Colorectal & GI OncologyRobotic SurgeryPublic · Grade 3AEstablished 2007SYSU Affiliated
6th Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University China's Benchmark for Colorectal & GI Oncology
The national reference centre for colorectal surgery and digestive system disorders — the hospital Chinese colorectal surgeons refer their hardest cases to. Ranked top 5 in China for colorectal surgery, with Da Vinci robotic procedures as the default approach for eligible patients. China Care coordinates the full intake process, including MDT case review and second-opinion consultations, before you travel to Guangzhou.
26 Yuancun Er Heng Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou — modern district with excellent accommodation options
Quick Facts
Payment
RMB only — paid directly to hospital
Consultation
In-person only at IMC
Advance booking
1–2 weeks minimum
Language
IMC staff + bilingual escort
Type
Public hospital · Grade 3A · SYSU affiliated
Top 5
National colorectal surgery ranking
Da Vinci
Robotic surgical platform
1,500+
Inpatient beds
MDT
Multidisciplinary tumour board
About the Hospital
The Specialist Centre Chinese Colorectal Surgeons Refer Their Hardest Cases To
The 6th Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学附属第六医院) opened in 2007 as a specialist-focus hospital within the SYSU academic medical network. Despite being the newest of the SYSU-affiliated hospitals, it has achieved national recognition in its target specialties with unusual speed. Its colorectal surgery department has been ranked among China's top five nationally.
The hospital uses robotic-assisted (Da Vinci) and laparoscopic techniques as the default surgical approach for eligible patients — open surgery is reserved for cases where minimally invasive access is contraindicated. Beyond colorectal, the hospital has strong gastroenterology, hepatobiliary, and upper GI oncology programmes. For international patients, this hospital is most relevant for: colorectal cancer surgery (primary or recurrent), GI tumour staging and second opinions, complex endoscopic procedures, and inflammatory bowel disease management.
International patients access care through the hospital's IMC pathway. China Care coordinates the record submission, case review, and appointment logistics — ensuring you arrive in Guangzhou with a treatment plan already in place.
"If you have a colorectal cancer case that has already failed one surgical approach elsewhere, the 6th is the hospital in China you want reviewing your imaging."
Why Patients Choose the 6th Affiliated
Three reasons international patients choose SYSU 6th for GI oncology
#1
National Benchmark for Colorectal Surgery
The 6th Affiliated's colorectal surgery team is the institution that trains the surgeons who lead GI oncology departments across Southern China. The volume of complex rectal dissections, sphincter-preserving procedures, and pelvic exenteration cases gives the surgical team a depth of pattern recognition that is genuinely difficult to replicate at general hospitals.
MIS
Default Minimally Invasive Approach
The hospital uses robotic-assisted and laparoscopic surgery as the standard approach for eligible colorectal patients. Shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and reduced wound complications are the practical outcomes for international patients who need to return home after treatment.
2nd
Second Opinions on Complex GI Cases
For patients who have received a colorectal or GI cancer diagnosis elsewhere, the 6th Affiliated provides structured second-opinion consultations through its IMC pathway. A multidisciplinary tumour board reviews imaging and pathology and produces a written treatment recommendation — without requiring you to be admitted for treatment.
Clinical Departments
Specialties Available to International Patients
The departments most commonly accessed by international patients referred through China Care.
Primary Focus
Colorectal Surgery
China's highest-volume specialist colorectal programme. Rectal cancer with sphincter preservation, total mesorectal excision, pelvic exenteration for locally advanced disease, and robotic-assisted surgery are all routine procedures. Complex recurrent cases are regularly managed.
Advanced endoscopy including ESD (endoscopic submucosal dissection), colonoscopy, and capsule endoscopy. Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis) managed by dedicated IBD specialists. Polyposis syndromes and hereditary colorectal cancer surveillance.
IBDComplex EndoscopyColonoscopy
Also Available
Upper GI Oncology
Gastric cancer, oesophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer surgery with minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques where eligible. Close collaboration with gastroenterology and pathology for biomarker-guided treatment selection.
Gastric CancerOesophagealPancreatic
Also Available
Hepatobiliary
Liver tumour resection, bile duct surgery, and minimally invasive hepatic procedures. For colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases, the hepatobiliary and colorectal surgery teams collaborate on staged or simultaneous resection plans.
Liver TumoursBile DuctMinimally Invasive
Also Available
Stoma & Rehabilitation
Dedicated stoma care nursing and pelvic floor rehabilitation following colorectal surgery. Colostomy reversal planning, continence rehabilitation, and structured post-operative support before patients return home.
Colostomy CarePelvic Floor Rehab
Access via China Care
Need a second opinion on a colorectal case?
Submit your imaging and pathology to China Care. We arrange an MDT case review at the 6th Affiliated and deliver the bilingual report — without requiring you to travel first.
How to Access Treatment at the 6th Affiliated Hospital SYSU
China Care coordinates the full process — from submitting your imaging and pathology through to your MDT review and, if proceeding, your admission to Guangzhou.
Step 1
Submit Your Records to China Care
For colorectal and GI cases, send your CT or MRI imaging (DICOM files preferred), pathology reports, colonoscopy reports, and prior treatment records to China Care. We review your records and prepare a bilingual case summary within 1–2 working days.
records review · 1–2 days
Step 2
China Care Conducts a Proxy Consultation on Your Behalf
China Care attends the 6th Affiliated in person and consults with the relevant colorectal or GI specialist — on your behalf, before you travel. The doctor reviews your case summary, indicates whether treatment or further investigation is suitable, and gives an initial direction. China Care reports the outcome back to you with real-time voice interpretation.
This service is charged at a fixed fee covering hospital registration, the in-person proxy consultation, and real-time voice interpretation. Already in China? Skip this step — China Care can arrange direct escort and interpretation for your own visit instead.
proxy consultation · fixed fee · results same day
Step 3
Travel to Guangzhou for Your In-Person Consultation
Armed with the specialist's initial direction, you travel to Guangzhou for your own in-person consultation. The specialist reviews your case in person, confirms the treatment plan, and provides a formal cost estimate — this step cannot be completed remotely at a public hospital. China Care's bilingual coordinator accompanies you throughout.
in-person consultation · treatment plan & cost estimate issued
Step 4
Admission & Treatment
Once you agree to proceed, admission is arranged through the IMC. Tianhe District has excellent accommodation options within easy reach of the hospital. China Care's coordinator remains on hand throughout your stay, accompanying you to ward rounds and administrative processes. Ward nursing staff operate primarily in Mandarin, so bilingual escort is strongly recommended.
All treatment fees are paid directly to the hospital in Chinese yuan (RMB). A deposit is required at admission; the balance is settled before discharge. China Care does not collect or handle medical payments.
IMC admission · RMB payment direct to hospital
Step 5
Discharge and Follow-Up
Minimally invasive colorectal surgery patients typically have shorter stays than open surgery. Full bilingual discharge documentation, pathology reports, and a follow-up protocol are provided. China Care coordinates any remote follow-up consultations after you return home.
Proxy consultation (fixed fee)Bilingual case coordinationMDT case reviewIn-person escort & interpretationRobotic surgery availableRMB payment direct to hospitalBilingual discharge documentsRemote follow-up coordination
Before You Travel
What international patients need to know
Payment
RMB only
All fees paid directly to hospital in Chinese yuan. No international credit cards. Deposit required at admission.
Advance booking
1–2 weeks minimum
All appointments booked through China Care before you travel. Walk-in not available for international patients.
Consultation type
In-person only
Public hospital. All specialist consultations take place in person. Remote pre-consultation not available.
Language
English + bilingual escort
Ward staff: Mandarin. China Care arranges bilingual escort for consultations, ward rounds, and administrative processes.
Location
Tianhe District
Modern district of Guangzhou. Excellent accommodation options nearby. Easily accessible from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.
Hospital type
Public · Grade 3A
Government-funded. China's highest hospital classification. Treatment costs quoted directly by the hospital — zero markup from China Care.
Common Questions
What patients ask about the 6th Affiliated Hospital SYSU
How is the 6th Affiliated different from SYSUCC for GI cancers?
SYSUCC is a comprehensive oncology centre covering all cancer types, with particular national distinction in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and haematology. The 6th Affiliated has a narrower specialist focus — it is primarily built around colorectal, GI, and hepatobiliary disease. For patients with a colorectal cancer diagnosis specifically, the 6th Affiliated's surgical volume and subspecialist depth in that single area often make it the stronger choice. For lung cancer, NPC, or haematological malignancies, SYSUCC remains the primary recommendation.
Am I a candidate for robotic surgery?
Most elective colorectal cases at the 6th Affiliated are approached robotically or laparoscopically as the default. Candidacy depends on tumour location and stage, body habitus, prior abdominal surgery, and any contraindications. The proxy consultation of your imaging will confirm the planned approach before travel. Patients with prior open abdominal surgery or very large tumours may be counselled on a laparoscopic-converted or open approach, but this is assessed case by case.
How long does a second-opinion consultation take?
The timeline from record submission to receiving the bilingual report depends on the case complexity. For patients who travel to Guangzhou for an in-person consultation, the process can be completed in 3–5 days including a face-to-face meeting with the colorectal surgeon. China Care manages the submission and logistics in both cases.
How long is the surgical admission?
For laparoscopic or robotic colectomy (colon resection), typical inpatient stay is 5–7 days after surgery. Rectal surgery with anastomosis is typically 7–10 days. Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation before rectal surgery will need a longer total stay to complete radiotherapy and then undergo the delayed surgical procedure. China Care provides a full timeline estimate based on your specific surgical plan before you commit to travel.
Who is this hospital for — colorectal patients or all GI patients?
Both, but its strongest national reputation is specifically in colorectal cancer. The hospital is also a leading centre for inflammatory bowel disease, gastric cancer surgery, and complex endoscopic procedures. For colorectal cancer with liver metastases requiring combined resection, the 6th Affiliated's combined colorectal and hepatobiliary team is the recommended pathway.
What records should I prepare before submitting my case?
For colorectal cancer cases, the most useful records are: CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis (DICOM files or high-resolution images); colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy report; pathology report from biopsy or prior surgery; any prior surgical notes; and current blood panel including tumour markers (CEA, CA19-9). For IBD or second-opinion cases, endoscopy photos and previous histopathology are also helpful. China Care provides a specific document checklist when you first contact us.
How does payment work at the 6th Affiliated?
All treatment fees are paid directly to the hospital in Chinese yuan (RMB). As a public hospital, the 6th Affiliated does not accept international credit cards for inpatient treatment. A deposit is required at admission; the balance is settled before discharge. China Care does not collect or process medical payments on your behalf; your coordination fee is paid to China Care separately.
Get Started
Ready to enquire about treatment at the 6th Affiliated Hospital SYSU?
Submit your imaging and records to China Care. We conduct a proxy consultation on your behalf and report back before you commit to travelling.
China Care coordinates your case with the 6th Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Treatment costs are quoted directly by the hospital. We never add to or mark up the hospital's quoted treatment cost.
