Traditional Chinese Medicine in China: What International Patients Should Know
中医
Where international patients can receive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture and tuina in China, how TCM fits into the hospital system, and how to arrange a visit — with a source for every fact.
Written by ChinaMedMap Editorial TeamSources checked 24 September 2026Access and logistics information — not medically reviewed
Quick answer. International patients can receive TCM in China at public TCM hospitals and at TCM departments of general hospitals. The simplest route is through a hospital's international unit — for example Longhua Hospital's International Medical Center in Shanghai — which can book appointments and, according to the Shanghai government directory, settle with commercial insurers.[2],[3]
How TCM fits into China's hospital system
TCM is a large, regulated part of China's health system. The National Health Commission's statistical bulletin counts 6,397 TCM hospitals (中医类医院) at the end of 2024, and 971,000 licensed TCM physicians and assistant physicians (中医类别执业（助理）医师).
There are two common settings. Dedicated TCM hospitals, such as Longhua Hospital in Shanghai, run departments such as TCM surgery, acupuncture and tuina. Large general hospitals often run TCM departments alongside their Western specialties — the directory below shows which hospitals we profile list one.
Longhua Hospital in Shanghai, a public TCM hospital affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
TCM in China's health system, end of 2024 (National Health Commission)[1]
Measure
Figure
TCM hospitals (中医类医院)
6,397
Beds in TCM hospitals
1.39 million — 76.3% of all beds in TCM institutions
Patient visits to TCM hospitals in 2024
840 million — 50.1% of all visits to TCM institutions
Licensed TCM physicians and assistant physicians
971,000
Compare hospitals in our directory
The table lists every hospital we profile whose official department directory includes TCM departments. The number of departments under each name is the size of that directory; the TCM column counts departments with TCM in their official name. A tick means the hospital lists a dedicated department of that name.
Language and billing entries come from each hospital's international unit page or a government directory, as cited on its profile. "Not yet confirmed" means we have not found it on an official source — it does not mean the service is unavailable.
Hospitals in our directory with TCM departments — sources on each hospital's profile
TCM hospitals and departments in China for international patients
Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of TCM is a public TCM hospital in Shanghai's Xuhui District. Its news pages refer to its International Medical Center (国际医疗中心), and its introduction page shows the plaque naming it a Shanghai International Medical Tourism Pilot Institution for 2023–2025. The Shanghai government's English directory lists English, French and Japanese and settlement with commercial insurers.
China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing is a general hospital whose department directory lists twelve TCM departments, among them acupuncture, tuina, TCM gastroenterology and integrated Chinese and Western oncology. Its International Department describes outpatient and inpatient care for international patients. Whether the International Department arranges TCM appointments is not stated on the pages we read, so ask when you book.
An inpatient suite on the International Department ward at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing.
Two ways to receive TCM, side by side[6],[4],[3],[5]
Longhua Hospital (Shanghai)
China-Japan Friendship Hospital (Beijing)
Type of hospital
Public TCM hospital
Public general hospital
Departments in official directory
46
65
TCM departments
The whole hospital is a TCM hospital
12 departments with TCM in the name
Acupuncture department
Yes
Yes
Tuina department
Yes
Yes
International unit
International Medical Center
International Department
Languages (official source)
English, French, Japanese
English, Japanese
Settlement with commercial insurers
Listed in the Shanghai government directory
Stated by the International Department
Acupuncture and tuina in China
Acupuncture (针灸) and tuina, a form of Chinese therapeutic massage (推拿), are run as their own departments at both hospitals above. They appear in each hospital's official department directory, which is linked from its profile.
This page does not describe what acupuncture or tuina may or may not help with. That depends on your condition and is a question for a qualified clinician who has reviewed your case.
Start with the hospital's international unit rather than general registration: it is the part of the hospital set up for international patients, and it can tell you which TCM departments it works with. You can also send ChinaMedMap a request and a person on our team will contact the hospital for you.
Foreign patients seen in international departments pay by commercial insurance or out of pocket; China's public medical insurance does not apply. Ask whether your insurer has a direct-billing arrangement with the hospital.
Questions to ask the international unit before you book
Ask
Why it matters
Which TCM departments can you book for international patients?
A department in the directory is not always bookable through the international unit.
Which language will the practitioner use, and is an interpreter provided?
Language support is often confirmed for the international unit, not for each department.
What will a first visit and each follow-up session cost?
We have not found published international prices, so get a written estimate.
Can you bill my insurer directly?
Direct billing depends on the insurer and the hospital's agreements.
How many sessions are usually booked, and how far apart?
It affects how long you need to stay and which visa you need.
Costs
We have not found TCM prices for international patients published by either hospital. Ask the international unit for a written estimate that lists consultation, treatment sessions and any herbal prescriptions before you travel.
Confirmed for international patients
These hospitals state on an official page that their international unit provides this care. Each link opens the hospital's profile with the source.
Can foreigners get acupuncture at a public hospital in China?
Yes, at hospitals that offer it through an international unit. Longhua Hospital in Shanghai provides TCM services to international patients through its International Medical Center and has its own acupuncture department. Ask the center which services it can book for you.[2],[6]
Which languages are available?
For Longhua Hospital, the Shanghai government directory lists English, French and Japanese. For other hospitals, check the language entry on each profile — many are still marked "Not yet confirmed".[3]
Will my insurance pay?
China's public medical insurance does not cover foreign patients in international departments. Some hospitals settle directly with commercial insurers — the Shanghai government directory lists this for Longhua Hospital — so check with your insurer before you travel.[7],[3]
This page covers how to access care and what we could confirm from official sources. It does not say whether a treatment is right for you — only a qualified clinician who has reviewed your case can do that. ChinaMedMap is not an emergency service.
References
2024年我国卫生健康事业发展统计公报National Health Commission · Chinese · dated 2025-12 · retrieved 21 September 2026
龙华医院首页（国际医疗中心活动新闻）Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · Chinese · retrieved 23 September 2026
医院介绍 — 上海中医药大学附属龙华医院Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine · Chinese · retrieved 23 September 2026
Hospitals in our directory with TCM departments
Each of these hospitals lists at least one such department in its official department directory (sources on each profile). A listed department shows what the hospital offers in general; ask its international unit whether it arranges this care for international patients.
Tell us what you need. A person on our team reviews every request and replies with providers that may fit. We share your details with a provider only after you agree.
