Seeing a doctor in China as a foreigner
Photo: Hyory Liu / Unsplash
First, the quick triage. Something serious, like chest pain, heavy bleeding or a bad fall: call 120 for an ambulance, or take a taxi straight to the emergency department (急诊) of the nearest big hospital. A cold, a stomach upset or a blister: a pharmacy (药店, look for the green cross) can usually sort you out.
Everything in between, an ear infection, a sprain, a fever that won't go away, gives you a real choice. And it's a better choice than most visitors expect.
The two options
| International clinic or international department | Large public hospital, regular outpatient | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | English, often other languages too | Mostly Chinese; bring a translation app |
| Cost | High, closer to private care in the US | Much lower |
| Waiting | Short, by appointment | Often same day, but busy |
| Paying | Up front; cards and some direct insurance billing | Up front, at each step |
| Best for | Comfort, English, insurance paperwork | Speed, price, specialist care |
A middle path exists in the big cities. Many large public hospitals run an international medical department (国际医疗部) staffed by doctors who speak English. Beijing's program started in 2019 with seven hospitals and now covers about 20, according to Sixth Tone. Prices there are higher than the regular outpatient floor, but you get the hospital's specialists without the language struggle.
What the public system is actually like
The care itself is generally good, and fast. What surprises people from Europe or Australia is the process. There's no family doctor acting as a gatekeeper. You choose the department yourself, register, see the doctor, and pay as you go.
That speed is why some foreigners now travel here on purpose. In February 2026, Sixth Tone reported that a British woman who had waited months for a specialist at home had her stomach problem tested, diagnosed and treated quickly at a Chinese public hospital, for about 2,800 yuan. Her story spread widely on social media. Caixin, reporting the same month, put it in perspective: major hospitals logged around 1.28 million international patient visits in 2025, but people coming purely for treatment are still a small niche.
My take: don't plan a trip around it, but don't fear a hospital visit either. If something goes wrong while you're here, you're in a system that moves.
Step by step at a public hospital
- Register (挂号). Use the hospital's WeChat mini-program, its app, a self-service kiosk, or the registration counter. Foreign passports don't always work in the kiosks, so the counter is the safe fallback. Say or show which department you need.
- Go to the department and wait for your number. Numbers show on screens. Keep your phone's translation app open.
- See the doctor. Consultations are short and direct. Have your symptoms written out in Chinese and English beforehand, along with any allergies and current medication.
- Pay for tests. The doctor orders blood work or a scan, you pay first (at a window or by scanning a code), then go to the test.
- Return with results. Many results come back the same day. The doctor prescribes.
- Pay for medicine and collect it at the hospital pharmacy.
Payment happens at each stage. Most hospitals accept Alipay and WeChat Pay, and an official China services guide lists cash and international cards such as Visa and JCB as accepted too, though in practice I'd never count on a foreign card at a small window. Have Alipay set up and a card linked before you need it, plus a few hundred yuan in cash.
What to bring
- Your passport. You can't register without it, even for emergency care.
- A phone with charge and data, with Alipay or WeChat Pay working.
- A short written summary of your symptoms, allergies and medications, in both languages.
- Your insurance details and the insurer's emergency number.
- Someone to help, if you can. A hotel concierge will often call ahead or write a note for the registration desk.
Pharmacies
Chain pharmacies are everywhere and the staff are used to describing symptoms with gestures and translation apps. Common over-the-counter medicines are easy. Prescription-only drugs, antibiotics included, need a prescription. Brand names differ from home, so bring the generic name of anything you rely on, and pack enough of your regular medication for the whole trip in its original box.
Insurance and receipts
Unless an international clinic bills your insurer directly, you pay and claim later. Ask for an itemized invoice (发票) and keep every receipt, test report and prescription slip. Photograph them the same day. Claims get rejected over missing paperwork far more often than over the treatment itself. If you haven't bought cover yet, this is what I look for in a policy.
Quick answers
Do I need an appointment?
For international clinics, yes. For public hospitals, booking ahead through the hospital's app or mini-program is usual, often a few days to two weeks out, but same-day slots and walk-in registration at the counter are common for general departments.
Which department do I pick?
If you're unsure, ask at the information desk (导医台) near the entrance. Point at your symptom on a translation app and they'll send you to the right place.
Is it safe to go to a public hospital as a tourist?
Yes. The big hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and other major cities are well equipped. The hard part is language and process, not quality.
What if it gets worse at night?
Emergency departments run 24 hours. Take your passport and go. Life-threatening cases are treated first and registered afterwards. For numbers and phrases to show staff, see the emergency page.
The short version: international clinic for comfort, English and easy insurance claims; a big public hospital, ideally its international department, for speed and price. Either way, sort out payment before you need it.
General information, not medical advice. Sources: Sixth Tone; Caixin Global; China Services Info.
If something here has changed, email me. I re-check every guide and update the date at the top.
Written by David, who lives in China. About me