The best city for MBBS in China depends on your budget, your tolerance for cold and how much weight you give to a university's standing. For most Pakistani families on a tight budget, Chongqing and Harbin give the lowest fees among MOE-listed universities in our directory. For the strongest names, Beijing, Chengdu and Xi'an are the usual picks, at a higher price. For milder winters at a middle price, look at Nanjing and Dalian.
This guide covers eleven cities that each have one or two universities in our directory: Beijing, Chengdu, Xi'an, Tianjin, Harbin, Shenyang, Dalian, Changchun, Nanjing, Chongqing and Hangzhou. Guangzhou, Wuhan and Shanghai have several universities each, so they have their own guides: MBBS in Guangzhou, MBBS in Wuhan and MBBS in Shanghai.
Quick shortlist by priority
- Lowest fee with MOE listing: Chongqing Medical University in Chongqing, then Harbin Medical University in Harbin.
- Strongest reputation: Capital Medical University in Beijing, Sichuan University in Chengdu and Xi'an Jiaotong University in Xi'an.
- Milder winter than the northeast: Dalian Medical University in Dalian (coastal) or Nanjing Medical University in Nanjing.
- Big-city life with an airport hub: Beijing or Chengdu.
- Willing to take a non-MOE option for a lower fee: Hangzhou or Shenyang, but read the risk section below first.
City comparison table for MBBS in China
Fees below are per our directory. The annual figure is the recurring total from year 2 (tuition, hostel, visa extension and insurance) in US dollars. Year 1 is higher because of one-time charges, shown in RMB. Confirm the current fee with the university before you pay anything.
| City | University | MOE-listed in our directory | Annual fee from year 2 (USD) | Year 1 total (RMB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chongqing | Chongqing Medical University | Yes | 5,020 | 51,800 |
| Harbin | Harbin Medical University | Yes | 5,140 | 52,400 |
| Changchun | Jilin University | Yes | 5,640 | 56,000 |
| Nanjing | Nanjing Medical University | Yes | 6,000 | 57,000 |
| Nanjing | Southeast University | Yes | 6,190 | 60,000 |
| Xi'an | Xi'an Jiaotong University | Yes | 7,100 | 66,000 |
| Dalian | Dalian Medical University | Yes | 7,250 | 69,200 |
| Chengdu | Sichuan University | Yes | 7,400 | 68,200 |
| Shenyang | China Medical University | Yes | 7,750 | 68,000 |
| Beijing | Capital Medical University | Yes | 8,200 | 74,500 |
| Tianjin | Tianjin Medical University | Yes | 8,267 | 81,270 |
| Hangzhou | Hangzhou Normal University | No | 3,121 | 36,500 |
| Changchun | Changchun University of Chinese Medicine | No | 3,650 | 34,800 |
| Hangzhou | Zhejiang Chinese Medical University | No | 4,000 | 42,450 |
| Shenyang | Shenyang Medical College | No | 4,400 | 38,900 |
For the full MOE picture, see the complete list of MOE-listed universities in China. For what the whole degree costs, see the MBBS in China total cost guide.
Does the city matter more than the university?
Usually the university matters more. Your degree carries the university's name, not the city's. The city decides four everyday things: the winter you live through, the monthly cost of living, how easy it is to travel home and how many foreign students you will meet.
The city does not change the rules that decide your career. Whether you can practise in Pakistan depends on the university being recognised by PM&DC, passing the registration exam and meeting the council's conditions. We cover that in the answer on PMDC recognition below.
One more point on admissions. Since PM&DC public notice No. Exam-59/2026/350 (5 October 2026), MDCAT is not required for Pakistani students seeking admission to foreign medical institutions. MDCAT is still needed for colleges inside Pakistan. Other conditions from earlier in 2026 have not been confirmed after the notice, so check pmdc.pk before you apply. Details are in our explainer on the PM&DC notice.
Which Chinese cities are coldest and warmest?
Climate is the first practical difference between these cities. The figures below are rough January averages from public climate and travel sites, which disagree with each other by a few degrees. They are a guide, not an official forecast. Check the China Meteorological Administration for current data.
| City | Rough January feel | Summer |
|---|---|---|
| Harbin | Around minus 17 to minus 18 degrees C on average | Warm, short |
| Changchun | Roughly minus 15 degrees C | Warm |
| Shenyang | Around minus 11 degrees C | Warm to hot |
| Dalian | Roughly minus 2 to minus 5 degrees C, softened by the sea | Moderate |
| Beijing | Around minus 3 to minus 4 degrees C | Hot, about 27 degrees C on average in July |
| Tianjin | Close to Beijing, cold and dry | Hot and humid |
| Xi'an | Around 0 degrees C | Hot, about 26 degrees C on average in July |
| Nanjing | Cold, daytime highs near 7 degrees C | Very hot and humid |
| Hangzhou | Around 5 to 7 degrees C in winter | Hot and humid |
| Chongqing | Mild, about 8 to 10 degrees C in winter, with fog | Very hot |
| Chengdu | Mild, nights near 3 degrees C, grey skies | Hot and wet |
Students from warm parts of Pakistan, such as Karachi, will feel a northeast winter most. Ask the university about hostel heating before you commit.
Beijing: MBBS in Beijing at Capital Medical University
Capital Medical University is the only Beijing university in our directory. It is MOE-listed, and the directory puts the annual fee from year 2 at USD 8,200, among the highest on this page. Year 1 is RMB 74,500, including a one-time RMB 15,000 liaison and management charge. A foundation course of about RMB 12,500 and an application fee of RMB 1,500 are separate.
Our directory describes the university as one of the top one or two medical schools in China, with 19 affiliated hospitals including Beijing Tiantan Hospital, which it lists as Asia's largest neurosurgery centre. The directory also states no HSK or IELTS is needed to apply.
Choose Beijing if clinical exposure and reputation matter more than cost. Expect higher living costs than in smaller cities.
Chengdu: is MBBS in Chengdu a good choice?
Sichuan University is a large comprehensive research university in Chengdu. The directory lists it as MOE-listed, with an annual fee of USD 7,400 from year 2 and RMB 68,200 in year 1. It offers MBBS and BDS, with Chinese language teaching integrated into the programme and an HSK level required before internship.
Our directory ranks the university 87th globally in ARWU and notes that its teaching hospital, West China Hospital, is described as number one in China. Treat that hospital claim as the directory's summary and check the latest national hospital rankings yourself.
Chengdu suits students who want a large city with mild winters, a strong food culture and a direct airport hub. Grey skies are the trade-off.
Xi'an: MBBS in Xi'an at Xi'an Jiaotong University
Xi'an Jiaotong University is MOE-listed in our directory, with USD 7,100 a year from year 2 and RMB 66,000 in year 1. The directory describes it as a C9 League, 985, 211 and Double First Class A university, and as the first Chinese university to teach MBBS in English, in 1995.
Xi'an has cold, dry winters and hot summers. Chinese language teaching runs from year 1, and the directory says HSK is required before internship.
Tianjin: MBBS in Tianjin at Tianjin Medical University
Tianjin Medical University is MOE-listed in our directory and is the most expensive university on this page: USD 8,267 a year from year 2 and RMB 81,270 in year 1. The directory lists it as Project 211 and Double First-Class, with ESI Clinical Medicine in the top one per mille. HSK-4 is required before graduation, not during the programme.
Tianjin is close to Beijing by fast train, so some students pick it for Beijing access at a lower living cost. Compare the fee carefully, because it is higher than Capital Medical University's recurring fee in our directory.
Harbin: is Harbin too cold for Pakistani students?
Harbin is cold, and you should not pretend otherwise. January averages sit around minus 17 degrees C on most climate sites. Many international students still study there. Buildings are heated, and the practical challenge is outdoor clothing and the first winter.
Harbin Medical University is MOE-listed in our directory and was founded in 1926. It costs USD 5,140 a year from year 2, with RMB 52,400 in year 1, which makes it the second cheapest MOE-listed university on this page. HSK-4 is needed before graduation only. The directory marks it as Project 211.
Harbin is the right fit for a cost-focused student who is ready for deep winter. Buy proper thermal clothing in Pakistan or on arrival and plan your first winter before departure.
Shenyang, Changchun and Dalian: the northeast options
Shenyang
China Medical University is MOE-listed in our directory. The annual fee from year 2 is USD 7,750 and year 1 is RMB 68,000. The directory describes its Clinical Medicine as top 8 in China. No HSK is required, per the directory. Shenyang winters are cold, around minus 11 degrees C in January on climate sites.
The second Shenyang option, Shenyang Medical College, is not MOE-listed in our directory. It is cheaper at USD 4,400 a year and is flagged as PMDC-approved in our directory, but see the risk section below.
Changchun
Jilin University is MOE-listed, with a fee of USD 5,640 a year from year 2 and RMB 56,000 in year 1. It is listed as a 985, 211 and Double First Class university, and its fully English-medium MBBS takes 80 international seats a year, per the directory. HSK-4 is required before graduation. Changchun is colder than Shenyang and only slightly milder than Harbin.
Changchun University of Chinese Medicine is not MOE-listed in our directory. It charges USD 3,650 a year.
Dalian
Dalian Medical University is MOE-listed, at USD 7,250 a year from year 2 and RMB 69,200 in year 1. Its English MBBS is taught in English from day one with no Chinese language year, and it is limited to 100 seats per intake, per the directory. The campus is in the coastal Lushunkou district, so winters are gentler than in Harbin or Changchun, though windy. Dalian also offers BDS.
Nanjing and Chongqing: the Yangtze options
Nanjing is the only city here with two MOE-listed universities in our directory. Nanjing Medical University costs USD 6,000 a year from year 2, RMB 57,000 in year 1, and was founded in 1934. Southeast University costs USD 6,190 a year, RMB 60,000 in year 1, and is listed as a 985 and Double First Class university. The directory says HSK-4 is needed before graduation at Nanjing Medical University. Nanjing has hot summers and cold, damp winters.
Chongqing has the lowest recurring fee among MOE-listed universities in this guide. Chongqing Medical University costs USD 5,020 a year from year 2, and RMB 51,800 in year 1. The university reports on its English news page that it ranked 9th among Chinese medical universities and 81st overall in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking Best Chinese Universities list, released 15 April 2026. Chongqing summers are very hot, and winters are mild but foggy.
Hangzhou: two non-MOE options
Hangzhou has two universities in our directory, and neither is MOE-listed there. Hangzhou Normal University costs USD 3,121 a year from year 2, and Zhejiang Chinese Medical University costs USD 4,000. Both are flagged as PMDC-approved in our directory. Check the monthly living cost in Hangzhou with current students.
The fee is the reason students look at these two. The MOE status is the reason to pause. See the next section.
Should you choose a cheaper non-MOE university in a good city?
A non-MOE university in an attractive city is not the same as an MOE-listed one. The Chinese Ministry of Education has an approved list of universities allowed to teach MBBS in English to international students, and the list has been described as about 45 universities. Indian embassy guidance has told students not to join English-taught MBBS at universities outside that list. Our directory has 45 MOE-listed universities and 50 that are not.
If you are looking at a non-MOE university, ask the university in writing about its approval to teach MBBS in English to foreign students, and confirm its status on the WDOMS directory. Read our guide to how to verify PMDC-recognised universities in China and our piece on whether cheap non-MOE universities are safe.
How to choose your city in five steps
- Set your yearly budget in USD, including year 1 one-time charges.
- Rule out cities whose winter you will not accept.
- Keep only MOE-listed universities, or ask hard questions about any that are not.
- Check each shortlisted university on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org.
- Read about daily life, using our guide to hostel and halal food in China and our cost of living in China by city.
Titans Abroad does not charge a consultation fee, and you can apply through our form to get a shortlist matched to your budget and city preferences. Whatever you choose, confirm the fee in writing with the university.
For wider background, see the complete guide to MBBS in China and our MBBS in China university directory. Check eligibility on our eligibility page before you pick a city.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is best for MBBS in China?
No single city is best for everyone. Beijing, Chengdu and Xi'an suit students who put university standing first. Chongqing and Harbin suit students who put cost first among MOE-listed universities in our directory. Dalian and Nanjing suit those who want gentler winters at a middle price.
Is Harbin too cold for Pakistani students?
January averages are around minus 17 degrees C, so winters are severe. Buildings are heated, so the hard part is outdoor clothing and the first winter. If you dislike cold, pick Chongqing, Chengdu, Nanjing or Hangzhou. If cost matters most and you can prepare properly, Harbin is workable.
Which Chinese city has the cheapest MBBS fees?
Among MOE-listed universities in this guide, Chongqing is the lowest at USD 5,020 a year from year 2 in our directory, followed by Harbin at USD 5,140. Non-MOE options in Hangzhou are cheaper, from USD 3,121, but carry the approval questions above. Confirm the current fee with the university.
Is Beijing good for MBBS and how much is it?
Beijing offers Capital Medical University, which our directory describes as one of China's top medical schools, with 19 affiliated hospitals. The directory lists USD 8,200 a year from year 2 and RMB 74,500 in year 1. Living costs in Beijing are also higher than in most cities.
Which cities have more Pakistani students?
We have not found an official city-by-city count of Pakistani medical students in China, so we will not guess. Ask the university how many Pakistani students are enrolled and speak to current students from your target city. Our directory does not publish such numbers.
Is Chengdu a good choice for MBBS?
Chengdu is a strong choice if you can afford USD 7,400 a year from year 2 per our directory. Sichuan University is MOE-listed and linked to West China Hospital. Winters are mild, but skies are often grey and summers are hot and wet.
Does the city matter for PMDC recognition?
No. Recognition applies to the institution, not the city. Check any university on pmdc.pk and search.wdoms.org before paying. Our directory marks most universities here as PMDC-approved, but treat that as a listing to verify, not a guarantee. MDCAT is no longer needed for foreign admission, but the registration exam still applies on return.
The best city for MBBS in China is the one where the university is approved, the fee fits your family's budget and you can live through the winter. Shortlist two or three, verify each one on the official sites, and only then decide.