient's own tumour antigens, for eligible solid tumours. Meanwhile, Chinese mRNA cancer vaccines such as EVM16 are in clinical trials at leading cancer hospitals. ChinaCureLink's China cancer vaccine guide covers eligibility, costs and access.
Stem Cell Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes
In January 2026, Boao Lecheng approved umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes as a regular clinical treatment with a published price. A 73-year-old man from Canada became the first international diabetes patient to complete it. ChinaCureLink's China cure diabetes guide explains the results for type 1 and type 2 patients.
Diagnosis, Health Checkups and Elective Surgery
Shorter trips are often for imaging, a specialist diagnosis or a planned operation. A UK patient with stomach pain finished tests, diagnosis and treatment in China in 13 days, after facing months of waiting at home. A patient in Kunming paid about US$70 (486 yuan) for an MRI scan completed in around two and a half hours.
How Much Does Medical Treatment in China Cost?
Treatment in China often costs a fraction of private care in the US, Europe or Australia, but prices vary widely by hospital, department, product and length of stay. Real cases and published prices from 2025–2026 show the range.
Treatment | Reported or published cost in China | Comparison |
Removal of a benign gallbladder tumour, Shenzhen | Under US$2,000 | About US$10,000 in the US |
Hip joint surgery, Shanghai (six-day stay) | About US$4,300 (30,000 yuan) | Patient cited about US$30,000 at home |
MRI scan, Kunming | About US$70 (486 yuan) | Months of waiting reported in the US |
CAR-T for blood cancers | Reported between about US$100,000 and US$150,000 | Over US$500,000 in Europe |
Satri-cel, CAR-T for stomach cancer | US$146,500 (990,000 yuan) per infusion | First approval of its kind worldwide |
Boao stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes | About US$25,800 (174,000 yuan) for a three-infusion course | Published price |
Boao personalised DC cancer vaccine | About US$22,200 (150,000 yuan) per injection | Published price |
Why Do Quoted Prices Vary So Much?
CAR-T shows the widest spread. Reported prices differ because of:
The product: commercial CAR-T products and clinical trial products are priced differently.
The department: international departments charge more than standard public hospital services.
The length of stay: preparation, monitoring and any complications can extend admission.
What the quote includes: imaging, medicines, accommodation and interpreters may or may not be bundled.
Chinese health policy experts note that the pricing system for overseas patients is still being built. Patients should request a written, itemised quote from the hospital before travelling.
Do Foreigners Need a Visa for Medical Treatment in China?
Not always. China has no visa category called a "medical visa", and many patients can enter visa-free for short stays. The right route depends on nationality, destination and the length of treatment. The table below reflects National Immigration Administration (NIA) rules as of October 2026.
Route | Who it covers | Maximum stay | Is medical treatment a named purpose? |
Hainan 30-day visa-free entry | Citizens of 61 countries, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the US | 30 days within Hainan | Yes, explicitly listed |
30-day unilateral visa-free entry | Citizens of 50 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Canada, most of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Brunei; valid to 31 December 2026 for most | 30 days | Listed purposes are business, tourism, visits, exchanges and transit |
Mutual visa exemption | Citizens of Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, among others | 30 days per entry, no more than 90 days within 180 | Listed purposes include tourism, business and family visits |
240-hour visa-free transit | Citizens of 55 countries, including the US, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei, travelling on to a third country through one of 65 ports | 10 days | Listed purposes are tourism, business, exchanges and family visits |
S2 visa | Planned treatment longer than a visa-free stay, or nationalities without an exemption | Up to 180 days | Yes; hospital documents are usually required |
Patients planning treatment outside Hainan should confirm with the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa centre whether a visa-free route covers their visit. ChinaCureLink's China Medical Visa Guide explains the S2 application step by step.
Which City or Zone Fits Which Need?
China's strengths are concentrated in a few hubs. Matching the need to the hub is the most useful early decision.
Need | Leading hubs | Why |
Drugs or devices approved abroad but not in China | Boao Lecheng, Hainan | The only zone allowed to import and use them; medical treatment is a named visa-free purpose |
CAR-T and blood cancer treatment | Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou | Major haematology and cell therapy centres; see CAR-T Treatment in China |
Solid-tumour CAR-T | Shanghai and other qualified centres | Satri-cel is given only at hospitals qualified for the product |
Complex surgery and transplants | Beijing, Shanghai | National referral hospitals with high surgical volume |
Health checkups and imaging | Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing, Guangzhou | Dedicated international departments; Shenzhen is close to Hong Kong |
Diabetes stem cell therapy and cancer vaccines | Boao Lecheng, Hainan | Approved and priced under the zone's special rules |
Is Medical Treatment in China Safe?
China's leading hospitals are large, high-volume academic centres, and volume matters for complex procedures. Safety still depends on choosing the right institution and the right regulated treatment. The most useful quality signals are:
Hospital grade: Grade 3A is the top tier of China's hospital classification and covers the large tertiary hospitals most international patients use.
An international medical department: English-speaking coordinators, bilingual consent forms and separate appointment systems.
The treatment's regulatory status: NMPA-approved, used under Boao Lecheng's special access rules, or offered within a registered clinical trial.
A written treatment plan and itemised quote before any payment.
Complete English records and a discharge summary for the doctor at home.
Shanghai published China's first standard for international medical services in 2024, setting requirements for institutions, staff and service quality. Patients should avoid any provider that promises a guaranteed outcome or cannot explain the regulatory basis of a therapy.
When Is China Not the Right Fit?
China is a strong option for many patients, but not all. It may not suit patients when:
The patient is too unwell to travel safely. A remote second opinion may be the better first step.
Capacity is tight. Special-needs and international services at public hospitals are capped at 10% of total medical provision, so popular departments can fill weeks ahead.
The trial excludes foreigners. Some Chinese clinical trials enrol domestic participants only.
Follow-up cannot be arranged at home. CAR-T and transplant patients need monitoring after discharge.
Medicine supply may stop. A drug available in Boao Lecheng may not be available in the patient's home country.
Insurance cover is assumed. Many home insurers do not cover planned treatment abroad, although some Chinese hospitals offer direct billing with partner insurers.
The Patient Journey, Step by Step
Gather records: diagnosis, pathology and biomarker reports, scan files and the full treatment history.
Translate and submit: records are translated and sent to suitable hospitals for review.
Receive opinions and quotes: hospitals confirm whether they can accept the case, with a plan and cost estimate.
Video second opinion: the patient and family speak with the treating specialist before deciding.
Choose the entry route and book: visa-free entry or a visa, flights and nearby accommodation.
Treatment in China: admission, treatment and monitoring with interpreter support.
Return and follow-up: an English discharge summary, records handover to the home doctor and remote follow-up.
ChinaCureLink's guide to Travelling to China for Medical Treatment covers each step in more detail.
How ChinaCureLink Can Help
The safest way to reach China's advanced treatments is to contact Chinese hospitals directly through a trusted facilitator, so the patient's records reach the right specialists before any travel.
ChinaCureLink represents the patient, not any specific hospital. There is no fee to apply to hospitals, only a moderate fee for on-site support in China. After a free advisory call, ChinaCureLink identifies and compares up to three suitable hospitals or specialists. The patient chooses a preferred option and joins a video second opinion with that specialist. If the patient proceeds, ChinaCureLink coordinates the appointment, medical records and translation, hospital communication, treatment planning, travel and in-China support. More on how ChinaCureLink matches each case.
Questions about medical treatment in China? Chat with the ChinaCureLink team on WhatsApp.
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Get a Second Opinion Before 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is China a Good Destination for Medical Tourism?
For the right case, yes. China offers treatments that are scarce elsewhere, such as solid-tumour CAR-T and Boao Lecheng's imported drugs, often at lower cost and with short waits. It suits patients whose diagnosis matches an approved or regulated treatment and who can plan follow-up at home.
Is Medical Treatment in China Safe for Foreigners?
It is safest at Grade 3A hospitals with international departments, using treatments that are NMPA-approved, offered under Boao Lecheng's special access rules or given within a registered clinical trial. Patients should get a written plan and quote, and avoid any provider promising guaranteed results.
How Much Cheaper Is Medical Treatment in China?
It depends on the treatment. Reported 2025–2026 cases include gallbladder surgery in Shenzhen for under US$2,000 against about US$10,000 in the US, and blood cancer CAR-T for roughly US$60,000 to US$230,000 against more than US$500,000 in Europe. A written hospital quote is the only reliable figure.
Do Foreigners Need a Visa for Medical Treatment in China?
Not always. Hainan's 30-day visa-free policy names medical treatment as a permitted purpose for citizens of 61 countries. Other visa-free routes list tourism, business and visits, so patients treated elsewhere should confirm their route. Longer treatment usually needs an S2 visa.
Can Patients From Indonesia, the Philippines or Vietnam Enter China Visa-Free for Treatment?
Yes, in Hainan. All three countries are on the NIA's 61-country list for Hainan's 30-day visa-free entry, which names medical treatment as a purpose. Indonesian citizens can also use the 240-hour transit policy when travelling on to a third country.
Do Chinese Hospitals Have English-Speaking Staff?
International departments at major hospitals have English-speaking coordinators and bilingual documents. Outside these departments, an interpreter is usually needed, and a facilitator can arrange one.
What Is the Boao Lecheng Pilot Zone?
It is a special medical zone in Hainan where hospitals may import and use drugs and devices approved abroad but not yet approved in mainland China. It recorded 865,300 medical tourism visits in 2025 and also offers approved stem cell therapy for type 2 diabetes and a personalised cancer vaccine.
Can Follow-Up Care Be Done After Returning Home?
Yes, in most cases. Patients should get an English discharge summary and full records, agree a follow-up plan with their home doctor before travel, and use remote consultations with the Chinese team where available.
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.
ChinaCureLink is proudly affiliated with Medebound HEALTH — founded by US physicians, with over 10 years of experience and more than 3,000 patients served worldwide, Medebound HEALTH is recognized by Forbes and it is one of the most trusted patient cross-border concierge service company across North America and the Asia Pacific.
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.
References
Sixth Tone. As Services Expand, More Foreigners Seek Treatment in China. February 13, 2026.
Xinhua via Gansu Belt and Road Portal. From traditional to cutting-edge therapies, China draws growing numbers of overseas patients. January 26, 2026.
CGTN. How Hainan is pioneering the future of China's healthcare. April 18, 2026.
Shanghai Municipal Government. Shanghai aims to strengthen global medical hub status. March 5, 2026.
Yicai Global. Guangzhou Unveils Policy Measures to Support Medical Tourism Services. April 30, 2026.
Yicai Global. China Draws Growing Number of Medical Tourists Seeking Faster, Cheaper Care. January 15, 2026.
The Asia Business Daily, reporting CNN. Patients Pack Their Bags as Healthcare Costs Soar... Americans Emerge as Major Players in China's Medical Tourism. July 10, 2026.
The Wall Street Journal. Patients are flying to China for the latest cancer treatment. 2026.
National Immigration Administration. Regional Visa-Free Entry Policies for Foreign Nationals. August 20, 2026.
National Immigration Administration. List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies. February 17, 2026.
National Immigration Administration. China Extends 240-hour Visa-Free Transit Policy Coverage to 55 Countries with New Addition of Indonesia. June 12, 2025.
China Briefing. China's Visa-Free Policies: Latest Updates. Updated March 27, 2026.
