Orthopaedic & Rehab Tours · Shanghai 上海
Shanghai
Joint Replacement by the Bund
About three weeks for a knee or hip replacement at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, part of China's National Orthopaedic Medical Centre and the hospital that performed the world's first limb reattachment, with physiotherapy and step-free outings along the Bund and in the former French Concession.
Trip length
21 days / 20 nights
Orthopaedic program
Joint replacement + rehab
Best time to go
March–May and October–November
Best for
Knee or hip arthritis needing replacement
Overview
Joint replacement at the other half of China's national orthopaedic centre.
Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, founded in 1904 and affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, forms China's National Orthopaedic Medical Centre together with Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. It holds national key clinical specialties in orthopaedics and sports medicine, hosts the Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Bone Diseases, and performed the world's first limb reattachment in 1963.
After about a week in hospital you move to a step-free hotel nearby for daily physiotherapy, until the surgeon clears you to fly.
This route suits
- Adults whose knee or hip arthritis no longer responds to other treatment
- Patients facing long waits at home
- People who prefer Shanghai's international, easy-going city life during rehab
- Travellers with a companion
Orthopaedic program · Joint replacement + rehab
What the orthopaedic care covers
Assessment & plan
Surgery is only confirmed once the surgeon has examined you.
- Review of your X-rays or MRI before you travel
- Consultation and examination with an orthopaedic surgeon (English interpreting)
- Pre-operative tests: blood tests, ECG and anything else needed
- Written plan with implant type and itemised price
Joint replacement
Knee or hip replacement with an enhanced-recovery pathway.
- Total or partial knee replacement, or total hip replacement
- Walking with a physiotherapist as early as you're able, usually within a day
- Blood-clot prevention: medicine, stockings and early movement
- Hospital stay of about a week, depending on progress
Rehabilitation
Daily physiotherapy until you're safe to fly home.
- Daily physiotherapy sessions after discharge
- Walking aids and a home exercise programme
- Wound check and stitch or clip removal
- Surgeon review and fitness-to-fly clearance before departure
Records & handover
So your doctor and physiotherapist at home can take over.
- Written summary in English, including the implant make and model
- X-rays and scans to take home
- Rehab plan for your physiotherapist at home
- Follow-up video call with your coordinator
Surgery is confirmed by the surgeon after examining you, not before. More on procedures, implants and prices: orthopaedic surgery guide · sports medicine
Not sure surgery is the answer?
Send your X-rays or MRI and a short history. A surgeon tells you what your Shanghai trip could involve — free, with no obligation.
Treatment timeline
How the treatment fits the trip
| Visit | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Before surgery | Assessment, tests and a final decision with the surgeon. |
| About one week | In hospital | Surgery and the first days of walking and physiotherapy. |
| About two weeks | Rehab stay | Daily physiotherapy near the hospital, gentle outings, surgeon review and clearance to fly. |
| Afterwards | At home | Physiotherapy with your own team using the plan we provide; a check-up at about six weeks. |
Built around recovery
How this trip protects your recovery
- Assessment in the first days, with time to decide
- Walking from the first day or so after surgery
- Step-free rehab hotel with lifts, close to the hospital
- Outings by car or wheelchair until you're confident
- Surgeon clearance before you fly
Assessment day
What happens at the clinic
| 09:00 | Meet your coordinator at the hotel and travel to the hospital. Bring your passport, scans and medicines list. |
|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration and history with an interpreter. |
| 10:00 | Examination by the orthopaedic surgeon; X-rays repeated if needed. |
| 11:00 | Pre-operative tests: blood tests, ECG and anything else the anaesthetist needs. |
| Afternoon | Plan, implant and price explained in writing. Surgery only goes ahead once you agree. |
Itinerary · 21 days / 20 nights
Day by day
- Days 1–3
Arrive & assessment
- Pick-up and hotel check-in
- Surgeon consultation and pre-operative tests
- Plan, implant and price agreed in writing
Overnight: Hotel near the hospital
- Days 4–10
Surgery & hospital stay
- Knee or hip replacement
- Early walking and daily ward physiotherapy
Overnight: Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital
- Days 11–14
Rehab week 1
- Daily outpatient physiotherapy
- First outing: Huangpu River cruise
Overnight: Rehab hotel
- Days 15–19
Rehab week 2
- Daily physiotherapy
- Wound check and stitch or clip removal
- Outings: the Bund, the French Concession, Shanghai Museum
Overnight: Rehab hotel
- Day 20
Clearance
- Surgeon review and fitness-to-fly clearance
- Records, X-rays and rehab plan handed over
Overnight: Rehab hotel
- Day 21
Depart
- Wheelchair assistance arranged at the airport
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
The Bund
The riverside promenade of historic banks and hotels, flat and step-free along the river.
Tip: Evening is cooler and the lights are on.
Former French Concession
Plane-tree-lined streets of old villas, cafés and small shops.
Tip: Short, flat walks with cafés to rest in.
Huangpu River cruise
A boat trip past both banks of the river.
Tip: Good for the first outing after discharge.
Shanghai Museum
A major collection of Chinese bronzes, ceramics and painting, with lifts and wheelchairs available.
Tip: Ideal on a rainy day.
Hospitals
Where the treatment happens
Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University 上海市第六人民医院
Public general hospital (3A) · Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Founded in 1904. With Beijing Jishuitan Hospital it forms China's National Orthopaedic Medical Centre; it holds national key clinical specialties in orthopaedics and sports medicine, hosts the Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Bone Diseases, and performed the world's first limb reattachment in 1963.
We use it for
- Knee and hip replacement
- Sports medicine
The hospital and surgeon are confirmed after reviewing your scans, dates and availability. An English-speaking coordinator accompanies you to every appointment. Ask for the implant make and model in writing in your quote.
Worried about the flight home?
Tell us where you're flying to. We'll plan the rehab so the surgeon can clear you to fly, and arrange airport wheelchair assistance and any certificate your airline needs.
Aftercare
Travelling after joint surgery
Blood clots
Keep up the clot-prevention medicine and stockings you're given, walk regularly, and drink water. On long journeys, move around at least every hour or so.
Flying
Only once your surgeon has cleared you. Book an aisle seat, ask for wheelchair assistance at the airport, and carry your discharge summary.
Exercises
Do your physiotherapy exercises every day. They matter more than anything else for how well the new joint works.
Warning signs
Calf pain or swelling, chest pain, breathlessness, fever or a red, leaking wound need urgent medical attention, wherever you are.
General guidance only. Follow the instructions of your own surgeon and physiotherapist.
Practical tips
Before you go
- Shanghai summers are hot and humid; spring and autumn are more comfortable for rehab outings.
- Ask for a hotel room with a walk-in shower rather than a bath.
- Send recent X-rays (or MRI for sports injuries) and a summary of your symptoms and treatments so far.
- Bring a full list of medicines. Blood thinners and some arthritis drugs may need stopping before surgery, but only on medical advice.
- Have dental problems checked before a joint replacement; infections elsewhere can affect the new joint.
- Plan your home: a chair with arms, no loose rugs, and help for the first weeks back.
FAQ
Shanghai orthopaedic & rehab tour — answered.
- Is three weeks really necessary?
- For a long-haul flight, we think so. You can usually walk well with aids within days, but clot risk on long flights is higher soon after surgery, and there's no evidence-based rule on timing. If you live nearby, for example elsewhere in Asia, the surgeon may clear you sooner.
- Can I continue rehab at home?
- Yes. You leave with a written rehab plan for your physiotherapist, and your coordinator checks in by video.
- When can I fly home after a knee or hip replacement?
- There's no evidence-based rule. Studies are limited, and surgeons' advice varies widely. Long flights of more than four hours carry a higher clot risk and usually need stronger prevention. That's why these routes allow about two weeks of rehab after discharge, and the surgeon clears you to fly. Some airlines also ask for a medical certificate, which we arrange.
- How long will I be in hospital?
- Usually about a week in China, longer than in some Western hospitals that use same-day or next-day discharge. You start walking with a physiotherapist as soon as you're able, usually within a day of surgery.
- Why are joint replacements cheaper in China?
- In 2021, China ran national volume-based procurement for artificial hip and knee joints. Implant prices fell by 82% on average (hip implants from about ¥35,000 to about ¥7,000; knees from about ¥32,000 to about ¥5,000). Surgery and hospital fees are charged separately.
- Which implant will I get?
- The surgeon recommends an implant for your joint, and the make and model are named in your quote and recorded in your discharge papers, so your doctors at home know exactly what you have.
- How much does an orthopaedic tour cost?
- It depends on the operation, the hospital, the length of rehab and the hotel. Send us your X-rays or MRI and your dates, and we'll reply with an itemised quote.
- Can a family member come?
- We recommend it. A companion helps a lot in the first weeks after surgery, and can stay at the rehab hotel with you.
Related guides
Other routes
Beijing · Joint Replacement & Rehab
21 days / 20 nights · Knee or hip arthritis needing replacement
View routeBeijing · Sports Injuries & Joint Pain
7 days / 6 nights · Knee, shoulder or ankle injuries; second opinions
View routeChengdu · Fast-Track Joint Replacement
21 days / 20 nights · Knee or hip arthritis; travellers who like a slow pace
View routeShanghai, care included.
Get your itemised quote.
Share your dates, who’s travelling and any X-rays or MRI. We’ll confirm the hospital, program and rehab hotel, and pace the trip around your recovery.