Seeing a Doctor in Guangzhou: English-Speaking Hospitals

This guide covers logistics only: where to go, how to register and how payment works. It gives no medical advice. In an emergency, call 120 first.

Who do I call in an emergency?

• 120 for an ambulance. The emergency centre can respond in English, according to Guangzhou’s government portal, although that statement dates from a March 2021 snapshot.
• 960169 if language is the problem. The operator joins a three-way call with 110, 120, 119 or 12345. English is available 24 hours.
• 110 for the police, 119 for fire.

The Newsgd guide for foreigners says you can also go to a hospital yourself. If you cannot, 120 or a designated hospital’s number will send an ambulance, which is a paid service. See is Guangzhou safe for the full number list.

Which hospitals offer international services?

Pick by situation: private for convenience and English, public for lower cost and specialist care.

Newsgd reported that Guangdong designated 25 pilot hospitals for international medical services at the end of March 2026. We could not obtain the full list, so check each hospital’s own page. The address list in the foreigners’ guide is dated March 2021.

Guangzhou United Family Hospital’s address is No. 31 Pazhou Avenue, Haizhu District, in the Pazhou area. See where to stay in Guangzhou for the Pazhou area.

How does a hospital visit work?

According to the Newsgd guide, the sequence is:

1. Registration and triage. Book through the Guangzhou Health Link app, the hospital’s website or WeChat account, or the hotline 12320, or register at the outpatient desk.
2. Wait for your turn, then see the doctor.
3. Pay the consultation fee.
4. Tests, if needed. Some examinations must be booked separately.
5. Prescription, then pay again and collect the medicine.

Take your passport, your insurance details and your hotel’s address in Chinese. The Chinese phrases tool has a “Health and emergencies” group: 我需要看医生 (wǒ xūyào kàn yīshēng, “I need a doctor”), 最近的医院在哪里？ (zuìjìn de yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ?, “Where is the nearest hospital?”) and 药店在哪里？ (yàodiàn zài nǎlǐ?, “Where is a pharmacy?”). Our phrases guide explains when to use them.

How do payment and insurance work?

Ask about direct billing before treatment. UFH says it has direct billing arrangements with a growing list of insurers, and recommends an annual limit of US$1 million or more. Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center has agreements with more than ten insurers. If your insurer is not on a hospital’s list, you pay first and claim later.

Keep:

• itemised receipts (发票 fāpiào) and the doctor’s report;
• your insurer’s 24-hour assistance number, saved in your phone;
• the hospital’s address in Chinese for any follow-up visit.

Payment methods vary by hospital, so ask at the desk and carry a backup card and some cash. See the first 24 hours checklist for setting up payments.

What about traditional Chinese medicine?

Guangzhou has Grade III traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, such as Guangdong Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital at 111 Dade Lu, per the March 2021 guide. A traveller on r/guangzhou asked in October 2026 for foreigner-friendly options and we found no official list, so call ahead and ask whether an English-speaking staff member or an interpreter is available.