Medicines in China: pharmacies, prescriptions and bringing your own
Short answer
Pharmacies (药店, yàodiàn) are everywhere in Chinese cities and sell common over-the-counter medicines; prescription medicines (处方药) officially need a doctor's prescription. Ask by generic name, not brand name, ideally shown in Chinese. You can bring your own medicine in reasonable personal-use amounts with its original packaging and a prescription — but controlled medicines such as strong painkillers, sedatives and ADHD stimulants are tightly restricted, so check with a Chinese embassy before you travel.
Key facts
- Pharmacies are marked 药店 or 药房, often with a green cross. Many large chains open late.
- Medicines are labelled OTC (非处方药) or prescription-only (处方药, chǔfāngyào).
- Brand names differ from other countries. Generic names in Chinese (for example ibuprofen = 布洛芬) work best.
- Bring personal medicine in its original packaging, with a prescription or doctor's letter, ideally translated into Chinese.
- Controlled psychotropic and narcotic medicines are strictly limited, reportedly to only a few days' supply for some classes.
- Cannabis and CBD products are illegal in China. Don't bring them.
Buying medicine at a pharmacy
Chinese pharmacies (药店 / 药房) are easy to find in cities, and many have a licensed pharmacist (药师) on duty. They stock:
- Over-the-counter medicines (非处方药, marked OTC) — painkillers, cold and allergy medicine, oral rehydration salts, and so on.
- Prescription medicines (处方药), which should only be sold with a prescription.
- Traditional Chinese medicines (中成药), often on the same shelves. Read the label or ask if you want a Western-style medicine.
Delivery apps also deliver from pharmacies in many cities, but you'll need to navigate them in Chinese.
Ask by generic name
Brand names vary from country to country, so ask for the active ingredient. Showing the Chinese name avoids confusion.
| What you want | Generic name (English) | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pain or fever | Ibuprofen | 布洛芬 | bùluòfēn |
| Pain or fever | Paracetamol / acetaminophen | 对乙酰氨基酚 | duìyǐxiān'ānjīfēn |
| Allergies | Loratadine | 氯雷他定 | lǜléitādìng |
| Allergies | Cetirizine | 西替利嗪 | xītìlìqín |
| Diarrhoea | Oral rehydration salts | 口服补液盐 | kǒufú bǔyèyán |
| Diarrhoea | Loperamide | 洛哌丁胺 | luòpàidīng'àn |
| Heartburn | Omeprazole | 奥美拉唑 | àoměilāzuò |
有这个药吗？
Yǒu zhège yào ma?
有药师吗？
Yǒu yàoshī ma?
一天吃几次？
Yì tiān chī jǐ cì?
This table is for finding the right product, not for choosing a treatment. Ask a pharmacist or doctor if you're unsure what to take.
Bringing your own medicine
For ordinary prescription medicines:
- Bring a reasonable personal-use amount for the length of your stay.
- Keep everything in its original, labelled packaging.
- Carry a copy of the prescription or a doctor's letter listing the generic names and doses. A Chinese translation helps.
- Pack medicine in your carry-on luggage.
Refills while you're in China
If you run out, see a doctor. An international department or private hospital can usually prescribe a local equivalent after seeing your old prescription. Bring the original packaging or a photo of it so the doctor can match the ingredient and dose.
Questions people ask
Can I buy antibiotics at a pharmacy in China without a prescription?
Antibiotics are prescription medicines in China. Pharmacies are supposed to require a prescription, and many do. If you think you need antibiotics, see a doctor — an outpatient visit at a public hospital is not expensive.
How much medicine can I bring into China?
For ordinary prescription medicines, a reasonable amount for personal use during your stay, carried in original packaging with a prescription. Controlled psychotropic and narcotic medicines have much stricter limits. Declare them at customs, carry a doctor's letter, and confirm the rules with a Chinese embassy before you travel.
Can I bring ADHD medication to China?
Stimulant ADHD medicines are controlled in China, and amphetamine-based products face particularly tight restrictions. Ask the Chinese embassy in your country before travelling, and discuss alternatives for the trip with your own doctor.
Can I have medicine posted to me in China?
Mailing prescription medicine into China is harder than carrying it, and parcels may be held by customs. Bring enough for your stay where possible, or have a doctor in China prescribe a local equivalent.