School holidays are just around the corner, and lately I’ve been getting heaps of messages from Australian families asking about dental treatment in China. One mum told me her daughter’s braces in Sydney were quoted at AUD 8,500 — and that’s with an 8-month wait. In Shenzhen? The same full treatment costs around RMB 22,000 (about AUD 4,500), and they can get the braces fitted on the very first day of the holidays. Then the whole family heads off to see pandas in Chengdu and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. Fixing teeth and taking a family trip — for less than just waiting in Australia. Medical tourism combined with travel is honestly one of the smartest ways to experience China. These families usually book their flights and hotels on Trip.com, search for tips and itineraries on Xiaohongshu (little red book), and check clinic reviews on Dianping. Payment is super easy with WeChat Pay or Alipay — no fuss. Many clinics even offer English services and can help arrange tickets for the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an and the Panda Base in Chengdu. Here’s the itinerary I usually suggest: fly into Shenzhen or Guangzhou first to get the dental work done, then take the high-speed train to Chengdu for a couple of days, and finally head to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors. The whole trip takes about 10–12 days, and the total cost is still half of what you’d pay just for braces in Australia. Plus, Chinese New Year and National Day holidays are super crowded, but summer holidays are actually a quieter time for major attractions — so you get a much better experience. If you’re thinking about planning a similar trip, make sure to search for clinics on Meituan in advance and check local recommendations on Xiaohongshu. Medical tourism in China is getting more and more professional — and it’s a game changer for families.