Dental care draws Russian tourists to China border city

Apart from kung pao chicken and dumplings, Russian tourists visiting CHINA have yet another reason to keep their mouths busy, by visiting Chinese dental clinics.

The City of Hunchun, situated on the Chinese side of the CHINA-Russia border, has seen a surging number of Russian tourists coming for less expensive dental services, leading to a boom in the local dental business.

At 8 a.m. on Tuesday, a dozen Russians were already waiting at a dental clinic in the City in northeast CHINA's Jilin Province. Some arrived after taking a bus from Vladivostok not far away, while some flew across the Okhotsk Sea from Kamchatka.

"Dental clinics in Hunchun have an excellent reputation in my hometown. Visiting CHINA for dental treatment is becoming more and more popular," said a patient from Vladivostok who identified himself as Vitaly.

"Dental treatments here are good and inexpensive, and the locals are very friendly," Vitaly explained.

Vitaly and his wife Sveta joined a medical tour group, which costs 200 yuan (about 30 U.S. dollars) per day excluding the medical bill, and took less than a week to have five teeth implanted.

"We spent 30 percent less here than in Russia," said Sveta, who was also content with CHINA's medical efficiency. "Compared with CHINA, Russia has fewer dental clinics, and it takes much longer to get treatment, sometimes even half a year," she said.

Shen Meizi, deputy head of Hunchun's health bureau, said convenient transportation, lower medical costs and quality services are among the City's main attractions for Russian dental patients.

Boosted by the influx of Russian medical tourists, the number of private dental clinics and hospitals in Hunchun has risen to over 70 from only about ten a decade ago, according to Shen.

Ma Fenglong, who runs a dental clinic in Huichun, has 14 file cabinets containing Russian patients' medical records in his office.

Ma's clinic has received about 50,000 Russians since 2011, accounting for one-third of its patients, and the booming business prompted him to hire two Russian-speaking receptionists two years ago.

"It's common for us to meet Russians on the streets of Hunchun, and now we also meet each other in clinics where we're building a stronger connection," said Ma.

According to Shen, Hunchun has set up a foreign affairs service center and hired professional Russian interpreters to better protect the rights of foreign tourists and consumers.

"We are considering to offer comprehensive services combining traditional Chinese medicines, rehabilitation and tourism to further tap into the international market," Shen said.