What to Bring to Shenzhen — Medical Trip Packing Checklist

Ensure smooth entry and hospital registration

International Patients

• Passport (valid for 6+ months, at least 2 blank pages)
• Visa (check if your country is visa-free — if unsure, see the visa guide)
• Residence permit in China (if applicable)
• Return ticket or itinerary (required for some visa types)
• Hotel booking confirmation (same as above)

Hong Kong / Macau Residents

• Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (must be valid)
• Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card
• HK medical insurance / company benefits
• If using HK Elderly Medical Voucher, bring original ID for verification

Payment Preparation

• WeChat Pay or Alipay setup (bind international credit card — Visa/Mastercard usually work. Complete before departure, otherwise you can't use DiDi, hospital registration, QR code ordering, etc. See China Payment Guide for details)
• Confirm deposit payment method (Shenzhen public hospital international departments generally accept Visa/Mastercard, WeChat/Alipay with overseas cards, or cash. No deposit for outpatient visits; hospital deposits range from ¥5,000-20,000 for regular stays, ¥20,000+ for surgeries)
• Budget preparation (Public hospitals require real-time payment during examinations. Ensure sufficient card balance or confirmed insurance Letter of Guarantee)

Ensure accurate diagnosis and avoid repeat tests

Medical Records

• English medical summary (issued or certified by your home doctor. Shenzhen doctors read English but not French/German/Arabic. If no time to translate, photograph each report clearly before departure — the hospital's International Department or VIP Center has on-site translation services)
• Original imaging data (DICOM format) (CT/MRI/X-ray/ultrasound on disc or USB. How to get it: request electronic imaging disc or USB from your previous hospital's radiology department, or ask for a DICOM download link. Many patients don't know they can request this. Don't just bring films — many top hospitals no longer view physical films, requiring system import. Paper reports alone aren't enough; doctors need original images to assess conditions, and re-scans typically take 1-2 days)
• Pathology records (previous pathology reports, slides/blocks. Essential for second opinions on tumors or complex cases — without pathology slides, doctors cannot provide diagnosis-level recommendations)
• Implant medical certificates (original manufacturer cards/English certificates for pacemakers, stents, artificial joints, dental implants, etc. Required for MRI scans and security checks — may be denied without them)
• Vaccination records (Hepatitis B, Tetanus, HPV, etc. May be referenced before certain surgeries or specialist consultations)

Prescriptions & Medications

• Prescription / medication list (drug names, dosages, frequency — preferably in English)
• Medications in original packaging + prescription (all prescription drugs in original packaging with corresponding English prescription. For customs inspection and for doctors to verify ingredients)
• English prescription certificate (especially for controlled substances like narcotics/psychotropics — must bring original prescription with your ticket, subject to customs inspection. Keep medications in original packaging, don't mix in pill organizers)

Insurance & Referral

• Referral letter (if your doctor provided one)
• Insurance policy + pre-authorization confirmation (policy number, insurer phone. International/HK insurance users: apply for pre-authorization 3-5 business days in advance — without it, you may not get direct billing and will need to pay in full then claim later)
• Allergy history and medical history (write in English — could save your life)

Bridge the information gap and reduce post-travel anxiety

Phone Setup (Must complete before departure!)

Highest priority: WeChat + Payment

• Download and register WeChat — use overseas phone number, verify with passport/Exit-Entry Permit; bind Visa/Mastercard (or HK account) for WeChat Pay; notify your bank of China transactions to avoid fraud blocks. Purpose: All Shenzhen top-tier hospitals use WeChat Official Accounts for appointments, payments, and report access; also the main channel for communicating with hospitals and medical escorts
• Payment setup details: binding process, fees, Plan B — see China Payment Guide
• Download DiDi — ride-hailing, supports international credit cards (detailed guide: Getting Around Shenzhen)
• Download Gaode Maps — navigation, works better than Google Maps in China (detailed guide: Getting Around Shenzhen)
• VPN (install and test BEFORE departure!) (Most VPNs cannot be downloaded inside China — no fix after arrival)
• Translation app — Google Translate or DeepL, download offline packs in advance
• Get a China SIM or eSIM — available at airport arrival hall, cheaper if bought in advance
• Enable international roaming data (otherwise no internet upon arrival — can't even call DiDi. Airport WiFi requires Chinese phone number for verification code)
• Follow your hospital's Official WeChat Account (bind personal info for direct appointment booking and report access, reducing on-site queuing)

Essential Items

• Power adapter (China uses Type A (flat 2-pin) and Type I (angled 3-pin with ground), 220V 50Hz. Type C (EU round 2-pin) is NOT standard — don't bring the wrong one)
• Power bank + charging cable (you'll thank yourself when your phone dies. Hospital ward outlets are limited — long-cable power bank is more practical)
• Comfortable clothes (easy to put on/take off for hospital exams. Also: AC is cold, bring a jacket)
• Cash reserve (¥200-500 is enough for outpatient emergencies only — phone dead, system failure, small meals. Note: this won't cover hospital deposits. Shenzhen mobile payment adoption is 99%. Get some ¥10/¥20 notes — taxi drivers often say no change)
• Insulated water bottle (hospitals have plenty of hot water — helpful for stomach issues or post-surgery recovery)
• Spare medical masks (some departments still require them)
• Hard clear document folder (keep all paper documents together, prevent loss)

Typhoon Season Items (May-October is Shenzhen typhoon season)

• Lightweight raincoat or waterproof shoe covers (waiting for taxis outside hospitals — 3-second downpour will soak you)
• Waterproof phone pouch (protect your phone from rain)
• Follow Shenzhen Weather WeChat Account (for typhoon and rainstorm warnings)

Scenario-Specific Additions

• Hospitalization/Surgery patients: Non-slip slippers (no anti-slip mats in hospital bathrooms — tiles are extremely slippery when wet), portable toiletry bag, accompanying person's valid ID
• Health checkup/colonoscopy patients: Fast 8-12 hours before examination, plan accordingly; follow doctor's instructions to stop anticoagulants/blood sugar meds in advance; bring small sugar-free snacks for after the exam
• Chronic disease patients (diabetes, hypertension, etc.): Portable glucose meter/blood pressure monitor; pill organizer with clear time/dosage labels; hypoglycemia emergency snacks (candy, crackers)

📞 Shenzhen Hospital International Department Contacts

Recommend calling before departure to confirm: deposit amounts, foreign card acceptance, appointment process. Source: HK/Macao Residents Online Registration Service (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/egDhzHDjn3qlVZNZ2nL36g)

Packing Principle

Don't worry too much about forgetting a toothbrush or charging cable — Shenzhen has one of the highest convenience store densities in the world (this is true), so you can补 almost anything. But remember: the data your doctor needs and your insurance authorization papers cannot be bought here. Confirm these two, and everything else is secondary.

t('beforeDeparture')

1. Photograph your passport info page and visa page — save to phone album + send to family
2. Write Hospital name + Department in Chinese on a paper card — show it to taxi drivers (many can't understand English addresses)
3. Confirm your phone has international roaming data enabled — otherwise no internet upon arrival, can't even call DiDi