Emergency Numbers in China: What International Travelers Should Do
Last checked: 6 September 2026
In an emergency in mainland China, knowing which three-digit number to call—and what information to give—matters more than memorising a long list of hotlines. Save this guide offline before travelling.
The four numbers to know
| Number | Use it for |
|---|---|
| 110 | Police, crime, immediate threats and urgent public-security help |
| 119 | Fire and rescue |
| 120 | Medical ambulance |
| 122 | Road-traffic accidents |
These numbers are confirmed by China’s National Emergency Broadcasting service and the National Immigration Administration’s visitor guidance. Call from a working mainland mobile connection; our China phone setup guide helps you prepare one.
What to say first
Start with the service you need, the exact location and whether anyone is injured. Give a landmark, building name, road name, district and city in Chinese if possible. Do not hang up until the operator confirms the location.
- Police: 警察 — jǐngchá
- Ambulance: 救护车 — jiùhùchē
- Fire: 火灾 — huǒzāi
- I am at…: 我在…… — wǒ zài…
- Someone is injured: 有人受伤 — yǒu rén shòushāng
Show your map pin or hotel address to a nearby staff member if language becomes a barrier. Keep the hotel’s Chinese name and address in a screenshot, not only inside an app that needs data.
Medical emergencies
Call 120 for an ambulance when delay could endanger life. Ask a hotel, attraction or station employee to assist with the location description. Carry your passport, insurance details, allergies and medication list if safe to do so. Hospitals may require payment arrangements, so contact your insurer after urgent care is underway—not before calling for life-saving help.
Theft, lost passport and personal safety
For theft or an immediate threat, call 110 and obtain a police report or case details. A lost passport also requires contact with your embassy or consulate; the police cannot issue a replacement travel document. Keep a secure digital copy of the passport identity page and visa or entry record, separate from the original.
If a payment account or phone is stolen, freeze financial access from another device. Our charging and power-bank guide explains how to keep a backup phone powered legally while travelling.
Traffic accidents
Use 122 for a road collision. Move away from active traffic if it is safe, call 120 for injuries, photograph the scene without obstructing responders, and avoid agreeing to facts you do not understand. Preserve ride-hailing or vehicle details and contact your insurer.
Prepare an offline emergency card
- Passport number and a secure copy
- Hotel name, address and telephone in Chinese
- Travel-insurance policy and assistance number
- Emergency contact with international country code
- Medical conditions, allergies and generic medication names
- 110, 119, 120 and 122
Also carry tissues and basic supplies described in our public-toilet guide, and keep transfer-day documents organised using our multi-city planning guide.
Official sources checked
Emergency numbers were checked against China National Emergency Broadcasting and the National Immigration Administration. Local language support and response procedures can vary, so use nearby staff or a trusted interpreter when available.
