X-Ray Cost in China
What you actually pay at public hospitals under the new provincial price lists, with basic medical insurance, and at international clinics. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in China?
At a public hospital, a digital X-ray (DR) costs about ¥35–60 per exposure (about $5–9) under provincial price lists — Shanghai charges ¥35, ¥43 and ¥50 at level-1, -2 and -3 hospitals, Anhui ¥40 and Guangdong a maximum of ¥50. A two-view chest X-ray plus registration typically comes to around ¥100–150, before any insurance reimbursement. International hospitals that serve expats charge many times more — budget roughly $50–100 for the X-ray plus a consultation fee.
Quick Overview
Public hospital prices in China are not set by the hospital but by provincial healthcare security bureaus. In November 2024 the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) issued a pricing guideline for radiology services that merged hundreds of local X-ray, CT and MRI items into 26 standard items. Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong and Shanghai implemented new price lists from late April 2025, with other provinces following; reported cuts at some Guangdong hospitals were 14–40%. AI-assisted reading may not be charged separately. Most Chinese residents are covered by basic medical insurance (UEBMI or URRBMI), which reimburses part of the cost at designated hospitals. Foreigners usually pay out of pocket or use private international insurance at international clinics.
🏥 Public hospital (一级/二级)
- Per DR exposure at community and secondary hospitals
- Shanghai: ¥35 (level 1), ¥43 (level 2)
- Shorter queues than famous tertiary hospitals
- Insurance reimbursement often higher at primary level
🏥 Tertiary hospital (三甲)
- Per DR exposure; Shanghai level-3 ¥50, Guangdong cap ¥50
- Plus registration / doctor-service fee
- Book via WeChat or hospital app (挂号)
- International / VIP wings charge more
🌐 International private
- United Family, ParkwayHealth, Jiahui and similar
- Consultation fee first (Tianjin UFH: ¥413–1,639)
- English-speaking staff, direct billing with insurers
- Prices not published — ask for a quote
X-Ray Prices in China by Exam
Public hospitals charge DR X-rays per exposure or body part. Most limb, joint and spine studies need two views, so expect two exposures; under Shanghai's rules a second body part in the same exam is charged at 50% and a third at 25%. Figures exclude the registration fee and are before insurance reimbursement.
| Exam | Public hospital (CNY) | International private | USD (≈, public) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (PA + lateral) | approx. ¥70–120 | approx. $50–100 + consultation | $10–18 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray (2 views) | approx. ¥70–120 | Quote on request | $10–18 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray (2 views) | approx. ¥70–120 | Quote on request | $10–18 |
| Knee X-ray (2 views) | approx. ¥70–120 | Quote on request | $10–18 |
| Cervical spine X-ray (2–3 views) | approx. ¥70–180 | Quote on request | $10–27 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray (2–3 views) | approx. ¥70–180 | Quote on request | $10–27 |
| Pelvis X-ray | approx. ¥35–60 | Quote on request | $5–9 |
| Abdomen X-ray | approx. ¥35–60 | Quote on request | $5–9 |
| Dental panoramic (曲面体层) | approx. ¥60 per film (2019 Anhui list) | Higher at private dental chains | ≈ $9 |
| CT plain scan (per part) | ¥210 (Anhui); cap ¥231 (Guangdong) | Quote on request | $31–34 |
| MRI plain scan (per part) | cap ¥505 (Guangdong); ¥351 on a 2019 Anhui list | Quote on request | $52–75 |
| Ultrasound | Set by provincial price list — check the hospital | Quote on request | — |
Public prices from provincial radiology price lists implemented from April 2025 as reported by 21st Century Business Herald (May 2025): X-ray ¥35/¥43/¥50 by hospital level in Shanghai, ¥40 in Anhui, ¥50 cap in Guangdong; plain CT ¥210 in Anhui, ¥231 cap in Guangdong; plain MRI ¥505 cap in Guangdong. Exam rows multiply the per-exposure price by the usual number of views and are approximate. Panoramic and older MRI figures from Wuhu No.1 People's Hospital tertiary price list (2019). International-hospital range is a medical-tourism invoice average, not a hospital tariff. USD at approximately ¥6.70 = $1 (October 2026).
How Chinese Medical Insurance Pays for X-Rays
The main schemes
- UEBMI (职工医保): employees, funded by employer and employee contributions
- URRBMI (城乡居民医保): everyone else; the rural NRCMS was merged into it from 2016
- Critical-illness insurance and medical assistance on top
- Commercial insurance (e.g. Ping An, China Life) and international plans for expats
How reimbursement works
- Use your medical insurance card or e-code (医保码) at a designated hospital
- Insurer's share is settled directly at the cashier
- Deductibles, ceilings and percentages are set by each city
- UEBMI outpatient pooling (2021 reform): reimbursement starts around 50%, higher at primary care
- Out-of-area care needs registration for cross-province direct settlement
How to get an X-ray
- Register (挂号) via WeChat, the hospital app or the desk
- The doctor orders DR; pay at the cashier or in the app (缴费)
- Imaging in the radiology department (放射科), usually same day
- Digital images often available via cloud link; printed film may cost extra
Where to Get an X-Ray in China
🏥 Leading Public Hospitals
- Peking Union Medical College Hospital — Beijing (has an International Medical Services department)
- Ruijin Hospital and Huashan Hospital — Shanghai
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University — Chengdu
- First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University — Guangzhou
- Community health centres for simple films
🌐 International & Private
- United Family Healthcare — Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou and others
- ParkwayHealth — Shanghai
- Jiahui Health — Shanghai
- Public-hospital VIP / international wings (特需 / 国际医疗部)
💡 Practical tips
- Simple X-rays are fastest at secondary or community hospitals
- Bring your passport — needed to register as a foreigner
- Ask for the fapiao (official invoice) for insurance claims
- Check if your international insurer has direct billing
Guide by Patient Type
🇨🇳 Insured residents
- Use a designated hospital with your 医保码
- Out-of-pocket for a DR X-ray is often well under ¥100
- Primary-care facilities usually reimburse at higher rates
💼 Foreign residents
- Foreigners employed in China must join social insurance, including basic medical insurance
- Many also hold international private cover for international hospitals
- Public hospitals: pay at listed prices and claim with the fapiao
✈️ Tourists
- Public hospitals: same listed prices as locals, self-pay
- International clinics: English service but much higher fees
- Alipay / WeChat Pay with a foreign card makes paying easier
- Travel insurance recommended
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- ID card or passport
- Medical insurance card / 医保码
- Previous images or reports
- Mobile payment or bank card
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency (急诊): X-ray during the visit
- Outpatient DR: same day, often within an hour or two
- CT / MRI: same day to a few days at busy tertiary hospitals
- Report: usually same day
💡 How to save money
- Use a level-1 or level-2 hospital for simple X-rays
- Decline printed film if a digital copy is enough
- Avoid VIP/特需 clinics unless you need them
- Bring prior images — results recognition can avoid repeats
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in China?
At public hospitals an X-ray is cheap because prices are capped by provincial price lists. After the 2024–2025 radiology pricing reform, a digital X-ray (DR) exposure costs about ¥35–60 (about $5–9): Shanghai sets ¥35, ¥43 and ¥50 for level-1, -2 and -3 hospitals, Anhui ¥40 and Guangdong a ¥50 maximum. A two-view study is billed as two exposures or parts, and you also pay a registration fee. International private hospitals charge many times more.
拍片多少钱？X光多少钱？(How much is an X-ray film?)
公立医院数字化X线摄影（DR）按省级价格目录收费，2025年改革后一般每次约35–60元，例如上海三级医院50元、安徽40元。胸片正侧位通常按两次曝光或两个部位计费。In English: a public-hospital DR X-ray costs about ¥35–60 per exposure.
How much is a CT or MRI scan in China?
Under the new provincial price lists, a plain CT scan is about ¥210 in Anhui and capped at ¥231 in Guangdong (about $31–34). A plain MRI is capped at ¥505 in Guangdong (about $75), down from ¥559–629 at tertiary hospitals before the reform. Contrast is charged on top, but Shanghai bills plain-plus-contrast as one contrast exam.
Does Chinese medical insurance cover X-rays?
Yes. Both Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) and Urban-Rural Resident Basic Medical Insurance (URRBMI) reimburse X-rays ordered by a doctor at designated hospitals, subject to local deductibles and ceilings. Since the 2021 outpatient mutual-aid reform, general outpatient costs for employees are pooled with reimbursement starting at about 50%, higher at primary-care facilities.
What is the X-ray price at international hospitals like United Family?
International and foreign-invested hospitals such as United Family Healthcare, ParkwayHealth and Jiahui do not publish imaging prices online. Expect a consultation fee first — Tianjin United Family lists general outpatient visits at ¥413–1,639 — plus the imaging. Medical-tourism invoice data put an average chest X-ray in China at roughly $50–100 (about ¥335–670) at international-standard facilities; ask for a quote.
Can foreigners and tourists get an X-ray in China?
Yes. Public hospitals treat foreigners as self-pay patients at the same listed prices, and many tertiary hospitals have international or VIP departments with English-speaking staff at higher fees. Foreigners employed in China must join the social insurance system, including basic medical insurance. Travel insurance is recommended for visitors; keep the official receipt (fapiao) for claims.
Why does a chest X-ray cost more than the listed price?
Several items can be added: the registration or doctor-service fee, extra exposures or body parts (Shanghai charges the second part at 50% and the third at 25%), a film charge if you take printed films (¥20 per film in Shanghai), and higher fees in VIP or international wings. Hospitals that do not offer cloud image storage must deduct ¥5 in Anhui, Fujian and Guangdong.
How much is a dental panoramic X-ray in China?
Public hospitals charge panoramic (曲面体层) films according to the provincial price list — for example ¥60 per film on a 2019 Anhui tertiary-hospital list. Private dental chains and international dental clinics charge more; ask for the price before the scan.
Will a hospital accept X-rays taken at another hospital?
Increasingly, yes. China is expanding mutual recognition of test and imaging results (检查检验结果互认) between qualifying hospitals, and many provinces now store images in the cloud. Bring your previous images or report to avoid paying for a repeat.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) — Radiology Services Price Item Guideline (trial), November 2024
- 21st Century Business Herald (21jingji.com), May 2025 — provincial radiology price adjustments in Shanghai, Anhui, Fujian and Guangdong
- Chongqing Healthcare Security Bureau — radiology service price list (April 2025)
- Wuhu No.1 People's Hospital — municipal tertiary hospital imaging price list (2019)
- State Council General Office (2021) — guideline on UEBMI outpatient mutual-aid mechanism
- Tianjin United Family Hospital — published consultation prices
- Bookimed — China chest X-ray invoice averages (2025–2026)
- Exchange rate: open.er-api.com, 12 October 2026 (≈ ¥6.70 per US$)
Last reviewed: October 2026. Public prices are set by each province and differ between cities and hospital levels — check the price list displayed at the hospital.