China
Travel Destination – China
China offers extraordinary sights, from the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to ultramodern skylines and remote mountain regions. Travellers can explore bustling cities like Beijing and Shanghai, cruise along the Yangtze River, or visit rural villages and historic temples. With its vast geography, population density, and varied climates, planning ahead is essential. Thoughtful preparation helps travellers navigate health considerations, regional differences, and travel logistics for a safer and more enjoyable experience.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to China, booking an appointment with a travel doctor is recommended to help you prepare for a safe and healthy trip. Your doctor can create a personalised travel health plan based on your itinerary, whether you’ll be visiting major cities, rural regions, or remote provinces. They will review your vaccination history, recommend travel-specific immunisations, and provide prescriptions for any necessary medications. To make the most of your appointment and allow time for multi-dose vaccines, schedule your appointment six to eight weeks before departure, though last-minute consultations can still provide accelerated vaccination schedules and essential health advice.
Insect avoidance
In parts of China, mosquitoes can transmit diseases such as dengue and Japanese encephalitis, particularly in southern and rural regions. Preventing insect bites is an important protective measure. Wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk, and apply insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Stay in accommodation with air-conditioning or screened windows where possible, or use a permethrin-treated mosquito net if these are unavailable. To further reduce risks, treat clothing with permethrin and reduce standing water around accommodation.
Food and water hygiene
China’s diverse cuisine is a highlight for many travellers, but care with food and water hygiene helps reduce the risk of gastroenteritis and other gastrointestinal infections. Drink bottled, boiled, or filtered water, and avoid untreated tap water and ice made from it. Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser before eating. Choose food that is freshly cooked and served hot, and avoid raw, undercooked, or reheated meals. Fruit and vegetables are safer when they can be peeled before eating, like bananas or mangos.
Rabies prevention
Whilst Australia is free of rabies, the rabies virus is present in dogs and other mammals in China. Avoid contact with animals, particularly stray dogs, cats, and wildlife. A travel doctor can advise whether pre-exposure rabies vaccination is appropriate, especially if you plan to visit rural areas or work with animals. If you are bitten or scratched while in China, seek immediate medical attention. Prompt treatment can prevent rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for China?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that is spread through contaminated food and water. Symptoms may range from mild illness to more severe disease and can include fever, tiredness, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. Hepatitis A is more common in China than in Australia, and many Australians are not routinely vaccinated. Travellers who have not completed a two-dose course of Hepatitis A vaccination are advised to be immunised before travel, particularly if visiting rural areas, eating street food, staying with local families, or travelling for extended periods.
Typhoid
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Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi. It is spread through food or water contaminated with the bacteria and can cause prolonged fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The risk of typhoid is higher in China than in Australia, especially in rural areas. Travellers who have not previously been vaccinated should consider receiving the typhoid vaccine before departure, particularly those planning longer stays, rural travel, or frequent consumption of street food. Alongside vaccination, careful food and water hygiene remains essential in preventing typhoid fever.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a virus that affects the liver, spreading through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. It can cause symptoms such as tiredness, nausea, abdominal pain, and yellowing of the skin or eyes, and in some people may lead to long-term liver disease. Transmission can occur through unprotected sex, unsterile tattooing or piercing, or sharing personal items such as razors. While many younger Australians received Hepatitis B vaccination during childhood, some adults remain unprotected. Hepatitis B vaccination is generally recommended for travellers to China who have not been vaccinated, particularly those planning longer stays or activities that may increase exposure risk. A travel doctor can review your immunisation history and provide personalised advice.
Japanese encephalitis virus
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In China, most people who are exposed to the Japanese encephalitis virus experience very mild symptoms or none at all, so many travellers may never realise they have been infected. Nevertheless, a small proportion of cases can develop severe inflammation of the brain, which is potentially life-threatening and may require hospitalisation in an intensive care unit. The primary method of prevention is reducing mosquito exposure. There is also a vaccine available for Japanese Encephalitis, and healthcare professionals may advise immunisation for travellers who plan to spend extended periods in rural or agricultural regions of China, or those visiting during peak transmission seasons.
Routine vaccinations
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Thanks to Australia’s strong national immunisation program, diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus are now uncommon. However, these infections still circulate more widely in China, increasing the risk of exposure for travellers. Before travelling, it is important to review your routine vaccinations and ensure they are up to date. A travel health consultation can identify any gaps and advise whether boosters are required, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), tetanus, influenza, COVID-19, and pertussis. Staying current with routine vaccines helps protect both your health and the health of those around you during travel.
China
Other health risks in China
Dengue
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Dengue fever is a viral infection spread by Aedes mosquitoes and occurs in parts of southern and southeastern China, particularly during warmer and wetter seasons. Dengue can cause fever, severe fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a skin rash. Most people recover within one to two weeks after their first infection. Repeat dengue infections increase the risk of developing severe dengue, which may lead to internal bleeding, dangerously low blood pressure, and shock if not treated promptly. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes are most active during the day and are common in urban environments. Preventive measures focus on avoiding mosquito bites through the use of insect repellent, protective clothing, and reducing standing water near accommodation.
Rabies
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Whilst Australia is free of rabies, the rabies virus is present in dogs and other mammals in China. Avoid contact with animals, particularly stray dogs, cats, and wildlife. A travel doctor can advise whether pre-exposure rabies vaccination is appropriate, especially if you plan to visit rural areas or work with animals. If you are bitten or scratched while in China, seek immediate medical attention. Prompt treatment can prevent rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis, commonly known as travellers’ diarrhoea, is one of the most frequent illnesses affecting visitors to China. It is usually caused by bacteria ingested through contaminated food or untreated water. Common bacteria include campylobacter, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli or salmonella. Symptoms typically develop within 24 to 72 hours and may include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and cramping.
The most important aspect of treatment is maintaining adequate hydration, ideally with oral rehydration solutions that replace lost fluids and salts. Most cases resolve naturally within one to three days. Medical attention is recommended if symptoms are severe, prolonged, or if fluid intake cannot keep up with losses. Prevention relies on good hand hygiene and avoiding high-risk foods and drinks.
Non-infectious conditions
Deep vein thrombosis
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Prolonged air travel to China and extended train or road journeys within the country can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT occurs when slowed blood flow allows a blood clot to form in a deep vein, most commonly in the legs. To reduce the risk of DVT, travellers should stand up and move regularly during long journeys, stretch their legs, and stay well hydrated. People with additional risk factors may be advised to wear below-knee compression stockings. If DVT occurs, it is usually treated with blood-thinning medication.
Altitude sickness
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Some travellers to China may spend time at high elevations, particularly in areas such as Lhasa (3,650 metres), Shigatse (3,836 metres), and regions across the Tibetan Plateau, Qinghai, and parts of Sichuan and Yunnan. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can affect around one in four people who ascend above 2,500 metres without proper acclimatisation. Early symptoms may include headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, or vomiting. These often improve within 12 to 48 hours if further ascent is avoided.
More serious forms of altitude illness can occur at very high elevations, typically above 4,000 metres. High-Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) may cause confusion, altered behaviour, or difficulty walking, while High-Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) can cause shortness of breath, coughing, or reduced exercise tolerance. Both conditions require urgent descent and immediate medical attention.
To reduce the risk of altitude-related illness in China, ascend gradually, build rest days into your itinerary, and allow your body time to adjust. A travel doctor may recommend preventive medications for travellers heading to very high elevations. Anyone unfamiliar with AMS, HACE, or HAPE should consider travelling with an experienced guide when trekking at altitude.
The CDC highlights three essential precautions:
1. Recognise the early symptoms and act promptly.
2. Do not ascend to sleep at a higher altitude if symptoms develop.
3. Descend immediately if symptoms worsen or fail to improve at the same elevation.
Safety on the roads and elsewhere
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Whilst some areas of China have extensive transport networks, road conditions and driving standards can vary, particularly outside major cities. Travellers should choose reputable transport providers and ensure vehicles are fitted with working seatbelts. If riding a motorbike, wear a certified helmet and follow local traffic laws. When hiking or visiting rural or mountainous regions, wear sturdy footwear, use sunscreen and insect repellent, pack appropriately, and avoid routes beyond your fitness level. Given the size of the country and the variability in access to medical care, comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation is strongly recommended. Refer to the Smartraveller website for up to date information and travel advice before embarking on a trip to China.