X-Ray Cost in China
What you actually pay at public hospitals and foreign-owned private facilities. Last reviewed April 2026.
Quick Overview
China's public healthcare runs on three main insurance schemes — UEBMI (urban employees), URRBMI (urban/rural residents, merging URBMI and NRCMS), and various local supplementary plans. Public hospital X-rays are inexpensive by Western standards: ¥50–300 depending on study and city tier. Foreign-owned private hospitals (Beijing United Family, Shanghai United Family, ParkwayHealth, Raffles) serve expats and affluent Chinese at 5–10× higher prices. Tier-1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) sit at the upper end of the public price range.
🏥 Public Hospital (Tier 2–3)
- Typical chest X-ray at tier-2 hospital
- Insurance reimbursement applies after deductible
- Walk-in registration ("guahao") common
- Same-day imaging
🏥 Tertiary Hospital (Tier 3 / Class A)
- Top-tier public hospitals in Beijing / Shanghai
- Higher fees; specialist consultation bundled
- Insurance reimbursement lower share
- Long registration queues for famous hospitals
🏥 Foreign-owned Private
- Beijing United Family, ParkwayHealth, Raffles
- English service, shorter waits
- International private insurance often covers
- 5–10× Chinese public prices
Typical Chinese X-Ray Prices
Prices depend on hospital tier (二级 / 三级), city tier, and whether the study is simple or complex. The figures below are indicative April 2026 ranges.
| X-Ray Service | Public tier 2 (RMB) | Public tier 3 / tier-1 city | Foreign-owned private | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chest | ¥50–80 | ¥100–200 | ¥250–500 | $7–$70 |
| Limb / joint / hand | ¥60–100 | ¥120–200 | ¥250–500 | $8–$70 |
| Spine — single segment | ¥80–150 | ¥150–300 | ¥350–600 | $11–$85 |
| Spine — multi-view | ¥150–300 | ¥300–500 | ¥700–1,200 | $20–$170 |
| Abdomen | ¥60–100 | ¥120–200 | ¥300–500 | $8–$70 |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | ¥80–180 | ¥150–300 | ¥400–700 | $11–$100 |
Indicative ranges. USD conversions at approximately ¥7.2 = $1. Foreign-owned private hospital prices vary by city — Shanghai and Beijing are most expensive. Always confirm current pricing with the facility.
How Chinese Medical Insurance Works
The main schemes
- UEBMI: Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance — formal-sector workers
- URRBMI: Urban-Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance (merged URBMI + NRCMS)
- Commercial insurance: Ping An, CPIC, and international plans (Bupa, Allianz)
- Catastrophic medical insurance: top-up for major illnesses
How reimbursement works
- Annual deductible per scheme and city
- Reimbursement rates: 70–95% at in-scheme hospitals
- Tier 3 / Class A hospitals reimburse less than tier 2
- Out-of-area treatment reimburses at lower rates
- Many services paid in full at point of care, then reimbursed
How to get an X-ray
- Register ("挂号" guahao) at a designated public hospital
- See a doctor, who orders the X-ray and prints the request
- Pay at the cashier ("交费")
- Imaging done in the radiology department
- Results typically same day (digital) or next day (printed)
Where to Get an X-Ray
🏥 Major Public Hospitals
- Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) — Beijing
- Zhongshan Hospital — Shanghai
- Ruijin Hospital — Shanghai
- West China Hospital — Chengdu
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital — Guangzhou
- Tier 2 / Class A hospitals in every prefecture
🏥 Foreign-owned / Joint Venture
- Beijing United Family Hospital (and Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin branches)
- ParkwayHealth — Shanghai, Beijing
- Raffles Medical — Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen
- DeltaHealth — Shanghai
- Jiahui Health — Shanghai
- Qingdao United Family Hospital
💡 Practical tips
- Public tier-2 hospitals offer best value for routine imaging
- Big public hospitals: arrive early for guahao — famous ones fill up
- WeChat hospital accounts let you pre-register and book
- Foreign-owned hospitals: international insurance usually covers
Guide by Patient Type
🇨🇳 Chinese residents
- Use your UEBMI / URRBMI card at designated hospitals
- Tier 2 public hospitals cheapest + insurance-covered
- Tier 3 hospitals for complex cases
- Commercial top-up useful for foreign-owned hospitals
💼 Expats in China
- International health insurance for foreign-owned hospitals
- Chinese public hospitals also available at unsubsidised rates
- Some work permits include Chinese UEBMI enrolment
- Beijing / Shanghai offer widest expat-friendly options
✈️ Tourists / short-term visitors
- Public hospitals open to foreigners at self-pay rates
- Foreign-owned hospitals offer English service
- Travel health insurance strongly recommended
- Keep receipts (fapiao) for insurance reimbursement
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Chinese ID (身份证) or passport
- Medical insurance card (UEBMI / URRBMI)
- WeChat / Alipay for payment
- Prior imaging on CD/USB
- Cash / bank card for fapiao-eligible payments
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: immediate
- Public tier 2: hours
- Public tier 3 famous hospital: often an early-morning queue
- Foreign-owned private: same day by appointment
💡 How to save money
- Use tier 2 public hospitals for routine X-rays
- Keep your UEBMI / URRBMI card active
- Commercial supplemental insurance fills reimbursement gaps
- Foreign-owned hospitals: only if international insurance pays
FAQ
Is a chest X-ray cheap in China?
Yes — public hospital chest X-rays typically run ¥50–200 ($7–$30) depending on hospital tier and city. That's 70–90% cheaper than US self-pay rates.
Why are foreign-owned hospitals so much more expensive?
They offer English service, international-grade workflows, shorter waits, and premium amenities. Private international health insurance (Bupa, Cigna, Allianz) is usually the only cost-effective way to use them.
What does URRBMI cover?
Urban-Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance covers urban and rural residents not in UEBMI. Benefit package includes outpatient and inpatient care at designated hospitals. Rural residents were previously on NRCMS — the schemes merged into URRBMI from 2016 onwards.
Can tourists get an X-ray in China?
Yes. Public hospitals treat foreign patients at self-pay rates. Foreign-owned hospitals in major cities offer English service. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
How does the guahao system work?
"Guahao" (挂号) is hospital registration — you pay a small fee (¥10–100 depending on doctor level) to see a doctor, who then orders imaging or tests. Many hospitals now accept WeChat-based registration in advance.
Is my international insurance accepted at Chinese hospitals?
At foreign-owned hospitals (United Family, ParkwayHealth, Raffles): usually yes, often with direct billing. At Chinese public hospitals: typically pay out-of-pocket and claim reimbursement later via fapiao receipts.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) — scheme rules
- China Hospital Guide / ChinaAccessHealth — price references
- Published pricing at Qingdao / Beijing United Family and ParkwayHealth
- Research literature on public chest X-ray costs in China
Last reviewed: April 2026. Prices vary by hospital tier and city — always verify current pricing at the facility.