Hainan Boao Lecheng International
Medical Tourism Pilot Zone

Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone (HBL) is China’s only designated national medical zone that has been granted preferential policies and incentives to create a world-class international medical destination and cluster for advanced medical diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, medical R&D, and technological innovation in China.

HBL offers a special fast-track approval procedure that makes it easier and quicker for the hospitals to introduce, test, procure, register, import, and use innovative medtech, healthtech, biotech, and pharma in need without an NMPA approval. But the approval does not apply to the rest of mainland China.

Main Criteria: 1) Product cannot have been approved in mainland China but needs CE/FDA/ICH member approval, 2) Product shall be "innovative" and cannot be replaced by an already approved predicate in China, and 3) Sales agreement for medical product to be signed first with HBL hospital applying for its specific use.

As of January 2026, 353 medical devices and 187 drugs have been approved by Hainan MPA for exclusive use at HBL. In addition, another 10 Health Foods (dietary supplements) and 3 Food for Special Medical Purposes have also been approved.

Moreover, it is the first place in China where it is possible to conduct Real-World Data (RWD) Studies of the use of medical devices and drugs imported under the fast-track approval procedure that can supplement the application for the NMPA registration which can accelerate the approval process to sell in all of China.

As of January 2026, 47 licensed medical products have been included in the RWD Program in which 16 medical devices and 6 drugs have so far obtained an NMPA approval by using RWD studies at HBL.

CURRENT STATUS

When fully developed by 2035, Hainan Boao Lecheng is planned to cover 21 km2 with a total of 3 km2 of constructed land including infrastructure and buildings. Total construction costs are estimated at RMB 100 billion (USD 16 billion).

Today, 31 private hospitals, 2 public general hospitals, and 6 medical service centers have officially opened with another 10-15 planned and several underway.

In 2025, HBL received a total of 865,460 medical tourists compared to 413,700 in 2024 equal to a year-on-year increase of +109.2%.

LOCATION - GETTING THERE

Flying time from Beijing to Haikou: 4 hours; from Shanghai: 2 hours and 45 minutes; and from: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong: 1 hour and 15 minutes . Direct flights from Shanghai to Boao Airport: 3 hours and 20 minutes.

Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone

​As of January 2026, 353 medical devices and 187 drugs have been approved by Hainan MPA for exclusive use at HBL. In addition, another 10 Health Foods (dietary supplements) and 3 Food for Special Medical Purposes have also been approved.

​As of January 2026, 47 licensed medical products have been included in the RWD Program in which 16 medical devices and 6 drugs have so far obtained an NMPA approval by using RWD studies at HBL.

CURRENT STATUS

Hainan Boao Lecheng International
Medical Tourism Pilot Zone

As of January 2026, 353 medical devices and 187 drugs have been approved by Hainan MPA for exclusive use at HBL. In addition, another 10 Health Foods (dietary supplements) and 3 Food for Special Medical Purposes have also been approved.

As of January 2026, 47 licensed medical products have been included in the RWD Program in which 16 medical devices and 6 drugs have so far obtained an NMPA approval by using RWD studies at HBL.