Source: OT-Team(G), 凤凰网国际
Since China expanded its 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy, the most visible change has been a sharp increase in foreign visitors. Beyond the rebound in leisure travel, however, another trend is emerging more quietly: self-funded medical tourism.
A growing number of visitors are not coming to China for landmarks or shopping, but for medical care. They arrive with suitcases and head straight to hospitals, with clear goals—examinations, procedures, treatment, and follow-up—often completed in a single trip. Many document the experience online, where their videos have drawn widespread attention and surprise.
One widely shared account comes from Aimie, a British woman who previously worked in Beijing. Despite having returned to the United Kingdom, she chose to travel back to China for medical treatment.
"I haven't been feeling well recently, so I decided to fly to China next week for tests instead of going through the NHS process and slowly waiting for a GP appointment," she said in a video. While the UK's National Health Service is known for universal coverage, non-urgent care can involve long waits—weeks to see a general practitioner, followed by months before a specialist appointment, with further delays for tests and surgery.
Aimie said she found the system frustrating and felt her concerns were not taken seriously. In contrast, she completed her entire course of care in China within two weeks: she received her visa on a Friday, flew on Tuesday, and was in a hospital the following Wednesday morning.
She described her doctor as patient and attentive. "She couldn't understand why I would wait one or two years to get treatment, and I couldn't really explain the UK system to her," Aimie said. The physician suspected a gastric ulcer and immediately arranged a gastroscopy, blood tests, and a full pre-anesthesia evaluation. "What was remarkable was that all of these tests could be done right away."
All costs were out of pocket. Her specialist registration fee was £5.50, and all tests together totaled £119. On the day of the gastroscopy, the process was similarly efficient. "I arrived at 9 a.m., was sedated by 10:15, and everything was done in one morning," she said.
She received her results immediately, including endoscopic images. There was no ulcer, but there was redness and inflammation; two polyps were removed for biopsy. The procedure cost £70, with results due the following week. She then had a follow-up consultation, a test for Helicobacter pylori, and was prescribed an eight-week course of medication.
What impressed her most was the workflow. "The entire process felt like a precision instrument—extremely efficient," she said. "There's no small talk, no formalities, but a great deal of patience. The staff perform countless IVs every day; they simply don't miss veins. The technical skill is outstanding."
She contrasted this with her experience in the UK: "There, you have a private consultation room. The doctor greets you, chats, explains who they are. Here, there is none of that—only medicine. But I received excellent care without waiting for months."
She later calculated the costs. All medical services combined totaled £298.60. Her two-year multi-entry visa cost £130. A round-trip direct flight between London and Beijing was £488. Accommodation in Beijing averaged about £30 per night; she spent £400 for two weeks. Meals for the same period totaled £150. Altogether, including a two-week stay in Beijing, her total spending was about £1,500 (approximately RMB 15,000).
By comparison, she estimated that treatment at a private hospital in the UK would have cost at least £3,700—and still required weeks of waiting.
She is not alone. An American traveler shared his medical bill online: an MRI in China cost him US$80, compared with US$8,000 in the United States. "Everything was straightforward. A kind staff member helped me register, and without insurance it still cost only $4. I saw a doctor the same day," he wrote. "In the U.S., you may wait months for a specialist and pay hundreds just for the appointment." He added that the staff were professional and that every step was handled correctly.
Another British patient, who had suffered leg pain for seven weeks due to a lumbar disc problem, reported that in the UK's public system she was told to wait another month, while a private clinic offered only painkillers and delayed imaging. After traveling to China, she completed CT and MRI scans, was hospitalized, and underwent minimally invasive surgery within four days. Doctors diagnosed an annular tear with disc material compressing a nerve; she recovered quickly after the procedure.
On social media, such videos have drawn significant attention. Many creators compare medical bills across countries and document their hospital experiences in China, highlighting streamlined procedures and transparent pricing. For a growing number of foreign viewers, the appeal lies in the combination of speed, cost efficiency, and predictable access to care.
China's visa-free transit policy was designed to facilitate travel. It now appears to be enabling a niche but expanding form of cross-border care—one driven not by sightseeing, but by access to timely and affordable medical treatment.
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