Emergency numbers in China, and what to do when things go wrong

What are the emergency numbers in China?

China has separate numbers instead of one 911-style line. Dial 110 for the police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire and 122 for traffic accidents. All four are free nationwide and need no area code, according to the Beijing government, and China's official 2026 guide for foreigners lists the same numbers. If you are not sure which service you need, call 110.

What should I say when I call 110 or 120?

Expect the operator to answer in Mandarin. Some big cities can bring in interpreters; Beijing's 110 center, for example, works with a university's multilingual service center for foreign callers. Don't count on English, though. Keep it short and cover three things:

1. What is happeningOne short sentence: 我需要帮助 (I need help), 请叫救护车 (please send an ambulance) or 有人受伤了 (someone is injured).
2. Where you areThis matters most. Give the city, district, street and the name of the building, hotel or metro station exit. Read it in Chinese from your booking or a map app, or hand the phone to someone nearby.
3. Who you areSay 我不会说中文 (I do not speak Chinese) so the operator slows down or finds help. Give your phone number, then keep the line free in case they call back.

People around you are your best resource. Hotel, shop and metro staff handle emergencies often and can make the call for you. The free emergency help lesson drills these lines with audio.

Can't speak safely? Many local police forces also take text-message reports at 12110 followed by the last three digits of the local area code (12110571 for Hangzhou, for example), a service promoted nationwide since 2012. Formats differ by province, so treat it as a backup and call 110 whenever you can.

What do I do if I lose my passport in China?

Act quickly: you need a passport for hotels, trains and leaving the country. The National Immigration Administration and the Beijing government describe the same four steps:

1. Report it to the policeGo to the nearest police station (派出所, pàichūsuǒ) and report the loss or theft. In Beijing this is free and handled on the spot, and you get a receipt for your report.
2. Get a passport loss certificateTake the receipt to the exit-entry administration (出入境管理, chūrùjìng guǎnlǐ) of the local public security bureau and apply for a passport loss certificate (护照报失证明). Beijing asks for passport-size photos, proof of identity such as a passport copy or driver's license, the police receipt and a form. There is no fee.
3. Go to your embassy or consulateApply for a new passport or an emergency travel document with the loss certificate. Your own government sets the requirements, fees and timing, so check its website or call its consular line.
4. Return to the exit-entry officeWith the new document, apply for a replacement visa or an exit permit. Beijing says replacement visas take up to seven working days and asks for proof of your accommodation registration; Singapore's embassy tells its citizens that the exit permit takes seven working days.

While you wait, China's official 2026 guide lists the passport loss certificate, and embassy-issued temporary travel documents with a valid visa or permit, as accepted ID for buying train tickets. The free lost passport and documents lesson covers the police station conversation.

Where can foreigners get medical care in China?

In an emergency, call 120 or take a taxi to the emergency department (急诊, jízhěn) of a large public hospital, which is open around the clock. For non-urgent care, many big-city hospitals have an international medical department (国际医疗部, guójì yīliáo bù) with English-speaking staff and appointments, at higher prices, and major cities also have private international clinics.

Official lists help you choose. Beijing's Medical Guide for Foreigners, promoted by the city in November 2025, lists 125 hospitals offering what the city calls full-process foreign-language services, and the city says 28 hospitals take English bookings through its Jingtong mini program. The UK government's list of medical facilities in China, updated in May 2025, covers many provinces and notes where staff speak English. Your own embassy may publish a similar list.

Expect to pay as you go. Public hospitals typically have you register (挂号, guàhào) and pay for the consultation, tests and medicine before you receive them, and a hospital stay usually needs a deposit. Alipay, WeChat Pay and cash are the most widely accepted; international cards are more likely to work at international departments. Our pharmacy and hospital guide walks through a visit step by step.

The free illness and injury lesson adds symptoms such as fever, dizziness and stomach pain, so you can describe what is wrong before a doctor or translator arrives.

Do I need travel insurance for China?

Healthcare is not free for visitors and can be expensive. The UK government advises having travel and medical insurance that covers treatment, medical evacuation and repatriation. Before you go, check that your policy covers mainland China, the activities you plan and any pre-existing conditions, and don't assume your health plan at home covers you abroad.

• Save your insurer's 24-hour assistance number and your policy number in your phone and on paper.
• Call the insurer as soon as you are admitted or referred for treatment; they may be able to point you to a hospital they work with.
• Many hospitals will not bill a foreign insurer directly, so be ready to pay and claim later.
• Keep every receipt (发票, fāpiào), test result and the doctor's notes, and ask for them in writing.

What should I do after a traffic accident or a crime?

If anyone is hurt, call 120 first, then 122 for a road accident or 110 for a crime. Move somewhere safe, take photos, and note the other party's details and the vehicle plate. For an insurance claim, ask the police for the accident certificate (事故证明, shìgù zhèngmíng); after a theft or assault, a police report is what your insurer and embassy will ask for.

Contact your embassy or consulate for serious problems: a lost passport, hospitalization, arrest, or a crime against you. Consular staff can typically help you find English-speaking doctors and lawyers and contact your family, but they cannot pay your bills or override local law. The accidents and embassy lesson prepares you for these conversations.