Dental tours · Xi'an 西安
Xi'an
Implants & the Terracotta Army
Trip one of a two-trip implant plan at Xi'an Jiaotong University's dental hospital, one of five dental hospitals run directly by China's National Health Commission, with the Terracotta Army, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and the Muslim Quarter between check-ups.
Trip length
7 days / 6 nights
Dental program
Implants · two trips
Best time to go
March–May and September–November
Best for
One to three missing teeth; history lovers
Overview
Implants first, then two thousand years of history.
Xi'an was China's capital for more than a thousand years, and its sights are close together and mostly flat, which suits the days after implant surgery.
The Hospital of Stomatology at Xi'an Jiaotong University is one of five dental specialist hospitals administered directly by the National Health Commission. Surgery is on day 2; you come back for the crown once the implant has healed.
This route suits
- Adults missing one or a few teeth
- Travellers interested in Chinese history
- People who prefer a less hectic city than Beijing or Shanghai
- Anyone combining with Beijing by high-speed train
Dental program · Implants · two trips
What the dental care covers
Examination & plan
Nothing is treated until the plan and price are confirmed in writing.
- Consultation with a specialist dentist (English interpreting)
- Fresh panoramic X-ray or CBCT 3D scan
- Written treatment plan with brands, materials and itemised price
- Chance to ask questions and say no before treatment starts
Implant surgery (trip 1)
Implant placement early in the trip, with a check before you fly.
- Implant placement under local anaesthetic; brand named in your quote
- Bone graft or sinus lift only if the scan shows you need one
- Temporary tooth where it's needed for appearance
- Stitch check or removal and a review before you leave
Final crown (trip 2)
After the implant has healed, usually three to six months later.
- Check of the implant and an X-ray
- Digital scan or impression for the crown
- Crown fitted and bite adjusted
- Records and X-rays for your dentist at home
Records & handover
So your dentist at home can look after the work.
- Written summary in English of everything done
- X-rays and scans to take home
- Implant brand, model and size recorded where relevant
- Follow-up video call with your coordinator after you return
The final treatment plan is set by the dentist after your examination and CBCT scan, not before. Background on each treatment is in our dental tourism guide, including implants and full-mouth restoration.
Not sure what treatment you need?
Send us a recent panoramic X-ray or CBCT and a few photos of your teeth. A dentist reviews them and suggests what your Xi'an trip should cover — free, with no obligation.
Treatment timeline
How many trips you need
| Visit | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Trip 1 | This itinerary | Examination, CBCT, implant placement, check-up before you fly. |
| Healing | Usually 3–6 months, at home | The implant fuses with the bone. Your surgeon sets the timing; it is longer after a bone graft. |
| Trip 2 | 4–6 days | Scan or impression, final crown fitted and bite adjusted. Can be combined with another route. |
Built around healing
How this trip protects your treatment
- Surgery on day 2, then a rest day
- The Terracotta Army day trip comes after the first check-up
- Cycling the City Wall is optional and only later in the week; walking or an electric cart is fine
- Final review the day before you fly
First clinic day
What happens at the clinic
| 09:00 | Meet your coordinator at the hotel; transfer to the hospital (bring your passport). |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration, medical history and medicines reviewed with an interpreter. |
| 10:00 | Examination by a specialist dentist; panoramic X-ray or CBCT scan. |
| 11:00 | Treatment plan explained: options, brands, materials, number of visits and price, in writing. |
| Afternoon | Free to think it over. Treatment starts only once you've agreed the plan. |
Itinerary · 7 days / 6 nights
Day by day
- Day 1
Arrive & examination
- Pick-up and hotel check-in inside the city wall
- Afternoon: examination and CBCT; written plan
Overnight: Inside the city wall
- Day 2
Implant surgery
- Morning: implant placement
- Rest at the hotel
Overnight: Inside the city wall
- Day 3
Rest & the Wall
- Slow morning
- Short evening walk on the City Wall
Overnight: Inside the city wall
- Day 4
Check-up & pagoda
- Short check-up at the clinic
- Afternoon: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and evening fountains
Overnight: Inside the city wall
- Day 5
Terracotta Army
- Day trip to the Terracotta Army
Overnight: Inside the city wall
- Day 6
Review & Muslim Quarter
- Final review; stitches checked or removed
- Evening in the Muslim Quarter
Overnight: Inside the city wall
- Day 7
Depart
- Records handed over; fly out or take the train to Beijing
Make this itinerary yours
Change the dates, add rest days, upgrade hotels or combine it with another route. Your coordinator sends a revised plan and itemised quote.
Travel
What you’ll see
Terracotta Army
Thousands of life-size clay soldiers buried with China's first emperor, in pits about an hour east of the city.
Tip: Hire a guide at the site; Pit 1 is the most impressive.
City Wall
One of the best-preserved city walls in China, about 14 km around, wide enough to walk or cycle on top.
Tip: Walk a short stretch at sunset rather than cycling the whole loop after surgery.
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
A Tang-dynasty brick pagoda built to house Buddhist scriptures brought back from India, with a fountain show in the square in the evening.
Tip: The north square fountains run in the evening.
Muslim Quarter
Busy lanes of food stalls and old houses around the Great Mosque, a Chinese-style mosque founded in the Tang dynasty.
Tip: Try soft dishes such as yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread) once you can chew.
Hospitals
Where the dental treatment happens
Hospital of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University 西安交通大学口腔医院
Public university dental hospital
One of five dental specialist hospitals administered directly by China's National Health Commission.
We use it for
- Implants
- Crowns
- General dentistry
The hospital and dentist are confirmed after reviewing your X-rays, dates and availability. An English-speaking coordinator accompanies you to every appointment. Ask for the implant or material brand in writing in your quote.
Worried about pain or downtime?
Tell us what you're having done and when you fly home. We'll plan the clinic days so the hardest ones fall early, with rest days after surgery and soft-food-friendly restaurants nearby.
Aftercare
Travelling after dental treatment
Eating
Soft, lukewarm food for the first days after surgery or extractions. Chinese cities make this easy: congee, steamed dumplings, tofu, noodle soups. Ask for food that isn't spicy.
Activity
Gentle walking is fine. Avoid strenuous hikes, swimming, saunas and hot springs in the first days after surgery; your surgeon will tell you when.
Flying
Most people can fly a day or two after routine dental treatment. After a sinus lift, your surgeon may ask you to wait longer. Follow their advice for your case.
Alcohol & smoking
Both slow healing and raise the risk of implant problems. Avoid them for as long as your surgeon advises, ideally for the whole trip.
General guidance only. Your dentist gives you instructions for your own treatment, and those come first.
Practical tips
Before you go
- Xi'an summers are hot; spring and autumn are the most comfortable for walking.
- The high-speed train to Beijing takes about four and a half to six hours, depending on the service.
- Send a panoramic X-ray or CBCT taken in the last six months, if you have one, plus a few photos of your teeth.
- Bring a list of all your medicines with doses. Tell us in advance about blood thinners, diabetes, osteoporosis drugs or radiotherapy to the head and neck.
- Bring your passport to every appointment; hospitals use it to register you.
- Ask your home dentist whether they will maintain work done abroad. Most will, with the records we provide.
FAQ
Xi'an dental tour — answered.
- Is a day trip to the Terracotta Army OK after surgery?
- Usually, yes, two or three days after a routine implant. It's mostly walking on flat ground. We schedule it after your check-up, and you can skip it if you'd rather rest.
- Can I do the second trip somewhere else?
- Yes, as long as the same clinic or a clinic with the same implant system fits the crown. Most people return to the same hospital, and can pick a different city route for the sightseeing.
- Can I get implants and the final teeth in one trip?
- Usually not. Conventional implants need about three to six months to fuse with the bone before the final crown or bridge is fitted. That's why our implant and full-arch routes are planned as two trips. On a full-arch trip you leave with fixed temporary teeth.
- Are the hospitals public or private?
- Every hospital on these routes is a public hospital, most of them university dental hospitals. Three of them, in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, are China's National Centers for Stomatology.
- Why are dental implants cheaper in China now?
- In 2023, China ran national volume-based procurement for implants: the average price of the selected implant bodies fell by 55%, to just over 900 yuan. China's healthcare security administration also asked tertiary public hospitals to keep the medical-service fee for a single routine implant to no more than 4,500 yuan. That cap covers the service fee only; the crown and any grafting are charged separately.
- How much does a dental tour cost?
- It depends on the treatment, which only a dentist can confirm after seeing your X-rays, plus the route and hotels. Send us an X-ray and your dates, and we'll reply with an itemised quote that names the implant or material brands.
- What if something goes wrong after I get home?
- Ask about the clinic's follow-up and warranty terms before you book, in writing. You leave with full records, X-rays and implant details, so your dentist at home can see exactly what was done, and your coordinator stays in touch after the trip.
- Can my partner come?
- Yes. A companion is helpful on surgery days, and they can join the sightseeing or book their own check-up.
Related guides
Other routes
Beijing · Implants & Imperial Sights
7 days / 6 nights · One to three missing teeth; first-time visitors to China
View routeShanghai · Crowns, Veneers & the City
10 days / 9 nights · Crowns, bridges and veneers; worn or discoloured teeth
View routeHangzhou · Dental Check-up & West Lake
5 days / 4 nights · Check-ups, fillings, root canals, wisdom teeth
View routeChengdu · Full-Arch Implants & Pandas
12 days / 11 nights · A whole jaw of missing or failing teeth; loose dentures
View routeGuangzhou · Crowns & Cantonese Food
9 days / 8 nights · Crowns, bridges and veneers; travellers from Hong Kong and South-East Asia
View routeShenzhen · Quick Dental Trip from Hong Kong
4 days / 3 nights · Check-ups and general dentistry; visitors already in Hong Kong
View routeXi'an, dental care included.
Get your itemised quote.
Share your dates, who’s travelling and a recent X-ray if you have one. We’ll confirm the clinic, dental program and hotels, and pace the sightseeing around your treatment.