Reviewed 2026-10-29 · 5 min read
Proton and Heavy-Ion Therapy in China
Understand the centers, public cost estimates, travel time and planning questions for proton and heavy-ion therapy in China.
By Medvoyal Research. Independent, non-clinical planning research based on the official hospital, government and published sources cited. Listing a hospital is not a recommendation or partnership.
Read our research methodology.Reviewed by Yang Chengliang (杨成梁), Associate Chief Physician, Department of Radiation Oncology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Deputy Director of Department, PhD.
Review scope: Medical accuracy of non-clinical planning information about proton and heavy-ion therapy. Last reviewed 2026-10-29.
What this page covers
Proton therapy and carbon-ion (heavy-ion) therapy are forms of particle-beam radiation that can deliver a high dose to the tumor while sparing surrounding tissue more than conventional photon radiation. China is one of a small number of countries with operating carbon-ion facilities; the United States currently has proton centers but no clinical carbon-ion center.
This page covers what a foreign patient needs to know to evaluate whether particle therapy in China is worth pursuing: which centers exist, what it costs, how long you stay, and what to prepare.
Centers in China
As of early 2025, mainland China had approximately 10 operating proton and/or heavy-ion centers. The longest-operating is the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC), which began treating patients in 2015 and is the only center in our directory with a confirmed track record for international patients.
| Center | City | Particle types | Status in our directory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC) | Shanghai | Proton + carbon ion | Not yet profiled |
| Other centers (Wuwei/Lanzhou, Hefei, Zibo, Beijing, etc.) | Various | Varies | Not yet profiled |
We do not have first-hand information on which centers accept foreign patients or have English-language services outside SPHIC. If you are considering a specific center, we can help you contact its international department to confirm.
What it costs
| Component | Estimate | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full course at SPHIC | ¥278,000–310,000 ($39,000–44,000) | People's Daily 2015 (¥278,000); multiple medical-tourism sites 2025–26 (¥310,000) | 2015 / 2025 |
| Full course in the US (proton) | $100,000–150,000 | Medical-tourism comparison sites | 2025 |
| Full course in Japan (proton or carbon) | ¥3,000,000–4,000,000 JPY ($20,000–27,000) | — |
These are not hospital quotes. The SPHIC figure has been remarkably stable since 2015, which suggests a controlled pricing structure, but your actual cost depends on the treatment plan. Chinese national health insurance does not cover particle therapy; you pay out of pocket.
Ask SPHIC or the center you are considering for a written estimate that breaks down the treatment fee, hospital stay, imaging, and any additional charges.
How long you need to stay
Proton and carbon-ion courses typically run 4–7 weeks of daily fractions (Monday to Friday). Including pre-treatment imaging, simulation and planning, expect to be in China for 6–8 weeks or more.
This exceeds the 30-day visa-free window. You will need an S2 visa. See our visa guide — the hospital's acceptance letter is the key document.
Plan for:
- 1 week: arrive, settle, pre-treatment imaging and simulation
- 4–6 weeks: daily treatment sessions
- 1 week: post-treatment assessment, records collection
Accommodation near SPHIC in Shanghai is widely available. We can help with logistics once you have a treatment schedule.
Who is a candidate
Particle therapy is not suitable for all cancers. Common indications include certain head and neck tumors, skull-base tumors, pediatric cancers, liver cancer (for carbon ion), and prostate cancer. The treating center decides whether you are eligible based on your records.
We do not assess eligibility. If you want to know whether particle therapy could apply to your case, the first step is to send your records to the center for review (see the second opinion process).
Follow-up after returning home
- Acute side effects (skin reactions, fatigue) are managed during treatment in China
- Long-term follow-up (imaging, blood work) can usually be done by your oncologist at home
- Ask the center for a detailed treatment summary and follow-up schedule in English before you leave
- See our records checklist
What Medvoyal does and doesn't do
| We do | We don't |
|---|---|
| Help you contact the center's international department | Assess whether you are a candidate |
| Coordinate records handoff with your consent | Read or interpret your medical records |
| Plan visa, accommodation, local support | Guarantee acceptance or treatment outcomes |
| Relay the center's written reply unchanged | Recommend one center over another |
| Free | Charge based on treatment value |
In an emergency
In a medical emergency in China, call 120. Do not wait for Medvoyal or a companion. We are not an emergency service.
In a medical emergency in China, call 120
120 is the emergency ambulance number in mainland China. You can also go straight to the emergency department (急诊) of the nearest hospital. Don't wait for a reply from Medvoyal or a companion. We are not an emergency service.
For planning purposes only. Not medical advice. Medvoyal does not diagnose, treat, or guarantee clinical outcomes. Any medical opinion comes from the treating center. Cost estimates are from public sources and are not hospital quotes.