In the post-pandemic era, with global health needs being restructured and the cross-border medical market undergoing rapid transformation, medical tourism in China is rising at a “phenomenal” pace, becoming a new focal point of international attention. The World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 Global Health Tourism Trends Report indicates that China has become one of the fastest-growing medical tourism destinations globally, hosting over 4.5 million international medical tourists in 2023—a 42% increase from 2019—with growth rates far outpacing traditional powerhouses like Thailand (18%) and Japan (12%). This explosive growth is not accidental but the result of the global shift in health demand aligning with the upgrading of China's medical tourism system. The core drivers of this trend can be analyzed from the following five dimensions.
I. Global Shift in Health Demand: A Paradigm Shift from “Disease Treatment” to “Health Management”
In the post-pandemic era, global health concepts have undergone a fundamental transformation. According to a 2024 survey by the World Health Organization, 89% of international travelers list “health management” as the core motivation for cross-border travel, with 63% explicitly stating they “prefer destinations with high-quality medical resources and superior natural environments.” This shift in demand has fundamentally rewritten the rules of the medical tourism market—while traditional “disease treatment-oriented” demand (such as cancer treatment in the US or plastic surgery in South Korea) still exists, “preventive healthcare-oriented” and " rehabilitation and convalescence-oriented" demand is growing at a faster pace, creating a new market blue ocean.
China has precisely aligned with this trend. Unlike countries like Thailand (focused on medical aesthetics and hot springs), Japan (focused on precision health checkups), and Switzerland (focused on anti-aging), which have “verticalized” specializations, China's medical tourism industry has established a service system covering “the entire life cycle and all health scenarios”:
• Healthy individuals: can experience “traditional Chinese medicine wellness + mountain and water therapy” (e.g., Zhejiang's Moganshan “traditional Chinese medicine guesthouse + forest yoga” program) or “forest therapy + tea culture” (e.g., Fujian's Wuyishan “tea therapy study camp”);
• Sub-healthy population: Can choose “hyperbaric oxygen chamber + sports rehabilitation” (e.g., Beijing United Family Hospital's “workplace stress management package”) or “traditional Chinese medicine constitution regulation + medicinal diet therapy” (e.g., Guangdong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital's “24 solar terms wellness camp”);
• Patients: Can access “precision cancer treatment + post-surgery rehabilitation” (e.g., Shanghai Ruijin Hospital's “CAR-T therapy + coastal convalescence package”) and “cardiovascular disease intervention therapy + traditional Chinese medicine support” (e.g., Wuhan Tongji Hospital's “post-heart stent surgery traditional Chinese medicine regulation”).
• Elderly population: Can enjoy “Chronic Disease Management + Hot Spring Wellness” (e.g., Hainan Boao's “Silver Hair Health Community”) and “TCM Therapy + Age-Friendly Travel and Residence” (e.g., Sichuan Panzhihua's “Sunshine Wellness Base”).
This “end-to-end coverage” service model perfectly aligns with the evolving needs of global travelers, shifting from “disease treatment” to “health management.” According to a 2024 McKinsey survey, 68% of international medical tourists choose China precisely because it can simultaneously meet both “disease treatment” and “health management” needs.
II. Dual-Drive Strategy of Policy and Infrastructure Development: From “Institutional Pilot Programs” to “System Formation”
The explosive growth of China's medical tourism industry is fundamentally the result of the combined effects of policy guidance and infrastructure upgrades. Over the past decade, China has gradually established the world's most comprehensive medical tourism support system through a “top-down design plus regional pilot programs” approach.
1. Policy Breakthroughs: From “Selective Opening” to “Comprehensive Coordination”
In 2017, the former National Health and Family Planning Commission and four other departments issued the “Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Development of Health Tourism,” which first incorporated medical tourism into national strategy; in 2021, the 14th Five-Year Plan explicitly proposed “building an international medical tourism destination”; in 2023, the National Immigration Administration introduced entry and exit convenience measures for personnel from countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, allowing holders of ordinary passports to enter the country for medical purposes and stay for up to 90 days; In 2024, the General Administration of Customs issued the “Guidelines for the Clearance of Cross-border Medical Supplies,” simplifying the clearance process for specially approved medical devices and medications. These policies not only lower the entry barriers for international tourists but also address bottlenecks across the entire chain, including the flow of medical resources, the integration of payment systems, and the standardization of service standards.
The “institutional pilot zone” effect is particularly evident in special regions. As the only “medical special zone” in the country, the Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone has introduced 256 types of imported special medical devices and drugs not yet available in China (covering fields such as oncology, rare diseases, and ophthalmology) through four policies, and received 152,000 international patients in 2023, with 70% of them being from the United States, Japan , it has introduced 256 types of imported special-use medical devices and drugs not yet available in China (covering fields such as oncology, rare diseases, and ophthalmology). In 2023, it received 152,000 international patients, 70% of whom were cancer patients (with a treatment success rate 25% higher than the average in their home countries). More importantly, Lecheng has achieved a closed-loop payment system encompassing medical insurance, commercial insurance, and self-pay. Starting in 2024, eligible overseas patients can reimburse 70% of the costs for special-permitted medical devices and drugs through the “Lecheng Special Drug Insurance,” a innovation that has directly driven the proportion of Southeast Asian patients from 18% in 2020 to 45% in 2024.
2. Infrastructure Upgrades: From “Hardware Improvement” to “Service Integration”
China's medical tourism infrastructure has reached world-class standards. Take the Shanghai Pudong International Medical Park as an example, which houses the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Hospital (one of the world's most advanced cancer radiotherapy centers), Shanghai Children's Medical Center (Asia's largest children's specialty hospital), and is equipped with state-of-the-art devices such as the Da Vinci surgical robot and proton therapy systems; the International Medical Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital offers comprehensive services including “multidisciplinary consultations (MDT) + VIP wards + cross-border medical record translation,” with wards featuring private examination rooms, customized meals by nutritionists, and even translation services during medical visits.
Equally noteworthy is the development of “soft infrastructure”—a national unified appointment platform (such as the international version of “Good Doctor Online”) has connected over 2,000 hospitals, supporting multilingual registration and cost estimates; Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted at medical institutions in 45 countries and regions, and some high-end hospitals offer “one-stop” services (such as visa assistance, airport transfers, and translation). Statistics from Shanghai Jiahui International Hospital show that international patients who utilized the “medical visa + cross-border payment” service combination in the first half of 2024 experienced a 40% reduction in the duration of their medical process compared to 2019, with a satisfaction rate of 92%.
III. Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine: The Global Scarcity of “Traditional Wisdom + Modern Technology”
The core competitiveness of China's medical tourism lies in the establishment of a globally rare “dual-drive” service system integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine. This advantage stems from both the traditional wisdom of TCM's “preventive medicine” philosophy and the technological breakthroughs of modern medicine, forming a comprehensive coverage of the entire cycle from prevention to treatment to rehabilitation, thereby becoming a “scarce supply” in the international market.
1. Traditional Chinese Medicine: From “Cultural Symbol” to “Therapeutic Efficacy Certification”
The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2023, officially incorporating traditional Chinese acupuncture into its directory. While acupuncture is practiced in 183 countries and regions worldwide, 70% of tourists still choose to come to China to experience authentic traditional Chinese medical services. Data from the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine shows that despite the presence of numerous overseas traditional Chinese medical institutions, 90% of tourists believe that “Chinese doctors have higher diagnostic and treatment capabilities.”
The appeal of TCM lies not only in its therapeutic efficacy but also in its “culture + health” composite value. The practice of the ‘Xinglinyuan’ Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Tourism Demonstration Zone in Kunming, Yunnan Province, is particularly representative: it not only offers traditional therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and moxibustion but also develops “medicinal and edible” experiential courses (such as making rose flower cakes and poria paste), and “seasonal health preservation” study programs (such as moxibustion at the Spring Equinox and herbal paste at the Winter Solstice). In 2023, it welcomed 28,000 international visitors, 35% of whom were high-net-worth individuals from Europe and the United States, with an average expenditure of 42,000 yuan per person. More importantly, the “personalized diagnosis and treatment” model of traditional Chinese medicine aligns closely with the global trend toward precision medicine. The “traditional Chinese medicine constitution identification + genetic testing” joint clinic at Beijing Guang'anmen Hospital analyzes patients' constitutional types (such as qi deficiency or damp-heat) and gene expression profiles to develop customized treatment plans, attracting a large number of international patients from fields such as cancer rehabilitation and chronic disease management.
2. Modern Medicine: From “Catching Up Technologically” to “Local Leadership”
China has reached international advanced levels in fields such as cancer treatment, cardiovascular diseases, and organ transplantation, with some technologies even achieving “leapfrog development.” The “CAR-T Cell Therapy” Clinical Research Center at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital achieved a complete remission rate of 82% for lymphoma (compared to 75% in similar U.S. studies); Wuhan Tongji Hospital's “heart transplant” surgery success rate has remained above 95% for five consecutive years, with waiting times reduced by 60% compared to Europe and the United States; Guangzhou Zhongshan University First Affiliated Hospital's “Da Vinci surgical robot” performs over 5,000 surgeries annually, with its advantages of minimal trauma and rapid recovery attracting Southeast Asian patients accounting for 28% of the total.
These technological advantages, combined with the “tourism + medical care” model, have created a unique competitive edge. For example, a private hospital in Shenzhen offers a “tumor treatment + coastal convalescence” package, which includes post-surgery rehabilitation training, sea-view room accommodation, and customized meals by a nutritionist. Orders for this package increased by 210% year-on-year in the first half of 2024. A tertiary hospital in Chengdu offers a “cardiovascular rehabilitation + Qingcheng Mountain convalescence” program, combining traditional Chinese medicine therapy with natural surroundings, attracting a large number of European patients with cardiovascular diseases.
IV. Technology Empowerment: From “Service Upgrades” to “Model Reconstruction”
The high-quality development of China's medical tourism industry is inseparable from the deep empowerment of cutting-edge fields such as digital technology and biotechnology. From the full-process digitization of “online appointments + offline diagnosis and treatment” to the precision services of “gene testing + AI diagnosis,” technology is reconstructing the service logic of medical tourism.
1. Digital Healthcare: Breaking Spatial and Temporal Barriers for “Global-Local” Collaboration
In 2023, China approved nine cross-border telemedicine services, allowing overseas patients to conduct multidisciplinary consultations (MDT) with domestic experts via 5G networks. The “International Telemedicine Center” established by the Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine has provided tumor and rare disease consultation services to patients from 12 countries, with an average response time reduced to 30 minutes; Alibaba Health's “Medical Tourism Service Platform” integrates resources from over 2,000 hospitals nationwide, supporting multilingual appointment booking, medical record translation, and cost estimation. By the first half of 2024, the platform's order volume exceeded 150,000. This “online pre-diagnosis + offline treatment” model reduces the upfront decision-making costs for international tourists while improving the efficiency of medical resource allocation.
2. Biotechnology: Promoting the Popularization of “Precision Medicine”
Technological breakthroughs in China in fields such as gene sequencing, cell therapy, and regenerative medicine have shifted medical tourism from “standardized services” to “customized solutions.” For example, a Shenzhen-based biotechnology company offers a “cancer screening + immunotherapy” package that uses liquid biopsy technology (with 92% sensitivity) to detect tumor markers early, combined with CAR-T cell therapy to provide personalized treatment plans, attracting a large number of high-risk cancer patients from Europe and the United States; A stem cell therapy center in Beijing offers an “anti-aging” program based on mesenchymal stem cell-directed differentiation technology, providing high-end clients with “cell bank” storage and reinfusion services. In 2023, international clients accounted for 30% of the total. These technology-driven services not only fill the gap in the international market for precision medicine but also give China's medical tourism industry a “technology premium” advantage.
V. Cultural Resonance: From “Exotic Experiences” to “Value Recognition”
The deep appeal of medical tourism in China stems from the profound integration of Eastern health philosophy and contemporary lifestyles. While the global health tourism market is mired in homogenized competition that prioritizes technology, China's traditional wisdom centered on the concepts of “unity between heaven and humanity” and “balance of yin and yang” offers international tourists a differentiated value proposition.
1. The Global Expression of the “Preventing Illness Before It Occurs” Philosophy
The World Health Organization predicts that by 2030, there will be 5 billion chronic disease patients worldwide, leading to a surge in demand for “preventive medicine.” China's medical tourism industry has keenly identified this trend, transforming traditional Chinese medicine's philosophy of “preventing illness before it occurs and preventing its progression once it has” into experiential services: The “Traditional Chinese Medicine Wellness Guesthouse” in Mo Gan Mountain, Zhejiang Province, offers constitutional assessment, herbal baths, and qigong courses, allowing visitors to learn “seasonal health preservation” through daily activities such as hiking and tea tasting; The “Daoist Wellness Camp” in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, combines Qingcheng Tai Chi, herbal dietary therapy, and acupoint massage to create a “mountain and water healing” experience, with a 45% repeat purchase rate among international tourists in 2023. This “immersive wellness” model differentiates itself from Thailand's “spa massage” and Japan's “hot spring therapy,” better aligning with high-net-worth individuals' pursuit of “holistic health.”
2. The “technological upgrading” of traditional medicine
Chinese pharmaceutical companies have standardized the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine through modern extraction technology (e.g., artemisinin extraction purity reaches 99.9%), addressing international tourists' concerns about the “safety of traditional Chinese medicine”; Beijing University of Chinese Medicine's “Digital Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine” has developed an AI-based constitution identification system that generates personalized health plans based on tongue and pulse readings, and has been adopted by countries such as Singapore and Malaysia; Yunnan Baiyao's “Notoginseng Total Saponins” injection has passed the U.S. FDA Phase III clinical trials, laying the foundation for its international promotion. These innovations not only enhance the accessibility of traditional medicine but also shift international tourists' focus from “experiencing culture” to “trusting efficacy”—a 2024 survey of 2,000 medical tourists visiting China revealed that 68% of respondents cited “traditional therapies validated by modern technology” as a key factor in choosing China.
Conclusion: The Path from “New Hotspot” to “Benchmark”
The rise of China's medical tourism industry is the result of the combined effects of policy benefits, resource endowments, cultural wisdom, and technological innovation. It has not only injected new vitality into the global health tourism market but also promoted the globalization of the health industry through the “medicine-driven tourism, tourism-driven medicine” model. In the future, with the deepening implementation of the RCEP, the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, and breakthroughs in technologies such as digital healthcare and synthetic biology, China's medical tourism industry is poised to evolve from a “new hotspot” into a “benchmark”—this will require further optimization of international medical tourism visa policies, strengthening of international medical quality certifications (such as JCI certification), and the incorporation of traditional Chinese medicine standards into WHO guidelines. It will also necessitate an open and inclusive attitude to deeply integrate Eastern health wisdom with global civilizational achievements.
As global health tourism enters the “Chinese era,” what we see is not merely the prosperity of an industry but the manifestation of the Chinese civilization's value of “harmony in diversity”—using traditional wisdom to address modern challenges and embracing global needs with an open mindset. This may well be the ultimate key to China's medical tourism becoming a “new hotspot.”