Discuss your route with a health professional
The World Health Organization recommends seeking travel-health information before departure. A qualified professional can consider your health history alongside the destinations and activities you are planning.
Bring a simple route outline to the conversation: travel dates, overnight stops, outdoor activities and any higher-elevation places. Mention concerns such as a long flight or access to your usual care. Use that discussion to understand your own preparations; another traveller’s medication or vaccination plan may not be appropriate for you.
Prepare medication documents and storage
The rules for medicines can differ between countries. Check your prescribed medicines with your clinician and the relevant Chinese authority before travelling, including any documents or restrictions that apply.
Make your own list of medicine names and the storage or timing instructions given by your clinician. Check how those needs fit long transfers and hotel changes. If refrigeration or another special arrangement is required, obtain a clear answer for the actual journey rather than assuming every vehicle or room can provide it.
Read what your insurance actually covers
Look at the policy wording for the countries, dates and activities in your itinerary. Ask the insurer how an existing health condition, a change in plans or a particular outdoor activity affects your cover. Check the procedure for obtaining assistance and authorising treatment.
Save the policy number and assistance contact offline, and share them with a travelling companion if appropriate. Knowing whom to contact and which documents to keep is more useful than carrying a policy you have not read.
Describe mobility and food needs clearly
Replace broad labels such as “easy walking” with details: how long you are comfortable walking, whether stairs are difficult, and whether you need regular seated breaks. Ask about the surfaces, access and transfers involved in the places you most want to visit.
For food, distinguish a preference from an allergy or other medical requirement. Prepare a short, accurately translated explanation when needed. Suitable arrangements must be checked for the actual venue; an itinerary label alone does not confirm that every requirement can be met.
Separate urgent help from a travel change
For an immediate medical emergency in mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance. If language is a barrier, ask someone nearby to help communicate your location and the situation. Follow the emergency service’s instructions.
A delayed pickup or changed sightseeing plan should use the contact agreed for that booking. Keep this separate from the insurer’s assistance line and emergency services. Your contact sheet should state who handles each kind of issue, so that an urgent situation is not left waiting in a routine message thread.
Keep a compact personal information card
- Your name, emergency contact and preferred language.
- Relevant health or allergy information you choose to share.
- Medication information supplied by your clinician.
- Insurance details and assistance contact.
- Current accommodation address and agreed travel contact.
Store the card securely and tell a companion where it is. Update the accommodation details when moving cities. Keep a record of any care received during the journey so that you can provide accurate information when needed afterwards.
Official information
Reviewed on October 3, 2026
