Seeing a Doctor in China: Hospitals, Appointments, Emergency 120, and Payment Basics

Getting medical care in China is manageable once you understand the difference between routine outpatient visits and true emergencies. The main friction points for new arrivals are usually language, appointment booking, and payment rather than access itself.

This guide is written for foreigners living in or visiting China who want a practical overview before they get sick, not during the stress of an actual emergency.

1. Know when to call 120

If you face a serious medical emergency, call 120 for an ambulance. Official Beijing guidance says 120 is the emergency medical number, and Shanghai’s official healthcare guide says the same for ambulance services in Shanghai.

Use emergency services for situations such as severe chest pain, serious breathing difficulty, major bleeding, stroke-like symptoms, loss of consciousness, severe trauma, or other time-critical conditions.

Shanghai’s emergency-medical-services rules also make an important point: critically ill patients should be treated first and payment handled later. That is a useful reminder not to delay urgent care because of payment worries.

2. Choose the right type of medical provider

For everyday healthcare, you will usually choose among:

• public hospitals;
• private hospitals; or
• international departments, international clinics, or foreign-language service centers.

Public hospitals are often the default option for specialist care and broad hospital coverage. International departments and private hospitals can be easier if you want more English-language support, direct billing options, or a more familiar patient experience.

Official Beijing and Shanghai guides both highlight international-service medical institutions for foreigners. If language support matters, start there rather than assuming every public-hospital desk can handle English smoothly.

3. Book ahead for routine outpatient visits

Do not assume you must simply walk in and queue. Official Shanghai guidance says most hospitals provide appointment booking through hotlines or online platforms. Beijing’s official foreigner medical guide points users to the International Service Beijing and Beijing 114 appointment systems, while Shanghai’s guide describes booking through Suishenban and hospital channels.

For a routine consultation:

1. choose the hospital and department first;
2. book in advance if an official platform is available;
3. keep a screenshot or confirmation message;
4. arrive early enough for registration; and
5. bring your passport and phone.

If you have just arrived, setting up a local number can make bookings and SMS verification much easier. See Getting a SIM Card in China for the practical setup steps.

4. Expect a registration step on arrival

Shanghai’s official step-by-step hospital guide says that after arriving, the patient first registers at the admission desk, pays an admission fee, and presents a passport. On a first visit, the hospital may create a hospital card or patient file for future visits.

In practice, that means you should not arrive with only a symptom description. Bring:

• your original passport;
• your phone;
• a payment method;
• insurance details if relevant; and
• the Chinese or English name of the department you need, if you already know it.

If you are still handling core setup tasks after arrival, Your First Week in China covers the broader administrative checklist.

5. Understand the normal outpatient flow

A routine public-hospital visit often works like this:

1. register;
2. wait for your number;
3. see the doctor;
4. pay for medicines, tests, or imaging;
5. complete those tests if ordered;
6. return for results if needed; and
7. collect medicines from the hospital pharmacy or follow the doctor’s next-step instructions.

Shanghai’s official guide notes that if test results are available quickly, you may be able to return to the original doctor the same day. If results are issued later, you may need to register again for the follow-up visit.

This structure is different from some countries where billing happens later or where a family doctor handles more of the process. In China, registration and payment checkpoints are often built directly into the visit flow.

6. Bring a realistic payment plan

Payment methods vary by hospital, city, and department, but Beijing’s official foreigner medical guide explicitly lists:

• RMB cash;
• major international credit cards;
• UnionPay debit cards; and
• WeChat Pay or Alipay.

That does not mean every desk in every hospital handles every method equally well. Keep more than one option available, especially if you are new to the city or your phone-based setup is still incomplete.

If you are still deciding how to pay in daily life, Mobile Payments in China for Foreigners explains the practical differences between Alipay, Weixin Pay, cards, and cash.

7. Check your insurance before you need it

The National Immigration Administration’s healthcare guidance warns that some Chinese public hospitals do not recognize medical insurance from foreign insurance companies. It also advises patients to confirm the insured hospital list, covered conditions, and other policy details before relying on the policy.

That means you should clarify:

• whether the hospital accepts direct billing;
• whether your policy only supports reimbursement after payment;
• which hospitals are in network;
• whether international departments are covered differently from general outpatient care; and
• what documents you need to submit a claim.

Beijing’s official guide also notes that some international patients with high-end commercial insurance can use direct billing where a hospital and insurer already have that arrangement. Do not generalize that to every hospital.

8. Keep the right paperwork for reimbursement

If you pay first and claim later, paperwork matters. The National Immigration Administration specifically advises patients to obtain a formal receipt for reimbursement.

Keep:

• the formal receipt;
• registration documents where provided;
• prescriptions;
• test reports;
• discharge paperwork if admitted; and
• the hospital’s full legal name for your claim form.

Photograph everything before leaving the hospital in case a paper receipt fades or is lost.

9. Prepare before you get sick

The best time to make healthcare decisions is before you need urgent treatment. A short preparation step now can save a lot of confusion later.

Create a note in your phone with:

• your passport number;
• emergency contact;
• allergies;
• current medicines;
• blood type if known;
• insurance hotline;
• nearest suitable hospital; and
• your home address in Chinese if possible.

Also save enough payment backup to get through registration and initial treatment. A local mobile number and working payment app make hospital logistics easier, so it is worth setting those up early.

Practical checklist

• I know that 120 is the ambulance number.
• I know which hospital I would use for routine care.
• I know which hospital I would use for an emergency.
• I have checked whether my insurance supports direct billing or reimbursement only.
• I can show my passport and receive SMS messages.
• I have at least two payment options.
• I know how to explain my address clearly if I need an ambulance.
• I will keep formal receipts and medical records.

Official sources

• Shanghai Government: How do I see a doctor in Shanghai?
• Shanghai Government: Emergency medical services in Shanghai
• Shanghai Government: Regulations of Shanghai Municipality on Emergency Medical Services
• Beijing Government: Medical Guide for Foreigners in Beijing
• National Immigration Administration: Medical Insurance