Cities
Eight medical hubs, each with vetted tertiary hospitals and English-speaking coordinators on the ground.
Capital medicine — top oncology and cardiology referral centres
Beijing concentrates the largest number of Grade 3A hospitals in China, including national referral centres for oncology, cardiology and neurosurgery. Appointments move fast, but demand is high — a coordinator saves days of queueing.
International hospitals with the widest English-language support
Shanghai has the most mature international patient services in mainland China: dedicated foreigner clinics, English registration desks and streamlined billing. Ideal for a first medical trip.
South China's referral hub — strong respiratory and ENT care
Guangzhou serves as the referral centre for southern China and is particularly strong in respiratory medicine, ENT and ophthalmology. Direct flights from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Newest equipment, closest to Hong Kong
Shenzhen's hospitals are among the most recently equipped in the country, and the city is a 20-minute high-speed train ride from Hong Kong — convenient for patients combining a Hong Kong consultation with mainland treatment.
Calm recovery environment, one hour from Shanghai
Hangzhou pairs top-tier hospitals with a low-stress environment, making it a strong choice for post-operative recovery. One hour by high-speed train from Shanghai for second opinions.
Western China's largest medical centre
Chengdu anchors healthcare for western China, with very high surgical volumes at its flagship hospitals — a factor linked to better outcomes for complex procedures. Lower living costs than the coast.
Specialist centre for blood diseases and orthopaedics
Tianjin hosts the national institute for blood disease research and one of China's leading orthopaedic hospitals. Half an hour from Beijing by high-speed rail.
Southwest hub with strong hepatobiliary surgery
Chongqing's flagship military-affiliated hospitals handle very high volumes in hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal surgery, often at lower cost than coastal cities.