Everything you need to travel, pay, and receive care in China
Four practical guides that walk you through every logistics step of your LotusBridge journey — from visa to discharge.
Visa Guide
LotusBridge helps you identify the correct category and assembles the supporting documents you need for a clean, fast approval.
Visa categories at a glance
| Visa | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| S2 | Short-term private affairs | Up to 180 days |
| S1 | Long-term private affairs | Over 180 days |
| L | Tourism | Typically short stays |
| Q1 / Q2 | Family visits to Chinese citizens / permanent residents | Varies |
| M | Commercial and trade activities | Varies |
Visa-free entry that permits medical treatment
Certain Chinese visa-free policies explicitly list "seeking medical treatment" as a lawful purpose of entry. Eligibility depends on your nationality and the specific policy. Always confirm the current policy before travel.
30-Day Hainan Visa Exemption (59 countries)
- Purpose
- Medical treatment, business, tourism, family visits (no work or study)
- Max stay
- Up to 30 days
- Coverage
- Hainan Province only — U.S. passport holders are on the 59-country list
- Ticket requirement
- No third-country ticket needed
240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption
- Purpose
- Transit only — must depart to a third country
- Max stay
- Up to 10 days (240 hours)
- Coverage
- 24 designated provinces (cross-region travel allowed)
- Ticket requirement
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third country required
30-Day Nationwide Visa Exemption
- Purpose
- Tourism, business, family visits, short-term consultations
- Max stay
- Up to 30 days
- Coverage
- Nationwide (check current eligible nationalities)
- Ticket requirement
- No third-country ticket needed
LotusBridge is not a registered visa or immigration agency. We provide administrative facilitation and logistical coordination — including a patient-specific document checklist, pre-submission review, and timeline alignment with your treatment schedule.
Payment Guide
- 1Our service fees are fully transparent, and we help patients obtain transparent pricing for hospital treatment.
- 2Payment for our service fees is flexible and can be made via wire transfer, ACH, Zelle, PayPal, and other methods.
- 3Treatment fees at Chinese hospitals are primarily paid through WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Mobile Payments in China: WeChat Pay & Alipay
China is overwhelmingly cashless. WeChat Pay and Alipay are the two dominant mobile payment platforms, used everywhere from hospital billing counters and pharmacies to taxis, hotels, and restaurants. Setting up at least one of these apps before you depart keeps your medical journey — and everyday logistics — running smoothly. LotusBridge recommends installing and verifying both, since merchant compatibility varies between the two. If WeChat Pay and Alipay are both unavailable, patients can pay in RMB cash at the hospital cashier or use a physical UnionPay or supported international bank card.
Transaction efficiency
Settle hospital bills, pharmacy costs, and daily expenses by scanning a single QR code — no cash counting or card swiping.
Reduced cash dependency
No need to carry large amounts of RMB, and you bypass the limited acceptance of international credit cards at local institutions.
Consolidated records
Every healthcare and personal expense is logged in one app, making reconciliation and insurance claims straightforward.
Supported international cards: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, American Express, Diners Club, and UnionPay (Alipay). A small, refundable verification charge confirms card validity when you first link it.
LotusBridge never collects treatment fees directly — payments go to the hospital and verified service providers, with receipts for every charge.
Travel Guide
From landing to discharge and back home, every leg of your trip is coordinated so you and your family can focus on recovery.
Flights and arrival
We help book flights to match your treatment dates and arrange airport meet-and-greet with private transfer to your lodging or hospital.
Lodging near your hospital
Choose from partner hotels, serviced apartments, or family-friendly recovery suites within minutes of your treatment center.
Daily ground support
A bilingual coordinator and interpreter accompany every appointment, test, and procedure, and handle local transport throughout your stay.
Recovery travel home is planned in advance with your physician, including any in-flight medical considerations and follow-up handoff.
Hospital Guide
LotusBridge partners with leading JCI-accredited and top-tier Chinese hospitals across China’s first-tier cities.
Where you’ll receive care: China’s leading medical-tourism hubs
LotusBridge recommends hospitals and cities across China’s first-tier hubs — not only Shanghai and Beijing, but also Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and other major cities. Each combines top-tier clinical infrastructure with the international patient services your journey depends on.
Beijing
A national hub for specialized clinical care and medical research
Beijing is a primary hub for medical tourism in China, defined by its high concentration of specialized healthcare facilities and medical research centers. The city’s healthcare infrastructure encompasses over 12,500 medical institutions, including more than 50 Grade III Class A hospitals — the highest clinical classification in China’s healthcare system. For international patients, this means access to established clinical resources and advanced treatment protocols at competitive cost structures.
Shanghai
An evolving international healthcare provider with standardized cross-border pathways
Shanghai serves as a primary destination for medical tourism in China, supported by measurable clinical advancements, standardized Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) integration, and systematic regulatory policies. International patient intake capacity is established through the municipal designation of 13 public hospitals as international pilot units and the operational expansion of the Shanghai New Hongqiao International Medical Center. As of 2023, Shanghai’s medical network comprises over 6,400 institutions.
International standards and quality assurance
- International departments: Key public hospitals operate specialized departments to accommodate cross-border patients, integrating logistical support with clinical care while respecting specific cultural and dietary requirements.
- Language & administrative support: Facilities such as Beijing United Family Hospital employ bilingual (Chinese/English) staff and offer dedicated medical translation services alongside English-language appointment systems.
- JCI accreditation: A significant number of hospitals in major Chinese hubs hold Joint Commission International (JCI) certification, indicating adherence to standardized global patient safety, facility management, and operational protocols.
- Standardized patient pathways: These institutions have implemented standardized international patient pathways, featuring multilingual clinical staff and integrated case management systems for foreign nationals.
Every partner hospital is vetted for clinical quality, safety standards, and experience treating international patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the logistics questions patients ask most before traveling to China.
Ready to start your journey?
Our coordinators will walk you through every guide in detail, tailored to your treatment.
Talk to a Coordinator