Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Beijing/Haikou, January 28 (Xinhua) — For five years, chronic arthritis plagued Nikolai, a Russian man, causing him constant pain. He sought treatment in Russia and throughout Europe, but his condition never improved.
A chance encounter online led him to Hainan, an island province in southern China renowned for its tropical climate, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and long-standing visa-free entry policy for citizens of 59 countries. With few options left, he decided to take a two-week vacation and go on a trip.
After just two weeks of physiotherapy at the Sanya TCM Hospital, Nikolai felt a noticeable improvement. "Traditional Chinese medicine is incredible. The doctors' expertise, combined with the warm climate, proved particularly effective for shoulder, neck, and lower back pain," he shared.
Nikolai's experience is far from unique. According to incomplete data, approximately 850 medical institutions in 57 cities across China (excluding Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Taiwan) currently offer international medical services.
From acupuncture rooms to modern operating rooms, Chinese hospitals have been welcoming an increasing number of international patients in recent years. They are drawn by the unique appeal of traditional healing methods, the country's strengths in certain modern medical specialties, and the emerging medical tourism industry.
Specifically, Yuan Ailin, Deputy Director of the Sanya TCM Hospital, reported that the hospital is currently treating approximately 100 international patients, primarily from Russia, Mongolia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Canada. As of October 2025, the hospital had treated over 100,000 patients from over 40 countries.
For many international patients, a trip to China offers an opportunity to experience TCM firsthand, which is renowned for its unique approach to treating chronic diseases, often different from Western medicine.
"Some patients with metabolic syndrome who experience symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the limbs, excessive sweating, or insomnia turn to herbal medicines and acupuncture when visiting China," said Wu Qunli, director of the TCM department at Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
In addition to its time-tested treatment methods, China's advanced medical technologies are also attracting interest from foreign patients.
A senior official from China's National Health Commission said that compared with many developed countries, China has richer clinical experience and advanced technical skills in certain medical specialties, and offers advanced treatments such as proton therapy and targeted drugs at more competitive prices.
“In the field of targeted cancer therapy in clinical practice, there have been cases where patients from the UK and Italy have sought consultations at our hospital in Shenzhen after various cancer treatments in their countries have proven ineffective,” said Xiao Yihuang, chief executive of Hong Kong- and Shanghai-based New Frontier, which owns renowned private medical institutions including United Family Healthcare.
“Some patients even chose to directly seek Chinese-developed anti-cancer drugs under the guidance of foreign doctors,” he said.
At Shanghai's Ruijin Hospital, Oscar Chalupski, a South African rower and former captain of the South African Olympic team, has finally found new hope for a recovery. After doctors in several other countries described his late-stage multiple myeloma as "intractable and nearly hopeless," he is now undergoing CAR-T therapy at the hospital.
"After conducting all our research, Ruijin Hospital was recognized as the best. And now, I hope, the results will show a positive effect," he said.
Some other foreign patients are attracted to China not only by the efficiency of local hospitals, but also by advanced medical practices.
Amy from the UK, known on TikTok as @amieinchina, shared her decision to travel thousands of miles to seek medical care in China simply because queuing in the UK was more difficult than crossing the ocean.
Amy, who suffered from abdominal pain for two years, underwent a full treatment in China in just 13 days—from a comprehensive examination and accurate diagnosis to successful treatment. She subsequently shared her experience of "super-fast treatment" on social media, praising the effectiveness and convenience of medical services in China.
In 2023, Canadian Franco Caputo underwent treatment at Xiehe Hospital in Beijing, where he was successfully treated for intestinal polyps, gastroesophageal reflux, and Helicobacter pylori infection. Since then, he has made annual trips to China for medical care. "There are family doctors in Canada, but wait times are long, and treatment isn't always effective," he said.
The growing influx of foreign patients has also given new impetus to the development of medical tourism in China.
Late last year, an agreement on international tourism cooperation was reached in Bama Yao Autonomous County in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR, southern China), known for its exceptionally high concentration of centenarians. The agreement, signed between the GZAR Department of Culture and Tourism and the Asia-Pacific Travel Association, aims to develop Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region into a world-class tourism destination and promote high-quality health tourism cooperation between China and ASEAN countries.
The Bo'ao Lecheng International Health Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan Province has already served over 200,000 patients from around the world. This special medical zone at the Hainan Free Trade Port has become a regional hub for international pharmaceutical equipment manufacturers, as well as innovative small and medium-sized pharmaceutical and medical enterprises. It provides patients with access to medical equipment and drugs approved abroad but not yet available on the domestic market. It also offers Chinese doctors the opportunity to learn about the latest international medical technologies without leaving the country.
By the end of 2025, a total of 865.3 thousand people had attended medical tours in this area, which is 109% more than in the previous year.
To make it easier for foreign patients to receive medical care in China, experts suggest creating user-friendly service platforms, offering better multilingual support, and making international payments more convenient.
As the service sector opens up to the outside world even more widely and at a higher level, medical institutions will need to pay more attention to strengthening their own soft power, said Cai Jiangnan, founder and executive director of a Shanghai-based research institute specializing in healthcare development.
For example, international departments of public hospitals must train highly qualified medical specialists with developed communication skills with patients to meet the standards of high-quality international medical services, he said.
At Sanya TCM Hospital, Nikolai just completed a 45-minute moxibustion and acupuncture session.
“Next year, I plan to invite my parents and friends to come and try moxibustion, acupuncture, and massage,” he said. “After seeing how well these treatments helped me, I think they’ll be more than happy to come.” -0-
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