China's Boao Lecheng: A Global Medical Tourism and Innovation Gateway

The Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan is rapidly emerging as a leading healthcare destination, providing international patients with access to advanced medical treatments and devices often unavailable elsewhere in China. This special medical area within the Hainan Free Trade Port is transforming patient care, exemplified by success stories such as that of 11-year-old Xia Boyang.

Xia Boyang, who suffered severe hearing impairment, regained significant auditory function through an innovative procedure at Shulan (Boao) Hospital in Lecheng. His journey, from relying on hearing aids to receiving the Nucleus Nexa System—the world's first smart cochlear implant from Cochlear—highlights the zone's unique ability to introduce cutting-edge overseas-approved medical technologies. This case is among over 200,000 patients who have benefited from Lecheng's services, cementing its role in China's medical sector liberalization and enhancing the quality of care available.

Lecheng is actively expanding its international medical tourism offerings, leveraging Hainan's appeal as a top healthcare destination. The zone has developed 35 domestic and international medical tourism routes, encompassing chronic disease rehabilitation, traditional wellness therapies, and early screening programs. This initiative contributed to 865,300 patient travel visits in 2025, a substantial 109.18 percent increase from the prior year.

Singaporean Loh Tian Hwee experienced Lecheng's comprehensive wellness tourism services firsthand, engaging in aromatherapy, shockwave therapy, and singing bowl healing. He noted, "It helps me release pain, ease discomfort and recharge both body and mind. I’d love to come back and bring my friends."

Lecheng also functions as a magnet for global medical investment, attracting approximately 60 foreign-funded enterprises and four overseas medical institutions. It has established collaborations with over 180 companies from more than 20 countries, facilitating the introduction of over 500 innovative overseas-approved medicines and medical devices not yet available domestically.

A notable example is Opzelura (ruxolitinib cream), an FDA-approved vitiligo treatment. China Medical System Holdings Limited introduced this therapy to Lecheng, where nearly 8,000 patients had accessed it by November 2025. Zong Fang, deputy director of public affairs for the company, described the demand as "a pleasant surprise," prompting the company to build a production base in Hainan for local operations by late 2026.

The broader context of the Hainan Free Trade Port significantly underpins Lecheng's success in cross-border healthcare. As the world's largest FTP by area, Hainan's island-wide special customs operations, launched on December 18, allow for freer entry of overseas goods and expanded zero-tariff coverage. These policies provided substantial financial relief, saving Lecheng's medical institutions, universities, and research institutes nearly 62 million yuan in duties from December 2024 to the end of 2025.

Bottom Line

The Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone exemplifies China's strategic vision for advancing its healthcare sector and expanding international patients' access to medical innovation. It serves as a dynamic center for global medical investment and a premier healthcare destination.

• Lecheng provides unparalleled access to internationally approved medical technologies and pharmaceuticals within China, enhancing the quality of care.

• The zone has achieved significant growth in patient travel, offering diverse medical and wellness tourism options.

• Robust foreign investment and extensive partnerships highlight its role as a burgeoning innovation hub for health tourism.

• Supportive policies from the Hainan Free Trade Port, including zero-tariff benefits, are crucial drivers of its development as a world-class healthcare destination.

Fu Sheng, director of the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone Administration, emphasized, "Lecheng has become a window into China’s opening-up, sending a clear message to the world that the country will continue to open its doors wider. It will promote the integrated development of medical services, pharmaceuticals, research and industry, with the goal of becoming a world-class medical tourism destination and innovation hub."

The profound impact of Lecheng's initiatives is perhaps best captured by Xia Boyang's mother, who remarked, "I don’t expect him to suddenly become exceptional or to hear perfectly. All I hope is that when he’s playing with other children and someone calls his name, he can run over happily."

Read the full article here: https://medicalbuyer.co.in/chinas-lecheng-expanding-into-international-medical-tourism-market/