Chongqing healthcare tourism is rapidly emerging as a top choice for international patients seeking high-quality care combined with rich cultural exploration.
Chongqing, a municipality directly under the central government located in the southwest of China, attracts the attention of people from all over the world with its unique landscape of mountains and rivers, rich Bayu culture, and vibrant urban atmosphere. For foreign patients, Chongqing not only provides high-quality medical services but also serves as an extremely attractive tourist destination, perfectly integrating medical care and health preservation with leisure and sightseeing.
Why Choose Chongqing for Healthcare Tourism?
Chongqing healthcare tourism offers a unique blend of advanced treatments and cultural exploration
I. The Medical Situation in Chongqing
(1) Abundant and High-quality Medical Resources
Chongqing has a complete and high-quality medical system. Various medical institutions are scattered throughout the city, providing a solid guarantee for the health of the public and foreign patients. As of 2023, the number of medical institutions in the whole city was 22,261, with 857 hospitals. These institutions cover general hospitals, specialized hospitals, and primary medical units, with a complete range of disciplines, which can meet the diverse medical needs of different patients. The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, as the core force of regional medical care, is a modern large-scale comprehensive hospital integrating medical treatment, teaching, scientific research, prevention, health care, and foreign-related medical services. It has remarkable achievements in many disciplines such as neurosurgery, cardiovascular medicine, and endocrinology. Equipped with advanced medical equipment and a highly professional medical team, it attracts many domestic and foreign patients to seek medical treatment.
▼ The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
The Xinqiao Hospital of the Army Medical University is also very powerful, with a wide influence in the entire army and even across the country. In particular, it has exquisite technologies in the fields of respiratory medicine, orthopedics, cardiovascular surgery, etc., providing accurate and efficient medical services for patients.
▼ Xinqiao Hospital. Army Medical University
(2) International Medical Services
In order to create a convenient and comfortable medical environment for foreign patients, medical institutions in Chongqing are actively integrating with international standards and optimizing services in many aspects. Many large hospitals have established international medical departments, which comprehensively meet the special needs of foreign patients, from streamlining the medical treatment process to integrating humanistic care. Take the International Medical Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University as an example. Here, a group of medical staff proficient in multiple languages such as English, Japanese, and Korean have gathered to ensure seamless communication with foreign patients. The internal signs of the hospital use both Chinese and English, clearly guiding patients to the registration office, consulting rooms, examination rooms, pharmacies, and other areas. During the diagnosis and treatment process, medical staff will patiently explain the diagnosis of the illness, treatment plan, and rehabilitation precautions to patients in a foreign language, respecting the religious beliefs, cultural customs, and lifestyles of patients from different countries, so that foreign patients can feel the warmth and care like home in a foreign land.
▼ Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
(3) Diverse Medical Options
1. International Hospitals and Clinics: International hospitals and clinics in Chongqing are mainly concentrated in areas where foreigners live relatively concentrated, such as Yuzhong District and Jiangbei District. These medical institutions strictly follow international medical standards, and some have even been certified by authoritative international organizations such as the Joint Commission International (JCI). Raffles Hospital Chongqing is a representative among them, providing one-stop medical services such as general practice, specialized diagnosis and treatment, health check-ups, rehabilitation and nursing, covering multiple disciplines such as internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and ophthalmology. The hospital’s medical team is composed of senior doctors from all over the world, who can communicate with patients proficiently in multiple languages, eliminating language barriers. Patients can make appointments for medical treatment through convenient means such as the hospital’s official website, mobile application (APP), or telephone. Moreover, the hospital supports direct payment of many international medical insurance policies, greatly reducing the economic burden on patients and making the medical treatment process more relaxed and convenient.
▼ Raffles Hospital Chongqing
2. Special Needs Wards in Public Hospitals: The special needs wards in public hospitals in Chongqing provide excellent options for foreign patients with higher medical service requirements. For example, the special needs ward of the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University has an elegant and quiet environment, complete facilities, and is equipped with a professional medical team, providing one-to-one personalized medical services for patients. From accurate disease diagnosis, efficient treatment to meticulous rehabilitation and nursing, the special needs ward fully meets the patients’ requirements for privacy protection and medical comfort. Although the fees for special needs wards are relatively high, the high-quality medical experience provided is undoubtedly a powerful guarantee for patients’ health.
▼ Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Chongqing University
3. Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospitals: Traditional Chinese medicine hospitals in Chongqing play an important role in inheriting and promoting traditional Chinese medicine culture, bringing unique traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment experiences to foreign patients. The Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital has many senior traditional Chinese medicine experts and has significant advantages in fields such as traditional Chinese medicine internal medicine, acupuncture and massage, traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation, and traditional Chinese medicine dermatology. Foreign patients can experience the magical effects of traditional Chinese medicine therapies here, such as acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain, massage to relieve muscle fatigue, traditional Chinese medicine to regulate physical functions, and traditional Chinese medicine characteristic therapies for the treatment of skin diseases. The hospital also often holds various traditional Chinese medicine culture experience activities, such as traditional Chinese medicine health preservation lectures, traditional Chinese medicine processing demonstrations, and traditional Chinese medicine technique experience activities, allowing foreign friends to deeply understand the profoundness of traditional Chinese medicine and appreciate the unique charm of traditional Chinese medicine in prevention, health care, and disease treatment.
▼ Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
(4) Medical Insurance
When foreign patients seek medical treatment in Chongqing, it is crucial to understand medical security information. Considering that the fees for some medical service items are relatively high, purchasing suitable medical insurance has become the key to reducing the economic burden. International hospitals and special needs wards in public hospitals usually charge relatively high fees, and some insurance companies classify them as “high-cost” medical institutions. Therefore, patients may need to purchase insurance products with higher premiums to achieve full coverage of all expenses, or bear the self-paid expenses according to a certain proportion. Some insurance policies only cover hospitalization treatment expenses. The premiums of such insurance are relatively low, but patients need to bear the expenses for outpatient consultations, examinations, etc. by themselves. If patients have a limited budget, they can consider choosing the general outpatient services of public hospitals, which are more affordable. While health insurance policies that cover outpatient services (such as doctor consultations, dental treatments, drug expenses, etc.), although the premiums are higher, can fully meet the medical needs of patients in international hospitals and clinics, providing comprehensive medical security for patients.
(5) Medical Emergency Rescue
Chongqing has established an efficient and complete medical emergency rescue system to ensure that patients can quickly receive professional assistance in case of emergencies. The medical emergency call in Chongqing is 120. The Chongqing Emergency Medical Center has advanced emergency equipment and an experienced and responsive emergency team, which can respond to all kinds of emergency medical needs in the first place, quickly reach the scene and carry out rescue operations. International SOS also has a 24-hour rescue center in Chongqing, and its hotline number is [specific number], providing professional and international emergency rescue services for foreign patients, covering many aspects such as medical transfer, emergency medical consultation, and rescue coordination. In addition, some international hospitals and clinics in Chongqing also have 24-hour emergency hotlines, making it convenient for patients to seek help in case of sudden emergencies. When foreign patients first arrive in Chongqing, it is strongly recommended that they understand and remember these emergency rescue information in advance, and at the same time, be familiar with the geographical location of surrounding hospitals, so that they can quickly and accurately obtain medical assistance at critical moments to ensure their own health and safety.
▼ Call 120 For medical emergency
II. The Tourism Situation in Chongqing
(1) Rich Historical and Cultural Scenic Spots
1. Dazu Rock Carvings: The Dazu Rock Carvings are a world cultural heritage and a shining pearl of Chongqing’s history and culture. They were first built in the early Tang Dynasty, went through the Five Dynasties period, and reached their peak in the Song Dynasty. Mainly composed of Buddhist statues, with Confucian and Taoist statues also displayed, they are an outstanding representative of China’s late grotto art. The Dazu Rock Carvings are distributed in more than 40 stone carving sites within Dazu District, Chongqing. Among them, the Baodingshan Rock Carvings and the Beishan Rock Carvings are the most famous. The Baodingshan Rock Carvings take the Shengshou Temple as the center and were excavated under the auspices of the eminent monk Zhao Zhifeng in the Song Dynasty. They are large in scale, rich in content, and exquisite in craftsmanship. Through ingenious layout and vivid carvings, they closely combine Buddhist doctrines with secular life. For example, carvings such as the “Oxherding Picture” and the “Illustration of the Sutra on the Profound Kindness of Parents” are full of life atmosphere and educational significance. The Beishan Rock Carvings take the Fowan as the center, and the carving began in the late Tang Dynasty and continued through the Five Dynasties to the Southern Song Dynasty. The style of the carvings is delicate and graceful, and the figures are vivid. Its Guanyin statues are particularly exquisite and are known as the “Exhibition Hall of Chinese Guanyin Statues.” When tourists come to the Dazu Rock Carvings, they seem to travel through time and enter a palace of stone carving art, appreciating the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient Chinese stone carving art and its profound religious and cultural connotations.
2. Ciqikou Ancient Town: Ciqikou Ancient Town is located on the banks of the Jialing River in Shapingba District, Chongqing. It is an ancient town with a history of thousands of years. It was once an important land and water wharf in Chongqing and had a prosperous scene of “thousands of people bowing their hands during the day and ten thousand lanterns shining at night.” The ancient town preserves many buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The bluestone roads wind and turn, and antique shops line both sides, full of rich Bayu charm. Here, tourists can stroll through the ancient streets and alleys, feel the atmosphere of old Chongqing life, and admire the traditional Bayu architectural art. There are many characteristic shops in the ancient town, selling various handicrafts, traditional snacks, and characteristic souvenirs, such as hand-woven bamboo baskets, exquisite Shu embroidery, and crispy and delicious Chen’s Mahua. At the same time, tourists can also enter the teahouse, order a cup of covered tea, and enjoy performances such as Sichuan opera face-changing and storytelling by folk artists, experiencing the unique charm of Bayu traditional culture.
3. China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing: The China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing is located at No. 236, Renmin Road, Yuzhong District. It is a comprehensive museum integrating various cultures such as Bayu culture, Three Gorges culture, Anti-Japanese War culture, immigration culture, and united front culture. The architectural style of the museum is unique, and its appearance is like a majestic mountain city, complementing the surrounding environment. The museum has a rich collection of more than 100,000 cultural relics, covering many fields such as historical cultural relics, calligraphy and painting art, and folk culture. Among them, the cultural relics of the Three Gorges area are the most characteristic. Through a large number of cultural relics, pictures, models, and multimedia displays, it vividly shows the historical changes, natural scenery, and cultural landscape of the Three Gorges area, allowing tourists to deeply understand the profoundness of the Three Gorges culture. In addition, the museum often holds various temporary exhibitions, displaying excellent cultural and artistic achievements at home and abroad, bringing rich cultural experiences to tourists.
(2) Modern Urban Landscape
1. Liberation Monument and Hongya Cave: The Liberation Monument is located at the intersection of Zourong Road and Minzu Road in Yuzhong District. It is one of the landmark buildings in Chongqing and the only monument in China commemorating the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It carries the historical memory of Chongqing and witnesses the development and changes of the city. Nowadays, the area around the Liberation Monument has become the most prosperous commercial center in Chongqing, with tall buildings, shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and other facilities all available, making it a paradise for shopping, dining, and entertainment. When night falls, the Liberation Monument is particularly solemn under the illumination of the lights, and the surrounding streets are brightly lit, with people coming and going, bustling with activity. And Hongya Cave, not far from the Liberation Monument, is a popular check-in place in Chongqing. Hongya Cave takes the stilted buildings with the traditional architectural characteristics of Bayu as the main body, built according to the mountains and along the river. When the red lanterns are lit at night, the entire building presents a resplendent scene, as if it were a dream world in “Spirited Away.” Tourists can admire the unique architectural style here, taste a variety of characteristic Chongqing delicacies, such as hot pot, skewers, hot and sour noodles, etc., and also purchase cultural and creative products with Bayu characteristics, feeling the fashion and vitality of Chongqing.
2. Raffles City Chongqing: Raffles City Chongqing is located between Chaotianmen Square and Jiefang East Road in Yuzhong District. It consists of 8 towers and a 5-story commercial podium and is a large-scale urban complex integrating residential, office, commercial, hotel, and other functions. Its unique sailboat-shaped design has become a new landmark in Chongqing and an outstanding representative of urban modernization construction. In Raffles City Chongqing, tourists can go up to the observation deck to overlook the magnificent scenery of the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Jialing River and enjoy the panoramic view of Chongqing. The shopping mall brings together many international famous brands and various characteristic shops, meeting the shopping needs of different consumers. At the same time, there are also many restaurants, cinemas, gyms, and other entertainment and leisure facilities in the square, providing tourists with a full range of entertainment experiences. In addition, Raffles City Chongqing often holds various cultural activities and art exhibitions, attracting a large number of citizens and tourists to participate, and has become an important place for urban cultural exchanges in Chongqing.
(3) Characteristic Blocks and Mountain City Trails
1. Shibati Traditional Scenic Area: The Shibati Traditional Scenic Area is an important carrier of the culture of the mother city of Chongqing. It connects the upper and lower halves of Chongqing City and is named because the ancient stone steps extend from the edge of the Yangtze River all the way to the top of the mountain, with a total of eighteen levels. Here, a large number of old Chongqing buildings and traditional streets and alleys are preserved, full of rich Bayu charm. In Shibati, tourists can stroll along the bluestone road, admire the ancient stilted buildings, simple dwellings, and traditional shops, and feel the hustle and bustle of old Chongqing. There are many characteristic shops in the block, selling traditional handicrafts, characteristic Chongqing snacks, etc., such as hand-made leaf vein bookmarks, sweet and glutinous Liangxia. In addition, Shibati also retains some traditional life scenes, such as old teahouses, barbershops, etc., allowing tourists to seem to travel back in time and experience the lifestyle of the old Chongqing people.
2. Mountain City Trails: The Mountain City Trails are unique urban trails in Chongqing, built relying on the city’s distinctive topography and landforms, connecting various corners of the city. Among them, the section of the Mountain City Trail from Jiaochangkou to Tongyuanmen is the most renowned, with a total length of 1.74 kilometers. Along the way, many historical sites and traditional buildings are preserved, such as ancient city walls, old city gates, stilted buildings, etc. When tourists walk on the trail, they can admire the unique landscape of mountains and rivers in Chongqing and experience the ups and downs of the mountain city. There are many viewing platforms beside the trail. Standing on these platforms, one can overlook the beautiful scenery of the Yangtze River and the city. In addition, there are some cultural display points on the Mountain City Trails. Through forms such as sculptures and murals, they showcase the history, culture, and folk customs of Chongqing, allowing tourists to have a deeper understanding of the urban culture of Chongqing while enjoying the scenery.
(4) Culinary Experiences
Chongqing cuisine is renowned far and wide for its unique flavors of spiciness, numbness, freshness, and aroma, attracting countless food lovers to come and savor it.
1. Chongqing Hot Pot: Chongqing hot pot is a representative of Chongqing cuisine and an important part of Chinese hot pot culture. It is characterized by a spicy and numbing soup base, with a large amount of chili peppers, Chinese prickly ash, beef tallow, and other seasonings added. The soup cooked is rich, mellow, and full of a strong spicy and numbing flavor. The ingredients for hot pot are diverse, including tripe, duck intestines, beef, mutton, vegetables, soy products, etc. All kinds of ingredients are boiled in the pot, dipped in a special oil dipping sauce, and put into the mouth. The flavors of spiciness, numbness, freshness, and aroma burst on the taste buds instantly, making people unable to stop. There are many well-known hot pot brands in Chongqing, such as Peijie Old Hot Pot, Zhou Shixiong Chongqing Hot Pot, etc. These hot pot restaurants have authentic flavors, and their environments and services each have their own characteristics, making them great places for tourists to taste Chongqing hot pot.
2. Chongqing Noodles: Chongqing noodles are one of the traditional noodles loved by the people of Chongqing, and they are popular for their spicy and chewy taste and unique flavor. The noodles are chewy and elastic, paired with a spicy, fresh, and fragrant soup, scallions, pickled mustard greens, crushed peanuts, and other seasonings, giving off an inviting aroma. A steaming bowl of Chongqing noodles is not only the first choice for breakfast for Chongqing people but also an important window for tourists to understand the food culture of Chongqing. In the streets and alleys of Chongqing, various noodle shops can be seen everywhere. Each shop has its own unique flavor, and tourists can casually enter a noodle shop to taste the authentic Chongqing noodles.
3. Other Special Delicacies: In addition to hot pot and noodles, Chongqing has many other special delicacies. For example, Spicy Chicken is brownish-red and shiny, with a strong spicy flavor, and the chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; Mao Xuewang uses duck blood as the main ingredient, paired with tripe, luncheon meat, bean sprouts, etc., with a bright red soup and a spicy, fresh, and fragrant taste; Grilled Fish is grilled until the skin of the fresh fish is golden and crispy, and the fish meat is tender and juicy, and then various seasonings and side dishes such as onions, potatoes, konjac, etc. are added, with a rich flavor. In addition, Chongqing snacks have their own unique characteristics, such as Hot and Sour Noodles, Mountain City Small Tangyuan, Yundou Cake, etc., each of which is memorable. Tourists can taste a variety of Chongqing special delicacies at one stop in food blocks such as Jiefangbei and Guanyinqiao, and feel the charm of Chongqing’s food culture.
(5) Convenient Transportation and Tourism Services
1. Convenient Transportation: Chongqing has a convenient transportation network, providing great convenience for tourists’ travel. In terms of urban transportation, subways, buses, taxis, and other means of transportation are all available. Subway lines cover the main areas of the city, making it convenient for tourists to reach various scenic spots. For example, taking Rail Transit Line 1 can directly reach scenic spots such as Ciqikou Ancient Town and the China Three Gorges Museum in Chongqing; taking Rail Transit Line 6 can reach popular check-in places such as Hongya Cave and Raffles City Chongqing. Chongqing also has unique means of transportation, such as the Yangtze River Cableway and the light rail. The Yangtze River Cableway connects Yuzhong District and Nan’an District. Taking the cableway, one can overlook the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Yangtze River in the air and feel the unique charm of the mountain city; the light rail is famous for its unique landscape of passing through buildings, and Liziba Light Rail Station has become one of the must-visit check-in points for tourists. In terms of external transportation, Chongqing has two international airports — Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport and Wushan Shennv Peak Airport, with frequent flights to and from many cities at home and abroad. In addition, Chongqing has a well-developed railway transportation system, with multiple high-speed rail lines leading to all parts of the country, making it convenient for tourists to come to Chongqing for tourism.
2. Enhancement of Tourism Services: Chongqing has significantly upgraded its tourism services to welcome global visitors, offering multilingual audio guides at top attractions like Hongya Cave and the Three Gorges Museum, along with AI-powered translation devices. The city has expanded foreign-card payment terminals and tax-free shopping, while hotels and Yangtze River cruises provide bilingual services. With tourist-friendly initiatives like 24/7 service hubs and dedicated photo spots for its iconic monorail, Chongqing seamlessly blends cutting-edge convenience with rich cultural experiences.
Chongqing, a dynamic city in southwestern China, offers excellent medical care and rich cultural experiences. It has top hospitals like the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University and unique attractions such as the Dazu Rock Carvings and Ciqikou Ancient Town. Combining modern medical services with cultural and natural wonders, Chongqing is an ideal destination for medical tourism.
Additional Resources:
Is healthcare treatment for foreigners in China equal to that for locals?
Why Choose China for Medical Tourism Destination for international medical seekers?
