Safety Tips and Travel Insurance for Visitors to China
China is a hot new destination for world travelers and visitors in many ways. Travel here is booming. And it’s a country on the cutting edge of cuisine, fashion, technology, and entertainment.
In 2024, China spent over $250 billion on international tourism. In comparison, the United States, the third most visited destination worldwide, spent roughly $178 billion on international tourism. And according to Statista’s 2025 report, China had the highest travel and tourism employment worldwide in 2023.
China wasn’t always so accessible. In fact, between 1949 and 1974, the tourism industry was closed to all but select foreign visitors. Today’s tourists are often playing catch-up when it comes to their knowledge about the country.
Our guide to travel insurance for China provides comprehensive information on travel insurance and safety advice to help every traveler have the best possible trip.
Find the Best International Travel Insurance
- Compare top-rated travel insurance providers
- Get quotes for Travel Medical, Trip Cancellation, and more
- Choose the best plan for your trip and budget
Travel Insurance for China
When traveling to China, you will want to consider one of two types of coverage. Travel medical insurance plans cover medical emergencies and provide additional benefits, such as medical evacuation and trip interruption coverage. Your other option, trip cancellation insurance, offers the same benefits but covers the cost of your flight to Asia and other travel expenses.
Travel Medical Insurance Plans for Visitors
Comprehensive travel medical insurance is essential in China. Treatment at the best private hospitals is more costly than at the more basic public hospitals. If serious health care is needed in a remote area, expensive air transport is required. It’s best to be prepared.
Select a travel insurance policy from a company that offers comprehensive coverage, including translation services, medical evacuation, and access to private hospitals, to maximize your comfort.
Patriot Platinum Travel Insurance
- Maximum limits up to $8,000,000
- IMG pays 100% of medical expenses in-network
- Evacuation due to Natural Disasters & Political Unrest
The BCBS Global Solutions Single Trip Platinum plan is an excellent option for U.S. citizens and residents.
Single Trip Platinum Travel Insurance
- For U.S. citizens and residents up to age 95
- Includes pregnancy coverage, baggage loss, trip interruption & more
- 24/7/365 service and assistance
Trip Cancellation Insurance for US Citizens and Residents Traveling to China
We recommend the Trawick Pathway Premier plan—Comprehensive Trip Protection and Travel Medical insurance for U.S. citizens and residents traveling to China.
Pathway Premier
- Comprehensive Travel Protection and Travel Medical Insurance
- Available to U.S. residents traveling for up to 90 days within the U.S. and internationally
- Optional CFAR, IFAR, Rental Car Damage, and Adventure Sports coverage
Long-Term Global Medical Insurance in China for Foreigners
If you are looking for international health insurance for foreigners living in China, the Cigna Global Plan is a comprehensive, annual-renewable plan that provides coverage. This plan provides yearly unlimited coverage, including doctor’s office visits, prescription drugs, maternity care, surgery, hospitalizations, diagnostic testing, lab work, emergency medical evacuation, and repatriation.
This plan will cover your medical expenses worldwide, including China, and you can choose to include or exclude the U.S. from coverage.
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
- Flexible plans tailored to your needs and budget
- 1.5M+ providers in 200+ countries
- 24/7 multilingual customer support
General Travel Tips and Safety Advice for Visitors to China
China is larger and more diverse than most travelers realize, with a range of ethnicities, geographies, cuisines, and traditions. Regardless of where you visit, keep these tips in mind.
Work hard to break the language barrier. English language skills are growing rapidly, especially among young people and urban dwellers. However, knowing several basic Mandarin phrases is invaluable. Hire a tutor for the most efficient learning experience. Even a few hours of free online instruction will make a huge difference when you arrive. (And if you need extra motivation, note that a typical scam is taxi drivers who don’t turn on the meter. Ask your tutor for a phrase or two to use in this situation!)
As with travel to all major cities, please remain vigilant. Pickpockets love large crowds and distracted foreigners. Additionally, if you are concerned about getting lost and unsure how to find your way back to your hotel, take a photo of the hotel’s business card (in Mandarin) and a photo of the exterior.
Research the weather while planning your trip. The country is vast, with an equally significant number of climate zones. Knowing what to expect will help you be more comfortable during your trip.
Make communication plans. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are officially banned in China. Make arrangements to stay in touch by email or invest in a VPN (virtual private network).
Expect pollution and congestion. Air quality is poor to very poor in many locations, and smog levels are particularly notable in China’s cities. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates in Hong Kong, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang provide air quality data to travelers, helping them prepare for their trips. Cigarette smoking is also widespread. Speak with your doctor before your trip if you are prone to asthma.
Vaccines Required for Visitors to China
Before any trip, check that your routine vaccinations are up to date. This list includes tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, chickenpox, polio, and influenza. Additionally, travelers to China should be vaccinated for Hepatitis A and B. In particular, Hepatitis B is widespread in China, with approximately 10% of the population infected.
The CDC also recommends that travelers speak with their doctors about vaccines for typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis, as well as a preventive treatment for malaria. Whether you require these different forms of protection depends on where you’ll be traveling and what you’ll be doing.
Depending on where you are traveling to in China, the following diseases are common, so take standard precautions:
- hepatitis A and B
- influenza
- measles
- tuberculosis
- typhoid
Diet, Water, and Medication Considerations
Tap water in China is not safe to drink. Bottled water, soft drinks, beer, and hot coffee and tea are widely available. Identify safe street food vendors by a long line of locals eager to eat their fare. Look for a busy cook who continuously cooks to fill orders (and does not let food sit and cool). Treat undercooked or raw meat and eggs with severe caution.
Most cities, including those in Tibet, Qinghai, parts of Xinjiang, and western Sichuan, are at altitudes over 10,000 feet. Altitude sickness can be a problem, so take precautions.
Cash payment for services, including emergency cases, is often required before treatment. Travelers will be required to post a deposit upon admission to cover the estimated cost of treatment. Hospitals in major cities may accept credit cards.
When with prescriptions or other medications, always check with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to ensure the medicine or drug is legal in China. Carry prescription medication, along with your prescription, in its original packaging.
Many common drugs and medications are not available in China, and counterfeit, low-quality knockoffs are prevalent. If you try to have medications sent to you from outside China, you may have problems getting them released by Chinese Customs, and/or you may have to pay high customs duties.
Your packing list should always include sunscreen, bug spray with 20% DEET, and a basic first-aid kit. Prescription medication must be in the original pharmacy packaging, with the prescription label attached.
Emergency Assistance Numbers for Visitors
- Emergency services Beijing: dial 999
- Emergency services Shanghai: Dial 120
- Fire department services: dial 119
- Police services: dial 110
Note: Chinese ambulances can be slow to arrive and often lack modern medical equipment or trained responders.
Embassies in China
- United States: 86 10 8531-3000
- United Kingdom: 86 10 5192 4000
- Canada: 86 10 5139 4000
- Australia: 86 10 5140 4111
- France: 86 10 8531 2000
Understanding the Chinese Medical System
Healthcare in China is a mix of public and private services. Nearly 95% of the population has some form of basic public health coverage. However, the public plan covers only a portion of the cost associated with personal medical treatment.
The system is restructuring, in part, to shrink the coverage gap between rural and urban regions. Cities like Beijing and Shanghai offer Chinese hospitals world-class care and have excellent specialist services. However, rural areas often have limited or even nonexistent health services.
Traditional medicine has been practiced in China for over 2,000 years. It is often practiced in conjunction with Western techniques and treatments, although not always in harmony. Few practitioners are equally competent in both fields. In rural areas, healthcare options are often limited to traditional medicine, including herbal remedies, acupuncture, and acupressure.
Resources for Expats or Visitors to China
Find the Best International Travel Insurance
- Compare top-rated travel insurance providers
- Get quotes for Travel Medical, Trip Cancellation, and more
- Choose the best plan for your trip and budget
Joe Cronin, President of ICI, is a leading expert in international health, life, and travel insurance. An MBA and founder of multiple global businesses, he helps expatriates and travelers access trusted, comprehensive insurance solutions worldwide.
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