How to Book an Appointment in China

Booking a hospital appointment in China is very different from home: most top hospitals use online booking platforms or their own WeChat app, and the main domestic platforms are built for Chinese patients. Here is how it actually works, and the most reliable routes for an international patient.

The main booking channels (and what they can do)

1. Hospital WeChat service account / app (most reliable for foreigners)

Nearly every top hospital runs a WeChat public account (公众号) or a dedicated app. This is usually the best route for you because:

• You can often select a specific doctor (not just a department), which the 114 phone line cannot do.
• Some international departments offer an English interface or English-speaking desk.
• You get the actual appointment code to show at check-in.

Beijing examples: search WeChat for the hospital, e.g. 京医通 (for PUMCH and many Beijing hospitals) or the hospital’s own service account. Shanghai examples: hospitals use the Shanghai Health Cloud (上海健康云) app or their own WeChat account.

⚠️ You need a WeChat account with a Chinese phone number or a linked payment to use most of these. If you don’t have WeChat set up, ask your hospital’s international desk to book for you — this is the simplest path.

2. 114 / 116114 (Beijing unified booking phone + website)

In Beijing, 114 (phone 010-114) and the website 114yygh.com are a unified appointment platform covering many public hospitals.

• Limitation: via 114 you generally cannot name a specific doctor — you book into a department/slot.
• Good for general department appointments; less useful if you need a particular expert.

3. Shanghai platforms: 随申办 (Suishenban) + 上海健康云

In Shanghai, the Suishenban app and Shanghai Health Cloud app let you search a hospital by name and book. Hospitals also have their own WeChat accounts. By the end of 2025 most Shanghai public hospitals accept an electronic medical record card (电子病历卡) for check-in.

4. The international patient department (recommended for you)

For complex cases, the cleanest route is to book through the hospital’s International Medical Department (国际医疗部 / 国际医疗). It handles:

• Appointments (often with a specific doctor)
• Interpreters / translation
• Coordination and a single point of contact
• Higher-tier (international) fees that match the quality of service you expect

Real example (PUMCH, Beijing): PUMCH’s International Medical Services (est. 1951) offers regular, evening, and VIP special-appointment clinics, with a dedicated international fee (historically around ¥1,375 for an international/VIP consult, suited to patients with international insurance). Its health-management and endoscopy centers are in the Dongdan campus, with a parallel unit at Xidan.

What to have ready before you book

• A short English summary of your condition (see Preparing for your trip)
• Your passport details (hospitals use it for the medical record)
• Prior imaging/reports on a USB or in the cloud, with English translations where possible
• A payment method (see Payment in China)

The simplest, most reliable path for a first visit

1. Email the hospital’s international department (or us) with your case summary + dates you can come.
2. They confirm an appointment slot (often with a specific doctor) and send the fee.
3. Pay a deposit (see Payment protection).
4. They give you a booking confirmation to show at check-in.
5. On the day, arrive early, go to the international / VIP entrance if one exists, and use the interpreter provided.

⚠️ Verify before you travel. Booking channels, fees, and app availability change. Confirm the current international-department contact and your exact appointment directly before you book.

📮 Not sure where to start? Send us your case summary and we'll help you find the right hospital and book the appointment. Start a consultation →