CT Scan Cost in China 2026: Public Prices & Booking

CT scan cost in China depends on the provider and scan protocol. A public-hospital scan fee can be lower than older CNY 300-600 estimates: Beijing Xuanwu Hospital's official price list, checked October 1, 2026, lists plain CT items at CNY 120-135 per body part. That is a provider-specific scan price, not a nationwide rate or a full foreign-patient visit quote.

Quick answer	What to budget for
Plain CT at Beijing Xuanwu	CNY 120-135 for the listed body parts; film is excluded
Contrast CT	Request the exact scan protocol and an itemized quote for contrast and supplies
Private or international route	Request a separate quote; public fees do not establish this price
Full visit	Add consultation, any contrast, files, translation and international-service charges
Booking as a foreign patient	Confirm passport registration, doctor's order and appointment availability

This page is a planning guide only. A doctor or hospital must decide whether CT is medically appropriate for your case.

Official Public-Hospital CT Price Examples

These examples are from Xuanwu's published medical-service price table:

CT item	Listed fee (CNY)	Billing scope
Plain head CT	135	Per examination; film excluded
Plain chest CT	135	Per examination; film excluded
Plain upper abdominal CT	135	Per examination; film excluded
Plain adrenal CT	120	Per examination; film excluded

Source: Xuanwu Hospital medical-service price lookup. The page does not state an effective date for these individual entries. Confirm that the price still applies to your department and payment route when booking.

A scan fee is different from an all-in visit estimate. For contrast CT, ask whether medication, injection supplies and additional imaging are included. For private care, use the Beijing CT patient route to compare published information and questions to confirm. Do not apply Xuanwu's public fee to a private hospital or international department.

What Can Change the Price

CT pricing can move based on:

• Plain scan vs contrast-enhanced scan
• Number of body regions
• Emergency vs scheduled outpatient route
• Public 3A hospital vs private or international clinic
• Whether a doctor consultation is required first
• Whether you need an English report or itemized invoice
• Whether image files are exported by disc, USB, or digital route

If the quote sounds unusually low, ask whether it covers only the scan fee or the full visit.

Questions Foreign Patients Should Ask

Before booking, ask the hospital or coordinator:

1. Can foreign patients register with a passport?
2. Do I need a doctor's order before CT?
3. Is the quoted price for plain CT or contrast CT?
4. Are contrast medication, injection, and monitoring billed separately?
5. Can I receive DICOM image files for my doctor outside China?
6. Can the report or invoice be provided in English?
7. How long will the report take?
8. Can insurance paperwork be prepared if I pay first?

For cancer, vascular, abdominal, or complex diagnostic questions, bring prior imaging and the specific question your doctor wants answered.

CT vs MRI vs PET-CT

CT is often faster and cheaper than MRI, but it answers different clinical questions. MRI may be preferred for some brain, spine, joint, liver, pelvic, or soft-tissue questions. PET-CT is usually researched for selected oncology staging or recurrence questions and is much more expensive.

Do not choose the scan only by price. Ask which scan answers the medical question.

Related Pages

• Medical test and examination costs in China
• MRI cost in China
• PET-CT scan cost in China
• How to see a doctor in China as a foreigner

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a CT scan cost in China?

Xuanwu Hospital in Beijing lists plain CT fees of CNY 120-135 for the body parts shown above. The full visit can cost more after consultation, contrast, supplies or international services. Request a quote for your exact provider and protocol.

What is the CT scan price in China in 2026?

There is no single nationwide CT price. Xuanwu's published plain-CT examples are CNY 120-135, checked October 1, 2026. Ask the chosen hospital for the current scan fee and separate charges for consultation, contrast, supplies and image export.

Can foreigners get CT scans in China?

Foreign patients can often register with a passport at large hospitals, but the exact route depends on hospital, city, department, and whether a doctor's order is required.

Can foreigners book CT in China with a passport?

Often yes, especially through large public hospitals or international departments. Confirm whether the hospital app supports passport booking or whether a counter/international-desk route is needed.

Can I get CT images for a second opinion?

Ask for DICOM files, not only a PDF report. If your doctor outside China needs to review the scan, confirm image export before booking.

How long does a CT report take?

Timing varies by hospital and route. Ask whether the quoted timing covers the radiology report, the image files, or both, and how each item will be delivered.

Before You Book

CT scans in China can be relatively affordable, but the useful question is the full route: doctor order, passport registration, contrast, report language, DICOM files, payment, insurance paperwork, and follow-up interpretation.