Do I need vaccines to travel to mainland China?

Last reviewed: 2026-06-14

Quick answer

For most Hong Kong people travelling to mainland cities, there are no mandatory entry vaccine requirements — the key thing is that your routine vaccines are up to date. For rural areas, long stays, or heavy summer outdoor activity, you might consider hepatitis A and typhoid (food- and water-borne) and Japanese encephalitis (rural areas, summer). A flu vaccine is also worth considering for winter trips north. If your trip involves rural areas or a long stay, check with the DH Travel Health Centre or your family doctor before you go.

Travel to the mainland is the most frequent cross-boundary trip for Hong Kong people. For ordinary city travel, the infectious-disease risk is similar to Hong Kong's, and there are no mandatory entry vaccine requirements for travellers.

First, make sure your routine vaccines are up to date

As with any trip, check your routine vaccines first — measles, rubella (MMR), diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and polio.

Vaccines to consider, depending on your itinerary

Hepatitis A and typhoid: spread through contaminated food and water. If you'll visit rural areas where sanitation varies, or eat out frequently, discuss these with your doctor.
Japanese encephalitis: some rural parts of the mainland carry a risk, especially in summer. Consider it for long rural stays or heavy outdoor and night-time activity in endemic areas.
Influenza: flu is active in northern China in winter, so a flu vaccine is worth considering for winter trips north.

What to do

An ordinary short city trip usually only needs your routine vaccines to be up to date. For rural areas, long stays, or particular activities, see the DH Travel Health Centre or your family doctor 6 to 8 weeks before departure.

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