Hainan Medical Tourism: How Boao Lecheng Is Opening China to International Patients

China is known for many things.

It is known for large cities, modern trains, new technology, factories, and a long history.

But China is not yet known as a top medical tourism country.

Most international patients think first about Thailand, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, India, or South Korea. These countries have spent many years building their names in medical travel.

China now wants to change this.

One of the most important parts of this plan is the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone. It is located in Qionghai, in China’s island province of Hainan.

The zone is trying to bring together advanced medical care, new medicine, international patient support, wellness, and tourism.

Its goal is simple.

It wants to make it easier for patients from China and other countries to receive special medical care in Hainan.

What Is Boao Lecheng?

Boao Lecheng is not one hospital.

It is a large medical area with many hospitals, clinics, research centres, and health companies. It is often called Lecheng or Boao Hope City.

The Chinese government approved the zone in 2013. It is the only special medical tourism pilot zone of its kind in China.

The word “pilot” is important.

It means the government can test new healthcare rules inside this area before using them in other parts of China.

For example, some hospitals in Lecheng can apply to use certain medicines and medical devices that are already approved in other countries but are not yet widely approved in mainland China.

This gives patients earlier access to some new forms of care.

The zone was created to develop services such as cancer care, health management, rehabilitation, anti-ageing care, and the use of new medical technology. It has also brought in products for heart care, eye care, skin care, plastic surgery, cancer treatment, and infectious diseases.

A New One-Stop Centre for Foreign Patients

One of the biggest problems in medical tourism is not the treatment itself.

It is everything around the treatment.

A patient may not know which hospital to choose. The patient may need help with a visa, airport transport, hotel booking, translation, medical records, payment, or recovery.

Foreign patients may also find it hard to contact different hospitals and compare their services.

To solve this problem, Lecheng opened a one-stop service centre for international patients.

The centre aims to connect more than 40 medical institutions inside the zone. It is designed to help hospitals share information and send patients to the right medical team.

Its services include:

• Visa support
• Medical transfer support
• Help moving patients across borders
• Recovery and aftercare services
• A foreign-language telephone line
• Tourism and cultural activities
• A digital system for international visitors
• Help moving patients between hospitals

Lecheng has also created a personal service officer system.

Under this system, a staff member can guide a foreign patient through the full journey. This may begin before the patient arrives and continue until the patient leaves Hainan.

The one-stop model could make the process much easier for patients who do not speak Chinese or understand China’s hospital system.

Why the Full Patient Journey Matters

Medical travel is not the same as normal tourism.

A tourist can change a hotel or cancel a day trip. A sick patient may not have that freedom.

The patient needs clear answers before making the trip.

Which doctor will provide the treatment?

How many days will the patient stay in the hospital?

What tests are needed?

How much could the full treatment cost?

What happens if the patient has a problem?

Who will help the patient after leaving the hospital?

These questions can decide whether a patient feels safe enough to travel.

A one-stop service centre cannot replace a good doctor or hospital. But it can remove many small problems that make medical travel feel risky.

It can also help family members.

Many international patients do not travel alone. A husband, wife, parent, child, or friend may come with them. That person may need a hotel, food, transport, translation, and information about the patient’s care.

Medical tourism destinations that support the whole family often build more trust.

Early Access to New Medicines and Medical Devices

One of Lecheng’s strongest selling points is access to certain new medical products.

In many countries, a new medicine or medical device may be approved in one market years before it is approved in another market.

China has created special rules that allow approved medical institutions in Lecheng to apply to import small amounts of urgently needed drugs and medical devices for specific patients.

These products must still follow review and safety rules. They cannot simply be sold anywhere in China.

According to China Daily, Lecheng had introduced 570 innovative medicines and medical devices by June 2026. Nearly 280,000 patients had benefited from these products.

China has also introduced tax support for eligible imported medicines and medical devices in the zone. In 2024, the government announced that some eligible products could receive exemptions from import tariffs and value-added tax. The aim was to reduce costs and help Lecheng bring international medical technology into China more quickly.

This policy makes Lecheng different from a normal medical tourism centre.

Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey, and Mexico often compete through price, service, skilled doctors, or popular treatments.

Lecheng may compete through access.

It can offer some patients the chance to use a medicine or device that may not yet be available in their home country or in other parts of China.

Advanced Cancer Treatment in Lecheng

China Daily gave the example of a 34-year-old university professor from Russia.

The patient travelled to Lecheng in May 2026 for boron neutron capture therapy, also known as BNCT. After treatment, he stayed in Qionghai for several days and visited local places.

BNCT is a type of radiation treatment.

First, a substance containing boron is given to the patient. The boron is meant to collect in tumour cells. The patient is then exposed to a special neutron beam. The neutrons react with the boron and create energy that can kill the tumour cells.

The aim is to target the cancer while limiting damage to nearby healthy tissue.

BNCT is not a simple or common treatment for every cancer patient. It is still being studied and used for selected cancers and selected patients. A specialist medical team must decide whether it is suitable.

This type of treatment shows the kind of patient Lecheng may be able to attract.

A patient may not travel to Hainan for a normal medical test that is already available at home. But the patient may travel for a special treatment, medicine, or medical device that is difficult to find elsewhere.

How Many International Patients Visit Lecheng?

Lecheng is growing, but its international market is still at an early stage.

According to figures reported by China Daily, Lecheng received nearly 10,000 overseas medical trips in 2025. These patients came from 14 countries and regions, including Russia, Canada, and parts of the Middle East.

From January through April 2026, the zone recorded close to 500,000 medical tourism visits. More than 4,000 of these visits were from overseas.

These numbers need to be read carefully.

The large total includes mainly Chinese patients travelling to Lecheng from other parts of China. It does not mean that 500,000 foreign patients visited the zone.

International patients still make up only a small part of the total.

This shows both a weakness and an opportunity.

The weakness is that Lecheng is not yet a major global medical tourism brand.

The opportunity is that the zone already has hospitals, policies, treatments, and a large domestic patient base. It can use this base to build a stronger international service over time.

Why Hainan Can Work as a Medical Tourism Destination

Hainan is often called China’s tropical island.

It has beaches, warm weather, resorts, golf courses, hotels, nature, and wellness services. Sanya is its best-known tourism city, while Haikou is the provincial capital.

This gives Hainan a useful advantage.

A large industrial city may have great hospitals, but it may not feel like a good place to rest after treatment.

Hainan can combine healthcare with a calmer setting.

A patient may receive treatment in Lecheng and then recover near the sea. Family members can stay nearby. Some patients may also add light tourism, traditional Chinese medicine, spa care, or health programmes to their visit.

Lecheng plans to create packages that mix medical care with traditional Chinese medicine, beach holidays, wellness, and cultural experiences.

This does not mean every patient should go sightseeing after treatment.

Recovery plans must always follow the doctor’s advice.

But for health checks, wellness programmes, small procedures, or long-term recovery, Hainan’s tourism offer may make the trip more attractive.

Easier Visa Access

Visa rules can have a big effect on medical tourism.

A patient may need treatment quickly. Long visa forms and embassy visits can stop the trip before it begins.

Hainan has expanded visa-free access for international visitors.

As of 2026, citizens of 86 countries could enter Hainan without a visa under the island’s entry policies. Hainan has also improved international flight links through airports in Haikou, Sanya, and Qionghai.

This is helpful for medical travellers.

Still, patients must check the exact rules before booking. Visa-free entry may depend on nationality, travel route, length of stay, and reason for visiting.

A patient who needs a long treatment or several hospital visits may need a different type of visa.

Hospitals and medical travel companies should explain these rules clearly.

Which Patients Could Lecheng Attract?

Lecheng may not be the right choice for every international patient.

It is unlikely to win large numbers of patients by selling only low-cost dental work, hair transplants, or simple cosmetic surgery. Countries such as Turkey, Thailand, and Mexico already have strong systems for these treatments.

Lecheng may be stronger in areas where China has something special to offer.

These may include:

• New cancer medicines
• Advanced cancer treatment
• Rare disease care
• Special medical devices
• Eye treatment
• Heart care
• Rehabilitation
• Health screening
• Anti-ageing programmes
• Traditional Chinese medicine
• Medical wellness
• Second medical opinions
• Long-term health management

It may also attract Chinese people who live overseas but feel comfortable receiving care in China.

Patients from Russia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East may also become important target groups.

Hainan already receives many tourists from Russia and nearby Asian countries. This tourism flow can help the island introduce its healthcare services to more people.

Why International Patients May Still Hesitate

Lecheng has good policies, but policies alone will not create a global medical tourism business.

Foreign patients need proof.

They need to see clear doctor profiles, hospital licences, treatment results, real patient stories, and easy-to-understand prices.

They may also worry about language.

Some hospitals in Lecheng have staff who speak English, Japanese, Thai, Arabic, and other languages. This is a good start. But language support must be available during the whole journey, not only during the first sales call.

Patients also need clear prices.

A hospital should explain what is included in the treatment package. It should show the cost of tests, medicine, hospital rooms, doctor fees, translation, and follow-up care.

Another problem is trust.

Some international patients may know very little about Chinese private hospitals. They may not understand the difference between a strong hospital and a weak hospital.

Lecheng must build a clear international brand. It cannot expect foreign patients to travel only because a government policy exists.

Aftercare Will Be Very Important

A patient’s journey does not end when the patient flies home.

Cancer patients may need more tests.

Surgery patients may need wound checks.

Patients may need help with medicine, side effects, pain, diet, or exercise.

Lecheng hospitals will need reliable overseas partners.

These partners may include local doctors, clinics, medical tourism agencies, rehabilitation centres, and online consultation services.

Before the patient leaves Hainan, the hospital should give a clear medical report. It should explain what the patient must do next and who to contact if there is a problem.

Strong aftercare can turn one patient into a long-term relationship.

Poor aftercare can damage trust, even when the treatment itself goes well.

Business Opportunities Around Lecheng

Lecheng’s growth may create opportunities for more than hospitals.

International medical tourism companies can help find and guide patients. Travel companies can provide flights, hotels, and transport. Translation teams can help patients speak with doctors.

Other business opportunities may include:

• International patient marketing
• Overseas doctor referral networks
• Medical second-opinion services
• Insurance partnerships
• Corporate health programmes
• Airport and hotel services
• Recovery accommodation
• Rehabilitation services
• Halal and international food
• Arabic and Russian patient support
• Medical record translation
• Online follow-up platforms

However, these companies must do more than sell treatment.

They must understand the medical service, the patient’s needs, the possible risks, and the rules of each target country.

Medical tourism is built on trust. One bad case can hurt the name of the hospital, the agent, and the destination.

Can Hainan Become a Global Medical Tourism Hub?

Hainan has many of the pieces needed to build a strong healthcare travel industry.

It has government support.

It has special rules for new medicines and medical devices.

It has modern hospitals and research centres.

It has warm weather, beaches, hotels, and an established tourism industry.

It also has visa-free entry for many travellers.

But Hainan is still at the start of its international journey.

It must improve global marketing, foreign-language service, price clarity, hospital information, patient reviews, international insurance, and overseas aftercare.

It must also choose the right position.

Hainan should not try to copy Thailand or Turkey.

Its best chance may be to become known as the place where international patients can find advanced treatments, new medical products, strong health management, and a peaceful place to recover.

The new one-stop service centre is an important move in this direction.

It makes the patient journey easier. It connects hospitals. It supports foreign visitors. It also shows that Lecheng understands an important truth.

Great medical care is not only about what happens in the treatment room.

It is also about how the patient is welcomed, guided, informed, protected, and supported from the first message until the patient returns home.