China's Top Departments: Urology at Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital)
One of the earliest and most prestigious urology centers in China, founded in 1946 by Professor Huang Zheng. Ranked No. 1 in Shanghai and No. 2 nationally (STEM) for consecutive years, the department pioneered the internationally adopted thulium laser prostatectomy, performs ~16,000 surgeries annually, and has completed 2,700+ kidney transplants.
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Short answer:One of the earliest and most prestigious urology centers in China, founded in 1946 by Professor Huang Zheng. Ranked No. 1 in Shanghai and No. 2 nationally (STEM) for consecutive years, the department pioneered the internationally adopted thulium laser prostatectomy, performs ~16,000 surgeries annually, and has completed 2,700+ kidney transplants.
Key points
- Founded 1946 — One of China's Earliest Urology Departments
- STEM Ranking: #1 Shanghai, #2 Nationally
- Thulium Laser Prostatectomy — Pioneered Internationally (2004)
- ~16,000 Surgeries/Year · 2,700+ Kidney Transplants
If you or a loved one is facing a urological condition — prostate disease, kidney or bladder cancer, urinary stones, or kidney transplantation — the Department of Urology at Shanghai General Hospital is one of the earliest-established and most prestigious urology centers in China.
The department was formally founded in 1946 by Professor Huang Zheng, who had returned from studying in Germany, making it one of the first independent urology specialties in the country. (As early as 1865, the hospital's predecessor had already treated patients with urethral stricture.) The hospital itself was founded in 1864, one of the earliest Western-medicine general hospitals in China, and a teaching hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine.
At Medora, we help international patients navigate Shanghai General Hospital's urology team. Here's what you need to know.
Academic Status & Honors
- National Key Clinical Specialty
- Shanghai "Top-Priority" (重中之重) Discipline; Shanghai Municipal Leading Key Discipline; Shanghai Municipal Key Discipline
- Ministry of Health Endoscopy Training Base
- Chair Unit of the Shanghai Municipal Hospital Urology Specialty Alliance
- Host institution of the Institute of Urology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- The hospital's "Peak" (尖峰) discipline
- Among the first doctoral-degree-granting urology programs approved by the State Council
Rankings & Awards:
- Ranked No. 1 in Shanghai and No. 2 nationally for consecutive years on the Chinese Medical Science and Technology Evaluation (STEM) ranking
- 2023 Shanghai municipal general-hospital urology clinical capability evaluation: No. 1 in both "medical quality" and "development capacity"
- Three Second Prizes of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, First Prize of the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award, First Prize of the China Medical Science and Technology Award, and 10+ provincial/ministerial awards
Expert Team
| Expert | Role | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Prof. Xia Shujie | Department leader, Director of the Institute of Urology at SJTU, academic leader | National committee chair, candidate for CAS membership; one of China's most renowned urology and andrology experts. In 2004 pioneered the "transurethral thulium laser orange-peel prostatectomy," written into authoritative guidelines in multiple countries |
| Prof. Han Bangmin | Vice President of Shanghai General Hospital, Director of the Urology Clinical Medical Center | In 2014 among the first in China to perform thulium-laser anatomic enucleation of the prostate; in 2019 completed Shanghai's first fourth-generation da Vinci Xi robotic radical prostatectomy |
| Prof. Wang Xiang | Deputy Director, Director of Urologic Oncology | Performs photodynamic therapy for bladder cancer — the only center in Shanghai providing this clinically |
| Prof. Liu Zhihong | Administrative Director of Transplant Urology | In 2025 performed Shanghai's first robot-assisted kidney transplant |
The center has 67 physicians and 17 doctoral supervisors; three professors have received the national "Renowned Physician" (国之名医) honor.
Core Strengths & Signature Techniques
Thulium Laser "Orange-Peel" Prostatectomy
- Pioneered internationally by Professor Xia Shujie in 2004
- Described by international peers as "leading laser treatment of BPH out of the trough"
- Written into international guidelines
Robotic Surgery
- East China's first laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
- Shanghai's first da Vinci Xi robotic radical prostatectomy (2019)
- Shanghai's first robot-assisted kidney transplant (2025)
Kidney Transplantation
- One of the earliest kidney transplant units in China — first successful deceased-donor transplant in 1976
- Core component of the Shanghai Organ Transplantation Clinical Medical Center
- 2,700+ cumulative cases, 50–100 per year; youngest recipient 11, oldest 72; longest-surviving transplanted kidney over 40 years
Minimally Invasive Urinary Stone Surgery
- One of China's earliest adopters of PCNL and other minimally invasive stone surgery
- Internationally advanced and nationally leading techniques
Photodynamic Therapy for Bladder Cancer
- The only center in Shanghai providing this clinically
Oncologic Care
- 5-year survival rates for the three major urologic cancers rank among the top in Shanghai municipal hospitals
- Kidney cancer ranking No. 1 citywide
Scale & Volume
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Annual surgeries | ~16,000 |
| Cumulative kidney transplants | 2,700+ |
| Seven subspecialties | Prostate & Urinary Continence Surgery, Urologic Oncology I & II, Urinary Stone & Upper Urinary Tract Reconstruction, Kidney Transplantation, Andrology, Pelvic Floor & Urinary Incontinence Surgery |
Address
- North Campus (main): No. 85/86 Wujin Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai
- South Campus: No. 650 Xin Songjiang Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai
Shanghai is China's largest city with two international airports (Pudong PVG and Hongqiao SHA), excellent global connectivity, and world-class hospitality infrastructure.
This guide is prepared for an international audience. If you need assistance with medical consultation, appointment booking, or travel arrangements to Shanghai General Hospital's Urology Department, contact Medora for personalized support.
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