Getting medical care in China, explained for foreigners.
Which hospital to go to, how to pay without a Chinese bank account, what to say at the counter, and what to bring.
Every guide opens with a short answer, lists its sources, and shows when it was last checked.
Start with these
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Emergency care in China: what to do in the first hour
How foreigners get emergency medical help in mainland China: calling 120, getting to an emergency department, what to bring, and how paying works.
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How to see a doctor in China as a foreigner
Public hospital, international department or private hospital? How foreigners choose where to go in China, book, register with a passport and get through a visit.
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Paying for healthcare in China: mobile payment, cards, deposits and insurance
How foreigners pay hospital bills in China: Alipay and WeChat Pay with foreign cards, card acceptance, inpatient deposits, insurance direct billing and the receipts you need to claim.
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Visas and entry for medical travel to China
Which entry route fits a medical trip to China: 30-day visa-free entry, 240-hour visa-free transit, or a visa for planned treatment — and what to do if treatment runs past your permitted stay.
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Medicines in China: pharmacies, prescriptions and bringing your own
How foreigners buy medicine in China, how to ask for the right drug by its generic name, and the rules for bringing prescription and controlled medicines into China.
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Hospital Chinese: phrases and signs to show staff
Mandarin phrases for Chinese hospitals and pharmacies — registration, symptoms, allergies, emergencies and paperwork — set large enough to show on your phone, plus the hospital signs you'll need to recognise.
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Public, VIP or international hospital? How foreigners should choose in China
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How to book a Chinese hospital appointment without a Chinese ID or phone number
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Hand your phone to the nurse
The hospital Chinese guide is written to be shown, not read aloud. Characters are large enough to read across a counter.
我需要看医生。
Wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng.
我是外国人，这是我的护照。
Wǒ shì wàiguó rén, zhè shì wǒ de hùzhào.
这里有国际医疗部吗？
Zhèlǐ yǒu guójì yīliáo bù ma?