ObjectiveTo systematically map the research landscape, hotspots, and evolutionary trends of Chinese-language literature on value-based healthcare (VBHC) in China, and to provide evidence for advancing localized VBHC research and practice. Methods VBHC-related publications published between January 1, 2006 and August 30, 2024 were retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP database. CiteSpace was used for visualized bibliometric analyses, including co-authorship, institutional collaboration, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, burst detection, and timeline mapping. Results A total of 237 articles were included. Since 2017, VBHC-related publications in China have increased markedly. Collaboration networks among institutions and authors showed low density, indicating relatively weak and fragmented cooperation. High-frequency keywords included “value co-creation” “public hospitals” and “value orientation”. Burst analysis identified “healthcare costs” “value co-creation” and “medical insurance payment” as major recent research focuses. The timeline map suggested three stages in the evolution of VBHC research: initial exploration, emerging development, and rapid growth of research hotspots. ConclusionInterest in VBHC research in China continues to grow, yet collaborative research and interdisciplinary integration remain limited. Future efforts should strengthen cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary collaboration, promote the development of shared data platforms, and build VBHC evaluation frameworks tailored to China’s institutional context.
