Where to get tested for COVID-19 in Beijing?
COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2.
The test to see if you are currently actively infected by SARS-CoV-2 is called a nucleic acid test, also known as a PCR antigen test.
In Chinese nucleic acid test is: Hésuān cèshì (核酸测试).
This is different than a serology test. The serology test, also known as an antibody test, will detect if you were infected previously.
Why Get Tested for COVID-19
You might need to get tested for COVID-19 because you have symptoms and are worried you have the disease.
Or you might need to provide a negative test result for purposes of travel or other reasons.
Where to Get Tested for COVID-19 With Symptoms
If you have any symptoms of COVID-19 you will need to go to a Fever Clinic in Beijing.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- fever
- sore throat
- cough
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Congestion or runny nose
- sudden loss of taste or smell
- diarrhoea
Fever Clinics are located in the public Beijing hospitals.
In Chinese Fever Clinic is: Fārè ménzhěn (发热门诊).
At the China-Japan Friendship Hospital the Fever Clinic is located in the Infectious Diseases Department. This is an old one-story building inside the hospital compound. The author previously visited this building. It has a very narrow waiting hall outside the consultation rooms. It felt quite crowded with only a few people.
COVID-19 Test for Travel Purposes
For adults who do not have symptoms of the disease, but need proof of a negative Covid test result for travel or other purposes, you can go to a Health test center, found at some Beijing hospitals.
Your temperature should be no higher than 37.3 degrees Celsius. You should also not have had any other COVID-19 symptoms within the previous 14 days of visiting the Health Center.
One Covid test center with very good reviews from expats in Beijing is the Chaoyang Hospital Health Check-up Center (Jiànkāng tǐjiǎn zhōngxīn – 健康体检中心). This Check-up center is located opposite the West gate of the Chaoyang Hospital complex at 8 Gongren Tiyuchang Nan Road.
You can go directly to the Health Check-up Center and usually be tested quite quickly. Or you can also book an appointment through their WeChat official account (WeChat ID: gh_4b5950134790).
For accurate results they ask you to not smoke, drink alcohol, rinse your mouth with antiseptic or eat gum before your visit. You should also not eat within the 2 hours prior to taking the test. You should wear a face mask and bring an extra backup face mask with you. You also need to bring your passport.
The price for the COVID-19 test at the Chaoyang Hospital Health Check-up Center is RMB 120.
You can pick up your test result after 24 hours at the center. Or you can get the results through your Beijing Health Kit app, which you can learn more about here.
The International Department, aka VIP ward, at the China–Japan Friendship Hospital (sometimes referred to as the Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital) also offers nucleic acid tests for Covid-19. Again, this is only for people without any symptoms or potential recent exposure.
An expat who tried both these Covid test sites in Beijing wrote:
“To anyone Beijing-based that would like to get a Covid-19 test ahead of travel (or otherwise), I cannot recommend enough my experience at the Chaoyang Hospital Testing Centre, located on the west side of the Chaoyang Hospital complex. It was very clean, welcoming, inexpensive and overall, fast. RMB 120 and I was in and out in (not an exaggeration) seven minutes. Almost nobody there and 24 hours for results. All you need is your passport. Faster and less pricey than the one I did at Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital.”
Some of the international hospitals and clinics in Beijing have offered COVID-19 testing services during the pandemic. They are not sure to always offer the tests, however, so be sure to call in advance to ask where to get tested.