Living in China
What to Do If You Get Sick in China: Pharmacy, Clinic or Hospital
By the 17Talk teaching team - certified Mandarin teachers, 8+ years of classroom experience, 3,500+ students in 40 countries
Last updated:
Quick answer
Start at a pharmacy (药店) for minor problems - bring your passport and describe the symptoms; staff often suggest a local equivalent to what you normally take. For anything more serious, go to the international or VIP clinic of a large hospital, which is set up for foreign patients and can provide receipts for insurance. Ambulance 120, police 110.
Which door to walk through
The Chinese system assumes you will choose the right door yourself: pharmacy for small things, clinic for anything needing a test or a prescription, emergency department for anything urgent.
| Problem | Where to go | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cold, stomach upset, mild pain, allergies | Pharmacy (药店) | No appointment, cheap, staff advise on equivalents |
| Anything needing tests or a prescription | International / VIP clinic at a large hospital | English-speaking staff, appointments, insurance paperwork |
| Fever that will not break, injury, chest pain | Hospital emergency (急诊) | Open 24 hours; go directly, do not wait for morning |
| Dental, eye, chronic condition follow-up | Hospital specialist clinic | Booked through the hospital app or desk |
At the pharmacy: what to expect
Chinese pharmacies (药店) are everywhere, and many have a staff member who can advise on a replacement for a common Western medicine. Bring your passport, and bring the name of what you normally take - both the brand and the generic name if you know it - because staff recognise generics more reliably.
Antibiotics are not sold over the counter in China, so if you think you need them, that is a clinic visit, not a pharmacy visit. Keep the receipt either way; it is what an insurance claim needs.
The international clinic is the shortcut most visitors miss
Large hospitals in major cities run an international clinic (国际医疗部) or a VIP clinic: appointments instead of queues, staff who speak English, and paperwork that overseas insurers accept. It costs more than the regular outpatient department and far less than a private hospital.
Call or check online before you go: many require an appointment, and some are only open on weekdays during business hours.
Hospital mechanics, briefly
If you do end up in a Chinese hospital: register first (挂号) - usually at a machine or the app, with your passport - then see the doctor, then pay for tests or medicine before collecting them. Payment is by QR code, so have Alipay or WeChat working, and expect to walk between buildings.
Emergency departments (急诊) operate 24 hours. Ambulance is 120, police 110, fire 119, and 12367 is the immigration service line if the problem is a visa or passport issue.
Insurance: the two things that decide whether you get reimbursed
The first is the receipt - 发票, not a handwritten note. The second is a medical record that names the diagnosis and treatment, which the hospital can print for you. Ask for both at the time: going back for paperwork later is much harder.
Check before you travel whether your policy pays the hospital directly or reimburses you afterwards. If it reimburses, you will need those two documents, plus the passport number matching the patient.
The kit worth carrying so you never need this page
Practical minimum for a China trip: a small supply of whatever you take regularly (with its generic name written down), oral rehydration salts, a basic painkiller, plasters, and hand sanitiser. Pharmacy access is good, but your own medication is the one thing you cannot count on finding.
If you take prescription medicine into China, keep it in its original packaging with the prescription, and check whether it is restricted - some common medications are controlled in China and importing them can cause real problems at the border.
Common questions
Can I buy antibiotics at a pharmacy in China?
No. Antibiotics require a prescription, so that is a clinic or hospital visit. A pharmacy will help with colds, pain, stomach problems and allergies.
Do I need an appointment at a Chinese hospital?
For a regular outpatient visit you register on arrival (by app or machine). International and VIP clinics usually require an appointment, and many are only open on weekday daytimes.
What are the emergency numbers?
120 for an ambulance, 110 for police, 119 for fire. For visa, passport or immigration questions the number is 12367.
Will the hospital speak English?
In an international or VIP clinic, yes. In a standard outpatient department, often not - bring a translation app, or ask your hotel to write the key symptoms and phrases in Chinese for you.
How do I get receipts for my insurance?
Ask for the official invoice (发票) and a medical record stating the diagnosis and treatment. Request both at the time of the visit rather than returning later.
Is it expensive?
A standard outpatient visit and common medicine are inexpensive by Western standards; international clinics cost more but far less than a private hospital abroad. Emergency care is provided first, payment after.
Can I bring my own prescription medicine into China?
Keep it in the original packaging with the prescription, and check in advance whether your medicine is restricted - some common drugs are controlled in China, and that is a border issue rather than a pharmacy one.
Read next
- Your First 24 Hours in China: An Arrival Checklist (2026)
- Where to Buy Medicine in China as a Foreigner (2026 Guide)
- Can Foreigners Stay in Any Hotel in China? (2026 Rules & Refusals)
Sources
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