Question 1

What is the Boya clinic and where is it located?

Accepted Answer

Boya is a private pediatric rehabilitation hospital with a neurological focus in Yuncheng (Shanxi Province, China), operating since 2023. Address: 346 South Jiefang Road, Yanhu District. Children with cerebral palsy, autism, developmental delays and other neurological conditions come here for rehabilitation. Sessions run 6 days a week (Sunday off), from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00; the recommended course length is 2-3 months. Please note: Boya and the Yuncheng People's Hospital are two different hospitals in the same city.

Question 2

How do we get started if we want to come for rehabilitation?

Accepted Answer

The path to arrival has four steps. First, send your child's medical records and short videos of what they can do to WhatsApp or Telegram (+86 136 8088 0512). Second, within 1-3 days the doctor reviews the materials and replies in writing: the goals of rehabilitation, the recommended procedures and an approximate course length. Third, send the passport details of everyone who is travelling; if a passport has not been issued yet, birth certificate and national ID details will do. Fourth, we prepare the invitation, the invoice and the rest of the hospital documents, which you then use to apply for a visa and book your flights. What to film and how to send the records is covered in the Documents section, and visa details are in the Travel section.

Question 3

Which conditions does the clinic work with?

Accepted Answer

Boya is a rehabilitation hospital with a neurological focus, so the main areas are motor and speech disorders, developmental delays, autism and ASD. Most often children come to us with cerebral palsy, motor, speech and psycho-speech developmental delay, consequences of encephalopathy, Down syndrome, and disorders of muscle tone, gait and coordination. Speech and oromotor work forms a separate block: alalia, dysarthria, absence of speech, dysphagia, chewing difficulties and drooling. We also work with the sensory, emotional and behavioral features that accompany the main condition - hypersensitivity, anxiety, sleep disorders, stereotypies and attention deficit. The full list of 49 conditions with descriptions is in the Diagnoses section; if you do not find your diagnosis there, simply send us the documents and the doctor will tell you whether we can help.

Question 4

What does a child's day look like and do parents take part?

Accepted Answer

Sessions run 6 days a week, with Sunday off; the morning block runs from 8:00 to 12:00, the afternoon block from 14:00 to 18:00, with a break for lunch and rest. On average a child gets 8 procedures a day, ranging from 6 to 9. The day is split into short, varied blocks: the gym alternates with the therapy room, an active session with a procedure, so this volume is easier to handle than one long lesson. Your child works with rehabilitation specialists and exercise therapy instructors, a speech therapist and specialists in sensory integration and ergotherapy; traditional Chinese medicine procedures are carried out by a doctor. The first days are always gentle: the child is introduced to the gym and the routine gradually, and the load is increased according to what they can actually manage. The parent stays alongside - accompanying the child between sessions, telling the specialist when the child is tired, and learning the exercises that are later continued at home. The exact schedule is drawn up after the initial examination, to match the specific programme.

Question 5

Does the clinic work during Chinese public holidays?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ordinary Chinese holidays last 1-2 days: staff have those days off, but the hospital keeps receiving children - the session schedule may simply shift a little. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a separate story: it is the longest holiday period in the country, hospital staff get 5 days off, and Boya switches to a duty roster - fewer sessions per day and less intensive ones. Holiday dates in China move from year to year and are announced in advance, so if your trip falls in a holiday period, check the schedule with the coordinator: message us on WhatsApp or Telegram (+86 136 8088 0512).

Question 6

Which procedures are included in the rehabilitation programme?

Accepted Answer

The doctor draws up an individual programme for each child after the initial examination. It may include physical rehabilitation and exercise therapy, tuina massage, apparatus physiotherapy, acupuncture (including scalp acupuncture and the New Nine Needles method), speech therapy, sensory integration, ergotherapy, as well as traditional Chinese medicine methods - moxotherapy and herbal compresses. Sessions run 6 days a week (Sunday off), from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00, with an average of 8 procedures a day. The full list of procedures with detailed descriptions is in the Procedures section.

Question 7

Who draws up the programme and how often is it reviewed?

Accepted Answer

The programme is drawn up by a hospital doctor following the initial examination, which takes place on the first day after admission. During that examination the doctor discusses with the parents not only the list of procedures but also exactly what will be worked on in each session: the goals are set for that particular child. After that the programme does not stay fixed - the doctor looking after your child and the specialists watch how the child responds to the load and adjust the mix and intensity of sessions as the course goes on. The rehabilitation specialists usually give their first feedback on progress about five days after sessions begin. The conclusion you receive before the trip is not the programme itself but preliminary recommendations: the goals of rehabilitation, possible contraindications and an approximate list of procedures.

Question 8

How long is a course and can we come for a shorter stay?

Accepted Answer

There are no fixed courses here: the family chooses the length, and the doctors only recommend an optimal period. Long-standing practice shows that visible progress needs a comprehensive course of 2-3 months, and that is what is recommended most often. At the same time families have different circumstances - financial, work and family - so we accept children for shorter stays, and you can leave at any point. Between 10 and 15 days after sessions begin you can collect an itemized statement of expenses at the cashier's desk, see the real pace of spending and decide together with the doctor how long to stay. That is why we suggest booking return tickets only after that conversation rather than in advance.

Question 9

Which tests and examinations are needed before starting?

Accepted Answer

Before admission the following are mandatory: a complete blood count, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis tests, and liver and kidney function indicators. If these tests were done at home no more than a week before arrival, bring the results with you - there will be no need to repeat them. Everything else can be done on site: the hospital has its own laboratory and performs urine and stool analysis, blood sugar and other tests here. Available instrument diagnostics include MRI, EEG and video-EEG, ECG, ultrasound and X-ray - not every child needs them, and the doctor decides after the examination. Images and reports from earlier examinations are useful too: bring them along, even if they are not the most recent.

Question 10

What language is used and is an interpreter provided?

Accepted Answer

You do not need to speak Chinese or English. An interpreter accompanies the family: they are present at the initial examination, at the doctor's consultations and during sessions, so the parent understands what is happening with the child and can ask the specialist a question right there in the session. Everyday matters go through the interpreter as well - talking to the administrator, going to the bank, buying a SIM card, requests about the apartment. Interpreter support is part of the organizational services and is set out in the invoice in advance, so there is no need to look for one on site. Before the trip you can write to us in Russian too - WhatsApp and Telegram (+86 136 8088 0512).

Question 11

What makes up the cost of the trip?

Accepted Answer

The trip budget consists of several parts: the rehabilitation itself (the procedures in the programme, doctor's consultations, tests and examinations, plus medications and orthopedic devices if needed), an apartment near the hospital with utilities, meals, flights, and organizational services - airport pick-up and interpreter support. The total depends on your child's programme and the course length, so we calculate the estimate individually: message us on WhatsApp or Telegram (+86 136 8088 0512) and send your child's documents - after the doctor's recommendations we will prepare an approximate calculation.

Question 12

Do we need to pay anything in advance?

Accepted Answer

No, there is no prepayment: you do not need to transfer any money before departure. Settlements begin once you are in Yuncheng - the child is admitted to the department, the doctor carries out the initial examination and draws up the schedule, and you deposit money at the hospital cashier into the patient's account, from which the cost of the procedures actually carried out is debited. Nobody rushes you in the first days: first the examination, the bank and everyday matters, and you pay in whenever it suits you. At any point you can ask the cashier for a printout of your expenses and see what they consist of - that makes it easier to plan the budget for the rest of the course.

Question 13

How and when can we pay at the clinic?

Accepted Answer

All settlements go through the hospital cashier - money is never handed to specialists or to the department. The cashier accepts cash in yuan, UnionPay cards and bank transfers to the hospital account: the details are given in the invoice we send before the trip. If you bring another currency, it is easier to exchange it on the spot - in the first days the interpreter will go to the bank with you, help with the exchange and explain how to use your card in China. The interpreter also comes along to the cashier, so the language barrier is not a problem when paying. You can top the account up as the course goes on - there is no need to pay the whole amount at once.

Question 14

Can we get an invoice for a charitable foundation?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The hospital issues an official invoice - families use it to apply to charitable foundations and to open fundraisers. To prepare it we need three things: the passport details of the patient and one accompanying adult, the expected period of the trip (an approximate one is enough) and your child's medical documents. From the documents the doctor determines the list of procedures and the scope of rehabilitation, and on that basis the hospital issues the invoice. An international passport is not required for the invoice: if you do not have one yet, the birth certificate and internal passport details will do. Message us on WhatsApp or Telegram (+86 136 8088 0512) - we will prepare the document and send it to you.

Question 15

Do we need a visa and who prepares the invitation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you need a visa to travel to China. The clinic prepares the invitation and the supporting documents: send us the passport details of everyone travelling (surname and name, date of birth, passport number and expiry date - or simply a photo of the first page), and within a few days we will prepare the invitation, the invoice and the other documents for the visa application. We recommend starting the visa process in advance, about 2-3 months before the trip; we provide free guidance at every step - from the list of documents to the flight route.

Question 16

How do we get to Yuncheng and will someone meet us at the airport?

Accepted Answer

There are no direct international flights to Yuncheng: the city airport handles domestic flights only, so the route is built with a connection at one of China's international airports. A combined option also works - a flight to a large city and then a high-speed train, as Yuncheng has a railway station. Do not pick the route blindly - message us on WhatsApp or Telegram (+86 136 8088 0512) before you buy the tickets, and we will suggest a convenient option for your departure city and dates. The hospital arranges the pick-up: someone meets you in the arrivals hall, the driver helps with the luggage, and you are taken straight to the apartment prepared for you, while on the day of arrival the coordinator is available around the clock. The drive from Yuncheng airport takes about 20 minutes. Transfer arrangements for a connection in another city, trips during the course and the journey home are worth agreeing with the manager in advance.

Question 17

Where will we live near the clinic and how is it booked?

Accepted Answer

Families stay in a separate apartment within walking distance of the hospital rather than in a ward - it is calmer for both the child and the parents. The clinic coordinator helps you find an apartment and book it: the hospital does not own the housing itself, but it has worked with the same apartment operator for years and stays in touch on any questions. The apartments come fully furnished, with internet and household appliances; they are cleaned and checked before you arrive, and fresh photos and videos of your apartment are sent to you before departure. A one-room apartment costs 2300 CNY a month (for 2 to 3 people), a two-room one 3500 CNY a month (for 3 to 5 people); for a shorter stay the first 7 days can be paid daily (128 CNY a day), and an 8 to 15 day stay is charged at half the monthly rate. On top of that you pay a deposit of 500 CNY, refunded on check-out minus the cost of any damage, and a prepayment of 500 CNY for utilities. The specific apartment is chosen closer to the arrival date so that we can show you options that are genuinely available, and the booking is made no later than 10 days before you arrive. Cleaning during the course is up to you; if you need extra appliances or household items, tell the administrator through the interpreter and they will help you buy them. The details, the rental terms and photographs of the apartments are collected on the Accommodation page in the Travel Planning section.

Question 18

How much money should we bring and what about staying connected?

Accepted Answer

There is no exact figure in advance - it depends on your child's programme and the length of the course, so we work out a benchmark together with you before departure; families usually bring cash with a margin, and we help with exchanging currency and sorting out your card once you are here. Limits on carrying cash without a declaration apply twice - when leaving your own country and when entering China; they are counted per person, so a family's allowance works out higher, and the exact thresholds are best checked with the customs service of your country. A declaration is not a tax or a ban but a short form at customs: the purpose of your trip is transparent, with the invitation and the hospital invoice in hand. A large sum is easier to split across the hand luggage and bags of everyone travelling than to keep in one place. Both options work for staying connected - roaming with your own operator or a local SIM card bought on arrival; we will work out on the spot which suits you better. Just keep in mind that some familiar websites and messengers are not available in China and the app stores do not work, so download the apps you need before you fly.

Question 19

Which medical documents should we send before the trip?

Accepted Answer

Send photocopies of your child's latest medical reports and conclusions - documents in any language are fine. In addition, record short videos of your child's abilities: rolling over, crawling, sitting, changing positions, walking and standing with support, using their hands. Record the walking and standing videos without shoes and in good lighting. If the diagnosis is related to developmental delay or autism, show how the child responds to their name and concentrates attention. Send everything via WhatsApp or Telegram (+86 136 8088 0512): the doctor will review the materials and reply within 1-3 days about rehabilitation goals, recommended procedures and course length.

Question 20

Whose passports do you need for the invitation and the invoice?

Accepted Answer

International passports are needed for everyone who crosses the border - both the child and every accompanying adult. Send a photo of the first page or simply write out the details: surname and given name in Latin letters, date of birth, passport number and expiry date. If your child does not have an international passport yet, the birth certificate and a parent's internal passport details are enough for the invoice, and we will issue the invitation later, as soon as the passport is ready. As a rule the invitation is issued for the child and up to two accompanying adults; if more people are travelling, tell us in advance and we will prepare an additional invitation.

Question 21

Which documents should we keep with us during the trip?

Accepted Answer

Carry everything important in your hand luggage rather than in the hold: international passports, printed tickets, the invitation and the hospital invoice, copies of your internal passports and the original of your child's birth certificate - it proves the family relationship. Take the medical materials separately: scans, test results and the latest medical reports - the doctor will need them at the initial examination. You will also need 3x4 cm photos on a white background, a couple for each person: in the first days the administrator submits the passports and photos for residence registration, a mandatory formality for foreigners in China. Keep copies of your documents both on paper and on your phone - they are often needed when dealing with a bank or online services.

Answers to common parent questions

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