China's national emergency numbers — 110 (police), 119 (fire), 120 (ambulance), 122 (traffic) — are free to call from any phone with signal
Operators primarily speak Mandarin — Shanghai's 110 line is reported to offer service in eight foreign languages including English; elsewhere, a translation app or help from a Chinese speaker (your hotel front desk works well) bridges the gap.
Save your hotel or accommodation's name and address in Chinese characters in your phone — a screenshot from your booking app works well and is usually the first thing an operator asks for.
What to say when you call — and who actually answers
Operators are primarily Mandarin-speaking. Shanghai's 110 line is a reported exception, offering service in eight foreign languages including English; in most other cities, plan on a translation app or a bystander/hotel front desk to help bridge the language gap.
- Give your location first — your hotel or accommodation's name and address in Chinese characters (a screenshot from your booking app works well) is usually the first thing an operator needs.
- State what's wrong in a few plain words — "accident," "fire," "someone is hurt" — before adding detail.
- Stay on the line if you can. If your Chinese is limited, a translation app or anyone nearby who speaks English can help relay details.
- These are voice calls, not app messages — generally, any phone with signal can dial them, including a foreign phone on international roaming; you don't generally need a local SIM registered just to make the call.
Beyond the emergency numbers: who else can help
City service hotline — 12345
Available in major cities for non-emergency civic issues — a complaint, a lost item, general questions that don't need police or an ambulance. Foreign-language support is reported to vary by city.
Immigration hotline — 12367
The National Immigration Administration service line for visa and entry questions. English-language service is widely reported here.
Your embassy or consulate
The backstop for a lost passport or an arrest — not for medical emergencies. Find and bookmark your own country's China embassy page before you fly; we don't list specific numbers because they vary by nationality and city.
Travel insurance
Ambulance transport and hospital care in mainland China are paid services. Insurance is the practical way to plan for that cost before you need it, not something to work out mid-emergency.
China's emergency and service numbers at a glance
| Option | Number | Free to call | What it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police | 110 | Yes | Crime, theft, immediate danger |
| Fire | 119 | Yes | Fire emergencies |
| Ambulance / first aid | 120 | Yes | Medical emergencies |
| Traffic police | 122 | Yes | Traffic accidents |
| City service hotline (non-emergency) | 12345 | Yes | Available in major cities; foreign-language support varies by city |
| National Immigration Administration | 12367 | Yes | Visa and entry questions; English service widely reported |
Police
- Number
- 110
- Free to call
- Yes
- What it's for
- Crime, theft, immediate danger
Fire
- Number
- 119
- Free to call
- Yes
- What it's for
- Fire emergencies
Ambulance / first aid
- Number
- 120
- Free to call
- Yes
- What it's for
- Medical emergencies
Traffic police
- Number
- 122
- Free to call
- Yes
- What it's for
- Traffic accidents
City service hotline (non-emergency)
- Number
- 12345
- Free to call
- Yes
- What it's for
- Available in major cities; foreign-language support varies by city
National Immigration Administration
- Number
- 12367
- Free to call
- Yes
- What it's for
- Visa and entry questions; English service widely reported
Which contact do I need?
- Danger, injury, crime, fire110 / 119 / 120 / 122
- Annoying but not urgent12345 city hotline
- Lost passport or arrestyour embassy or consulate
Common mistakes travelers make with emergency numbers in China
Calling the embassy first for a medical emergency
Embassies generally cannot dispatch an ambulance or provide medical care. Call 120 (ambulance) or 110 (police) first — contact your embassy afterward if you still need consular help.
Not knowing your address in Chinese
Save your hotel or accommodation's name and address in Chinese characters before you need it — describing your location in English can slow down help considerably.
Assuming English-speaking operators everywhere
Operators are primarily Mandarin-speaking. Shanghai's 110 line is a reported exception offering service in eight foreign languages including English — elsewhere, plan on a translation app or local help.
Leaving insurance details buried in an email you can't access offline
Save your policy number and your insurer's emergency line somewhere reachable without data — a photo in your camera roll or a notes app works well.
Save this before you need it
Save your hotel or accommodation's name and address in Chinese characters in your phone — a screenshot from your booking app works well and is usually the first thing an operator asks for.
Add your travel insurance policy number and its emergency helpline to your phone's notes app or lock screen in case of a medical emergency.
Confirm your phone can make calls in China even without a local SIM — voice calls to these numbers generally work with signal, roaming included; check with your carrier if you're unsure.
Bookmark your embassy or consulate's China contact page as the backstop for a lost passport or an arrest, not for medical emergencies.
Know the difference between 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), and 12345 (non-emergency city hotline) so you call the right one first.
If you don't speak Chinese, keep a translation app installed and ready, or ask your hotel front desk to make the call on your behalf.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one number in China I can call for any emergency?
No — some countries have a single combined emergency number, but China doesn't. Call 110 for police (crime, immediate danger) or 120 for ambulance/first aid (medical emergencies). 119 covers fire, and 122 covers traffic accidents.
Will the operator speak English?
Generally, no — operators are primarily Mandarin-speaking. Shanghai's 110 line is a reported exception, offering service in eight foreign languages including English. In other cities, a translation app or help from a Chinese speaker (your hotel front desk works well) can bridge the gap.
Can I dial these numbers from a foreign SIM on international roaming?
Generally yes — these are voice calls, and any phone with signal, including on international roaming, can typically reach them. You don't generally need a local SIM registered just to make the call, though signal and carrier settings can vary, so it's worth a quick check before you travel.
Is it free to call these numbers?
Yes — China's national emergency numbers are described as free to call.
What if it's not urgent but I still need help?
Use 12345, the city service hotline available in major cities for non-emergency civic issues. Foreign-language support is reported to vary by city.
Who do I call about a visa or entry question?
Call 12367, the National Immigration Administration service hotline. English-language service is widely reported for this line.
Do I need my passport at the hospital?
Bringing your ID and your travel insurance details is a practical habit worth adopting, since hospitals generally ask for identification and payment or insurance information. We can't state a specific universal rule here — check with your insurer and keep your documents reachable, ideally offline as well as on your phone.
Continue your China prep
Official references
Explore the field guide
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