Travel vaccinations for China: requirements, advice and local risks

No vaccination is required for travel from Germany directly to China. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) recommends hepatitis A vaccination for all travellers and up-to-date routine vaccinations under the STIKO schedule, Germany’s national immunisation guidance, with particular attention to measles. Depending on the type of trip, the region and how long you stay, hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis may be added. The Federal Foreign Office names no malaria risk areas for China, but mosquito protection still matters because of dengue and Japanese encephalitis.

Entry rules: when proof of yellow fever vaccination is needed

According to the WHO, China is not an area with yellow fever transmission. A requirement only arises from your route: if you arrive from a yellow fever area, or spent more than 12 hours in transit in one, you must show proof of yellow fever vaccination from the age of nine months. This typically affects travellers who have previously been in parts of Africa or South America. How the vaccination works and where to get it is explained in our guide to yellow fever vaccination.

Recommended vaccinations by type of trip

China is vast, and the health risks differ widely from one region to the next. Many of the risks the Federal Foreign Office describes mainly concern rural areas. The overview table on this page shows which vaccinations apply to everyone and which depend on individual circumstances. The breakdown below helps you prepare for your consultation.

For all travellers

Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and drinking water, and the Federal Foreign Office recommends vaccination for everyone travelling to China. Also use your vaccination record to check routine vaccinations such as tetanus, diphtheria and measles. Our guide to routine vaccinations for adults can help.

Depending on your trip and personal risk

The Federal Foreign Office lists hepatitis B, rabies, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis based on individual indication. Japanese encephalitis is mainly a risk in rural areas, wetlands and near rice farming or pig farming, with the main transmission season usually between April and October. Tick-borne encephalitis occurs mainly in the forests of the north-east. Vaccines against dengue and chikungunya also exist, and the Federal Foreign Office mentions them for individual cases. STIKO currently recommends dengue vaccination only for people aged four and over who have had a laboratory-confirmed dengue infection in the past. For an initial assessment of your route, try the travel vaccine check.

Malaria, dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases

The Federal Foreign Office names no malaria risk areas for China, and China is not listed as a malaria area in the 2026 DTG country table. Preventive medication is therefore not the focus for typical trips. Mosquito protection still plays a part, however:

• Dengue can be transmitted in the southern coastal regions and in the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan. Sporadic cases have occurred in Hong Kong.
• Chikungunya has caused occasional outbreaks in recent years, mainly in the south.
• Japanese encephalitis occurs in most provinces and is most common in the east and south-west.

The Federal Foreign Office advises consistent protection against mosquito bites by day and by night, using repellent, suitable clothing and a bed net at night. Read more in our guide to dengue and mosquito protection.

Hygiene, animal contact and water

Travellers’ diarrhoea is common, and hepatitis A and E also occur among travellers. According to the Federal Foreign Office, multi-resistant salmonella is present in China. Drink safe water, eat thoroughly cooked food and wash your hands regularly.

Rabies in China is mainly transmitted by dogs, with higher case numbers in rural and southern provinces such as Guangxi, Guizhou, Guangdong, Sichuan and Hunan. After a bite or scratch, wash the wound immediately with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical help straight away. As rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins may be unavailable or only available to a very limited extent locally, a consultation before you travel is worthwhile. See our guide to rabies when travelling.

Further points from the Federal Foreign Office:

• Avian influenza: avoid poultry markets and contact with live poultry, and only eat poultry that is thoroughly cooked.
• Schistosomiasis: there is a risk when bathing in fresh water along the Yangtze and in several central and eastern provinces, so avoid swimming in inland waters.
• Hand, foot and mouth disease: it is endemic and mainly affects young children; good hand hygiene reduces the risk.

Air, altitude and sun

Air pollution in the major urban areas is often high to very high, especially in winter. If you have sensitive airways, check current readings before and during your trip. On trips to high altitudes, such as trekking tours, there is often not enough time for gradual acclimatisation, and acute altitude sickness is then possible. Build in rest days and mention any high-altitude plans at your consultation.

Medical care in China

China has no system of doctors in private practice, so care is provided through hospitals. According to the Federal Foreign Office, hospitals in large cities are in some cases very modern, while care in rural areas can be very basic. The biggest hurdle is often language, as English-speaking staff are rare, so a translation aid is useful. The Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance that includes medical evacuation. Pack a travel health kit and your regular medication, and if needed ask your doctor for a note in English confirming that you need it.

When to book your consultation

According to STIKO and the DTG, travel vaccinations should be completed at least two weeks before departure. Some vaccinations involve several appointments, so booking early pays off, especially for longer stays or combined trips with Japan or South East Asia. You can find a practice with a travel medicine focus in our directory of travel clinics.