TL;DR: Dial 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, and 119 for fire in China — all work without credit. For non-life-threatening care, English-speaking international hospitals like Beijing United Family (24‑hour ER) are safer bets. Save your hotel’s Chinese address card and embassy emergency number offline before landing; in a crisis, showing a printed card beats any translation app. One prep habit cuts panic by half.
What emergency numbers cover police, medical, and fire, and how do I get through without speaking Mandarin?
The three core numbers — 110, 120, and 119 — operate nationwide. Four others fill critical gaps. Screenshot or write the first three on the back of your hotel keycard.
| Number | Service | What It’s For | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | Police | Crime, theft, physical disputes, any security threat | China Highlights emergency guide (2025), link |
| 120 | Ambulance | Medical emergencies — dial first, then give location | Same as above |
| 119 | Fire | Building fires, gas leaks, smoke | Same as above |
| 122 | Traffic accident | Road collisions, vehicle damage | Ministry of Public Security traffic hotline, confirmed via China Highlights |
| 12301 | Tourist complaint | Overcharging, scams, bad service — partial English support during working hours | National Tourism Administration hotline page (updated March 2025), MCT notice |
| 114 | Directory enquiries | Connects to police stations, hospitals, or government offices if you know the name | China Unicom directory service |
All six numbers work from foreign SIMs, eSIMs, and phones with zero credit. They do not require Mandarin. When you call 110 or 120, the operator answers in Chinese. Say your hotel’s name — most hotel brand names are recognizable even to non‑Mandarin speakers. If you are alone, hold your phone’s screen showing the hotel’s Chinese business card toward the phone camera; operators handle disoriented travelers routinely.
The tourist complaint hotline 12301 is underused. If a restaurant presents a bill double the menu price, or a driver refuses an agreed fare, dial it. Frank Zhang, founder of LocalKey Travel, notes that in our experience, simply showing the 12301 number mid‑dial changes the tone of a dispute — often the vendor backs down before the call connects.
What exactly should I do when a medical emergency happens in China?
A clear sequence saves critical minutes. International hospitals are the gold standard for anything short of immediately life‑threatening, but you must know when to override location and go straight to the nearest public ER.
- Assess the urgency. Difficulty breathing, chest pain, heavy bleeding, or loss of consciousness → dial 120 immediately. If you can walk and speak, move to step 2.
- Choose the right facility. For non‑life‑threatening illness or injury, head to an international hospital (see city list below). For trauma, stroke, or anaphylaxis, ask the ambulance driver to take you to the nearest public hospital emergency room (急诊, jízhěn) — treatment starts before paperwork in China, and language does not block urgent care.
- Present your insurance card and passport photo. International clinics can verify coverage on the spot; public hospitals usually require upfront payment, so keep a credit card accessible.
- Involve your hotel. A good hotel will send a Mandarin‑speaking staff member to assist. Ask the front desk to call the hospital to confirm arrival.
Frank Zhang, LocalKey Travel’s founder, shares that the most panicked calls our team receives are from travelers who attempted a public hospital for a non‑emergency and found themselves lost in a queue without English-speaking staff. Our recommendation stands: use the international hospital network whenever practical, because the paperwork trail for insurance and follow‑up care is dramatically smoother.
International hospitals with English‑speaking emergency rooms
Beijing
- Beijing United Family Hospital (UFH): +86-10-5927-7000, 2 Jiangtai Road, Chaoyang. 24‑hour ER, accepts major international insurers (AXA, Cigna, Bupa). Official site
- Oasis International Hospital: +86-10-5985-0726, 9 Jiuxianqiao North Road, Chaoyang. Multi‑language physicians.
- For life‑threatening injuries, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (协和医院) international VIP department: +86-10-6915-6114.
Shanghai
- Shanghai United Family Hospital: +86-21-2216-3900, 1139 Xianxia Road, Changning. 24‑hour ER, full specialist coverage. Official site
- Parkway Health: +86-21-6445-5999 (Xintiandi and Pudong locations).
- SinoUnited Health: +86-21-6190-9500, more affordable for non‑emergency consultations.
- Top public ERs with international departments: Ruijin Hospital (瑞金医院), Zhongshan Hospital (中山医院).
Chengdu
- Chengdu International SOS Clinic (linked to Western China Hospital International Medical Center): +86-28-8558-9100.
- West China Hospital (华西医院) is among China’s best for major trauma.
Guangzhou
- Guangzhou United Family Hospital: +86-20-3868-9999, Tianhe district.
General rule: Call ahead when the situation is not life‑threatening. Some international clinics operate appointment‑based for non‑emergency visits. For anything life‑threatening, dial 120 first, then contact the international hospital from the ambulance.
What do I do if my passport is lost or stolen while I’m in China?
This happens to dozens of tourists every week in major cities. The fix is bureaucratic but predictable — and the police report is the single most important document.
- File a police report at the nearest Public Security Bureau station (派出所, pàichūsuǒ). Bring a photo of your passport (saved on your phone) and any other ID. Ask the hotel to call ahead or send a staff member. The officer will issue a stamped report with a record number; without it, your embassy cannot process an emergency travel document. Do not leave without a stamped copy.
- Contact your embassy’s emergency line immediately. Give the officer your police report number, full name, date of birth, and planned departure date. The embassy will outline the exact documents needed for an emergency passport or emergency travel document.
- Apply for the emergency document. Most embassies in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu can issue a document within 1–5 business days, depending on your departure date. This document allows direct travel home — apply for a full replacement passport once you return.
- Keep all paperwork. Police report, hotel registration slip, flight itinerary, and any consular receipts will be needed later for insurance and for your home country’s passport replacement process.
For a more detailed walkthrough, see our Lost Passport in China — Step-by-Step Guide (2026). The U.S. Embassy in Beijing also has a 24‑hour American Citizen Services emergency line specifically for lost passports — the number is saved in the embassy contacts section below (official source).
How do I contact my country’s embassy in an emergency, and what should I have ready?
Save the one line that matches your passport. The numbers are drawn from each country’s official diplomatic website as of May 2026.
United States
- Beijing Embassy: +86-10-8531-4000 (after‑hours duty officer reachable via main number). Address: 55 Anjialou Road, Chaoyang District. Source
- Shanghai Consulate: +86-21-8011-2100
- Guangzhou Consulate: +86-20-3814-5000
- Chengdu Consulate: +86-28-8558-3992
United Kingdom
- Beijing Embassy: +86-10-5192-4000 (after‑hours instructions on the menu). Address: 11 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District. Source
- Shanghai Consulate: +86-21-3279-2000
- Guangzhou Consulate: +86-20-3813-0000
Australia
- Beijing Embassy: +86-10-5140-4111; 24‑hour consular emergency: +61-2-6261-3305. Address: 21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. Source
- Shanghai Consulate: +86-21-2215-5200
- Guangzhou Consulate: +86-20-3814-0111
Canada
- Beijing Embassy: +86-10-5139-4000; after‑hours: follow recorded menu. Address: 19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. Source
- Shanghai Consulate: +86-21-3279-2800
- Guangzhou Consulate: +86-20-3884-4488
Germany
- Beijing Embassy: +86-10-8532-9000; after‑hours emergency menu. Address: 17 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District. Official site
- Shanghai Consulate: +86-21-3406-5800
France
- Beijing Embassy: +86-10-8532-8080; 24‑hour duty officer via main number. Address: 60 Tiantan Road (East Yizhuang Area), Beijing. Source
- Shanghai Consulate: +86-21-6103-2200
Japan
- Beijing Embassy: +86-10-6532-2361. Address: 7 Ritan Road, Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District. Source
- Shanghai Consulate: +86-21-5257-4766
- Guangzhou Consulate: +86-20-8334-3009
For all other nationalities, search “[your country] embassy Beijing official site” and save only the number on the government domain. Third‑party directories can carry outdated lines.
Before you leave home, add your embassy’s number as “Embassy Emergency” in your phone and write it on a small piece of paper for your wallet. Our First‑Time China Visitor Checklist includes a full section on offline backup — it is a no‑brainer to spend the minute now.
What exact steps should I take before departure to handle emergencies better?
These five steps take less time than organizing your carry‑on, and they matter more.
- Screenshot your passport photo page. Save it to your phone’s camera roll and a cloud drive (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox). The police and your embassy will need it if the physical passport disappears.
- Get your hotel’s address in Chinese. Every hotel front desk will give you a business card with the address in Chinese characters. Keep it inside your phone case. Showing this card to a taxi driver, an emergency operator, or a police officer is faster than any app.
- Install Google Translate offline. In the app settings, download the Chinese (Simplified) language pack. Use the camera mode to read signs, menus, or medical forms in real time.
- Save your embassy’s Beijing emergency number. Program it now. If your phone is stolen, the paper backup from step 2 combined with this number gets you help.
- Verify your travel insurance. Confirm that your policy covers medical evacuation from China and direct billing at international hospitals. Many standard “emergency treatment” policies do not, so call your provider or check the policy wording.
If you are traveling under the 240‑hour visa‑free policy, double‑check that your exit itinerary is solid before departure — an emergency passport can delay flights, and you do not want to overstay. Our Complete 240‑Hour Visa‑Free China Guide (2026) spells out the fine print.
Quick‑reference summary
Print or screenshot this section and keep it offline. Mobile data vanishes at precisely the wrong moment, and low‑power mode can block roaming.
- Police: 110
- Ambulance: 120
- Fire: 119
- Tourist complaint: 12301
- Directory assistance: 114
- Traffic accident: 122
- Hotel Chinese address card — get at check‑in
- Embassy emergency number — saved and on paper
- Lost passport: file police report first, then call embassy
- International hospital: United Family or similar, call ahead when possible
Data sources: China Highlights emergency numbers guide (2025); official websites of Beijing United Family Hospital, Shanghai United Family Hospital; U.S. Embassy Beijing American Citizen Services emergency page; UK Foreign Travel Advice for China; Australian Embassy Beijing; Canadian government embassy directory; German Embassy Beijing; French Embassy Beijing; Japanese Embassy Beijing; Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China 12301 hotline notice (March 2025). All embassy numbers verified on official government domains as of May 2026.
Related guides: First‑Time China Visitor Checklist (2026) · Lost Passport in China — Step‑by‑Step Guide (2026) · The Complete 240‑Hour Visa‑Free China Guide (2026)