In this guide
China's National Health Commission reports 1.28 million international patient visits to major hospitals in 2025, up 73.6% from 2022, with visits from Europe and North America doubling. The trend is real, driven by speed, price, viral social media stories and easier entry. But these are government figures that count visits, not people, and include foreigners living in China.
The numbers
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| International patient visits to major hospitals, 2025 | about 1.28 million |
| Change since 2022 | +73.6% |
| Visits from Europe and North America | doubled over the same period |
| Share of hospital services allowed for international patients | under 10% |
Source: National Health Commission figures, reported by Sixth Tone (13 Feb 2026).
How to read them carefully
- Visits, not people. One patient with several appointments counts several times.
- Residents included. Many international patients are foreigners who live and work in China, not medical travelers.
- Government source. The figures come from Chinese authorities, which actively promote medical services to foreigners. They're useful, but not independently verified.
- 2022 was a low base. Travel to China was still heavily restricted in 2022, which makes later growth look larger.
What's driving it
- Speed: short or no waits for tests and specialists, compared with long waits in countries such as the UK and Canada.
- Price: even international departments are often far cheaper than US cash prices.
- Social media: viral videos of fast, cheap hospital visits, often amplified by Chinese state media.
- Easier entry: visa-free entry for many nationalities, and 240-hour visa-free transit (Americans still need a visa for an ordinary round trip).
The capacity limit
International services are limited to under 10% of a hospital's services. As demand grows, the most popular international departments may get busier or more expensive. Book early and get quotes in writing.
What it means for Americans
- More choice of English-ready services, especially in Beijing and Shanghai.
- The same checks still apply: itemized prices, an English report, scan files, a clear plan if something is found, and travel insurance with evacuation cover.
- The US travel advisory for China is Level 2 ("exercise increased caution"), citing exit bans and wrongful detention. Read it before deciding.
Sources
- Sixth Tone: as services expand, more foreigners seek treatment in China (13 Feb 2026) sixthtone.com
- US State Department: China travel advisory travel.state.gov
Please note. General information, not medical or travel advice.
Reviewed at least every three monthsNo paid placementsInformation, not medical adviceOur editorial standards
Joe Yang, PhD, Economics. Joe Yang holds a PhD in economics from the University of Washington. For four years Joe evaluated the costs and savings of US health programs for insurers and employers at a health-analytics company, and before that studied pricing and demand as an economist at Amazon and a data scientist at Oracle. These guides apply the same discipline to a simpler question: what care really costs, and where.
