Hainan's Medical Tourism Zone Breaks Records: 865,000 Visitors in 2025
Boao Lecheng by the Numbers (2025)
What Is Boao Lecheng?
Boao Lecheng is a State Council-designated special zone in Hainan province, and it is China's only area specifically built for medical tourism. Its main selling point is regulatory: drugs and medical devices not yet approved elsewhere in mainland China can be used here under a simplified fast-track process. The zone now has 31 private hospitals, 2 public general hospitals, and 6 medical service centers, with another 10 to 15 facilities in various stages of construction.
The design is deliberate — patients get treated at modern facilities, recover in resort accommodation, and do it all in a beach province better known for its coastline than its hospitals.
Why the Sudden Surge?
Three things happened at once. First, the fast-track approval pathway for imported treatments brought in patients who had run out of options at home — particularly people seeking advanced cancer therapies, cell-based treatments, and specialized surgeries not available or not affordable where they lived. Second, Hainan's Free Trade Port project continued to open up healthcare services, with the province launching eight new medical tourism products in January 2025 and running an aggressive international marketing campaign. Third — and this is the part that got the most attention — South Korea dropped its cosmetic surgery tax incentive for foreign patients, and Hainan moved fast to position itself as the alternative for that market.
What Patients Are Coming For
Advanced cancer treatments — CAR-T therapy, proton beam, heavy ion radiation — draw the most international attention. But the mix is wider than that. TCM wellness programs that pair traditional remedies with modern diagnostics appeal to a different kind of patient. Orthopedic and cardiovascular procedures at internationally accredited departments are another draw.
According to China.org.cn, the fastest-growing patient nationalities are from Southeast Asia and Russian-speaking countries, many specifically interested in combining TCM approaches with the zone's clinical capabilities.
Boao Lecheng vs. Other Asian Medical Tourism Hubs
Here is how the zone stacks up against regional competitors:
| Feature | Boao Lecheng, Hainan | Bumrungrad, Thailand | Singapore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical tourists (2025 est.) | 865,460 | ~600,000+ | ~500,000+ |
| Growth trajectory | +109% (2024-2025) | Stable mid-single digits | High single digits |
| Specialty focus | Advanced oncology, TCM wellness, cell therapy | Cosmetic, cardiac, ortho | Cardiac, cancer, general |
| Regulatory advantage | Fast-track drug/device approvals | JCI accredited hospitals | WHO highest medical device rating |
| Visa/entry | Visa-free for many nationalities | Visa on arrival | Ease of entry |
| Cost level | Moderate | Mid-range | Premium |
Challenges Still Ahead
The numbers look good. The reality is more complicated. Language is still a barrier outside dedicated international departments. The zone has grown fast but does not yet have the 40-year reputation that Bumrungrad in Bangkok, for example, has accumulated.
And doubling from 413,000 to 865,000 is impressive; doubling again from 865,000 is a different challenge entirely. The zone is building more hospitals on the assumption that demand will keep pace. That is a bet, not a certainty.
What This Means for International Patients
Hainan's Boao Lecheng has crossed a threshold. Nearly 870,000 visitors and 109% growth in a single year puts it in a different category — not just a pilot project anymore but a destination that established hubs in Bangkok and Singapore can no longer afford to dismiss. For patients who have exhausted conventional options at home, it is worth a look. For the broader medical tourism industry, it is worth watching.
The South Korea policy shift is a reminder that medical tourism is an increasingly competitive space where government policy can rapidly shift patient flows. For patients considering treatment abroad, it also means options are widening — and costs in some corridors are beginning to fall as destinations compete more aggressively.