China Emergency Numbers and Offline Contacts

The four core numbers to know

China does not use a single universal emergency number. The four numbers that matter for a visitor are 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire and 122 for a traffic accident. These are listed consistently on the China Daily government portal and on provincial government English pages.

Save all four before you travel. A written note, a lock-screen note or a contact card works because it does not depend on data or an app. The table below is the quick reference to keep.

Confirm a voice-calling path before travel

Do not assume that a data-only travel eSIM can place a voice call. Some travel plans provide mobile data but no telephone number or outbound calling, and an inactive or incompatible SIM may not connect the way you expect.

Before travel, confirm that at least one phone in your group has outbound voice service in China. Test that capability by calling a normal contact, your carrier or your hotel — never by placing a test call to 110, 120, 119 or 122.

Keep a small power bank for the same reason. An emergency call is useless if the phone is off.

• Save 110, 120, 119 and 122 on paper or a lock-screen note.
• Keep the phone charged and a power bank available.
• Confirm a real voice-calling path instead of relying on a data-only eSIM.

When you cannot speak Chinese

Do not assume the operator will be able to continue in English. Prepare a short written script before you need it.

Write a sentence in Chinese that states your situation and location, and keep it with the emergency numbers. Read it during the voice call, or show it to a hotel clerk, shop worker or nearby person who can speak on your behalf.

A prepared line such as 'I need an ambulance' with your hotel address in Chinese characters is enough to start the call. Do not wait until the emergency to figure out how to say it.

SMS and non-emergency channels

12110 is a supplementary police SMS channel for situations where speaking is unsafe or impossible, including a hearing or speech difficulty. Public-security instructions vary by place: some regions tell users to address the message to 12110 plus the final three digits of the local telephone area code. Confirm the local format when possible; use 110 by voice when it is safe and possible.

12345 is the general non-emergency government service hotline. Use it for administrative or service problems that are not life-threatening, such as a complaint or a question about a public service. It is not a substitute for 110, 120 or 119 in a real emergency.

For transport-specific problems, 12306 is the national railway customer service line and 95128 is the taxi hotline available in many cities. These resolve booking and transport issues rather than emergencies.

Record your exact location

An operator or first responder needs a location, not just a description. Save your hotel name and full address in Chinese characters, plus the nearest landmark or intersection, so you can read it out or show it.

If you are in transit, note the station name or the road you are on in Chinese. A screenshot of your position on a map in Chinese is a practical way to communicate location when you cannot pronounce it.

Keep this location information with your emergency numbers and call script, so everything a helper needs is in one place.

Delegate to someone nearby

When you are ill, injured or overwhelmed, you do not have to handle the call alone. The single most useful person in a travel emergency is often your hotel front desk, because they know your location, can speak both Chinese and English in larger cities, and can arrange a car, a pharmacy run or contact with authorities.

Before you need help, note the hotel front desk number in your phone and keep it beside the emergency numbers. If you are staying in a private rental, identify the nearest hotel or the building management as your first local contact.

A companion who does not speak Chinese can still help by reading the written script over the phone or showing it to staff. The goal is to hand the location and the situation to someone who can act, rather than to solve every step yourself while you are unwell.

• Save the hotel front desk number next to the emergency numbers.
• Show the written script to a clerk or passerby if you cannot speak.
• Let a helper note the hospital, time and what was said for your insurance or embassy.

When help arrives

Have your passport ready for identification, and keep your insurance details accessible if you need treatment. An ambulance will take you to a hospital, where payment and registration are handled at the facility.

If you are with a companion or hotel staff, ask them to note the hospital name and the time of arrival. This helps if you need to contact your insurance or your embassy later.

Emergency numbers are for emergencies. Use the non-emergency channels for everything else, so the emergency lines stay available for people who genuinely need them.