Beijingers are fortunate that there are a few international-standard primary care clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals in town. Each have their strengths and weaknesses, but overall you can expect good primary care in these clinics. I’ve created a Beijing map that lists the clinics by area, with interactive links to each clinic’s website, as well …

Everyone is focused on the H1N1 flu this summer, but don’t forget the regular old ganmao (the common cold). This viral infection is very common, but unfortunately the treatments aren’t too useful. Fortunately, there is a lot of OTC and home care treatment, and seeing a doctor is usually not needed. Also, you do not …

Here’s a good personal site from a mother as her daughter is quarantined for H1N1 flu. There’s a lot of expat and tourist anxiety about H1N1 and getting quarantined. Overall, the Chinese health system has done a very professional job, and the hotels and hospitals are well run. One can debate their stringent policy, but …

This was a pleasant surprise! Only 90 minutes by car from the Jingshi highway entrance at southeast 3rd ring, I was very impressed by the entire day. The drive itself was one of the loveliest in Beijing, comparable to the peacefulness around Mutianyu – and even better developed. Yunju Temple (云居寺 yunjusi) is one of …

This is a bit of a stretch for a weekend, but it’s definitely possible to fly there on Friday evening and have a nice 2 nights and return late Sunday, giving you two full beach days. (Qingdao is also drivable – we did it in 7 hours along perfectly fine highway, with rest areas every …

Are you aching for the beach? There are only a few close options; I heard Tianjin has a small private beach but got lost in the port area and gave up. So, Beidaihe is the best local option – and it’s not bad at all, very fun and yet still lovely. And it’s only 2 …

I love to hike; before Beijing, I had spent a decade in the paradise of Sonoma county, just above San Francisco. I vividly remember (and miss) those mountain walks. So, I am very pleased to finally find a Beijing mountain that offered the same solitude and beauty. It’s called JiuFeng National Forest (鹫峰国家森林公园), in the …

I grew up in Boston and have wonderful childhood memories of Cape Cod beaches and towns; and I spent years along the San Francisco and Sonoma coast line as well. So, beaches and the ocean are a major stress release for me. We all know that it’s easy to get a bit restless in dry, …

There is a lot of bad information on the internet regarding herbs and supplements for health. Many websites are full of self-promoting testimonials, or even direct sales advertising for their products.  It’s very difficult to find non-biased information and research results. This website, Natural Medicines Database, is a terrific source for both consumers and medical professionals. …

It’s the dog days of summertime, and I’m seeing a lot of gastroenteritis already. It’s inevitable, unfortunately! That heat just makes it a lot harder to keep meats and fishes frozen well. This gives bacteria more time to grow, as well as to create the toxins that cause food poisoning. My advice? Be even more …

To lower cholesterol, there are a few excellent non-prescription items to use. One of the best is omega 3 fatty acids — this is naturally found in fatty fish and also in flax oil. Great! So I can get the omega 3 from the non-stinky flax, yes? Unfortunately, it seems you cannot. Recent research shows …

Hi to all Beijingers and other curious folk. I am an American family medicine doctor, working here in Beijing. Since starting my work in 2007, I’ve always sensed a unmet need among Beijing expats to getting credible, informative information via the internet on health care and wellness. So I’ve started this website to hopefully provide …