Founded in 1904, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital is a leading Class III Grade A general hospital with more than a century of excellence and innovation. It became an affiliated hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University in 2002. In February 2021, the former Eastern Branch of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital was officially merged into the main hospital, marking a new stage of integrated, high-quality development. In 2022, it became officially affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
The hospital operates across two main campuses - Xuhui and Lingang - with 2,556 active beds (and 3,426 approved beds in total). In 2024, it delivered care on an impressive scale of 5.81 million outpatient and emergency visits, 194,263 inpatient discharges, and 138,658 surgeries. Across both campuses, the hospital is supported by a dedicated team of 5,546 employees and occupies a total built area of 402,000 square meters.
It has earned the prestigious title of National Civilized Unit for six consecutive terms over 19 years, maintaining Grade A performance in Shanghai’s municipal hospital assessment for 19 consecutive years. As a pilot municipal public hospital for high-quality development, it ranks 33rd nationwide in the performance assessment of tertiary public hospitals.
Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital is consistently ranked among China’s top ten in several specialties, including Orthopaedics, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Otorhinolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and Ultrasound Medicine. Internationally, the hospital reached 66th globally in the Nature Index for Healthcare Institutions.
It has been recognized among Shanghai’s Top 10 Hospitals for Medical Innovation and Translation, and serves as a Pilot Unit for Scientific and Technological Achievements Transformation and Innovation Reform, as well as a Technology Transfer Demonstration Institution under Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission. It is also home to the Shanghai Branch of the National Facility for Translational Medicine.
Legacy of Innovation
Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital has long been known as a birthplace of medical breakthroughs in China. In 1958, Professor Zhou Yongchang pioneered ultrasound medicine, earning the title “Birthplace of Ultrasound Diagnosis in China.” In 1963, Professors Chen Zhongwei and Qian Yunqing performed the world’s first successful limb replantation, establishing the hospital as the “Cradle of Limb Replantation.” In 1978, Professor Yu Zhongjia and his team developed and successfully applied the “China Hand” reconstructive technique, winning the First Prize of the National Invention Award.
In 1980, Professor Chen Zhongwei was elected an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for his pioneering work in orthopaedics and microsurgery. Professor Xiang Kunsan was elected an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2003 for his contributions to diabetes genetics. In 2020, Professor Jia Weiping was elected a Member of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences for her outstanding achievements in diabetes prevention and treatment. She was elected an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2021, and an Academician of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) in 2023. In 2023, Professor Jia Wei was elected a Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (Division of Physiology and Neuroscience) in recognition of his significant contributions to metabolic physiology and translational medicine.
The hospital’s team includes 2 Chief Scientists of the National 973 Program, 7 nationally recognized Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Experts, 8 Distinguished Young Scholars funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and 1 National Outstanding Clinician.
Centers of Excellence and Education
In 2022, the hospital was approved to establish the National Center for Orthopaedics, and in 2024, it was authorized to prepare the National Orthopaedic Quality Control Center. It is also designated as Shanghai Acute Trauma Emergency Center, Shanghai Critical Maternal Rescue Center, Shanghai Stroke Treatment Center, and Shanghai Infectious Disease Specialty Center. As a Cooperative Hospital of the Chinese National Team under All-China Sports Federation, it provides medical support for elite athletes.
As a key doctoral and postdoctoral training base of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the hospital has 140 doctoral supervisors and 197 master’s supervisors. It has received the Second Prize of National Teaching Achievement Award and the First Prize of Shanghai Teaching Achievement Award for excellence in medical education.
Research and Innovation Platforms
Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital hosts 10 National Clinical Key Specialties, 3 National Key Disciplines, and 1 Key Specialty designated by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is a National Model Unit for Traditional Chinese Medicine in General Hospitals and a Shanghai Flagship Hospital for Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine.
The hospital is home to a wide range of national and municipal research platforms, including: National Primary Diabetes Control and Management Office, National Key Laboratory for Metabolic Diseases and Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Sleep Disordered Breathing, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Neuro-Ultrasound for Diagnosis and Treatment, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Orthopaedic Material Innovation and Tissue Regeneration, Shanghai Neurological Rare Diseases Biobank and Precision Diagnosis Professional Technical Service Platform, Shanghai Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, and Shanghai Diabetes Institute.
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