Emergency Numbers in China for Tourists
Save the essential numbers before you arrive. In Mainland China, **110** is for police, **119** for fire, **120** for medical emergencies, and **122** for road traffic emergencies. **12345** is the general government service hotline for non-emergency questions and complaints, while **12367** handles immigration and exit-entry enquiries.
Save the essential numbers before you arrive. In Mainland China, 110 is for police, 119 for fire, 120 for medical emergencies, and 122 for road traffic emergencies. 12345 is the general government service hotline for non-emergency questions and complaints, while 12367 handles immigration and exit-entry enquiries.
These numbers are short codes intended for calls made inside Mainland China. Language availability and the way calls are transferred can vary by location, so do not assume that every operator will speak English.
What to call
| Situation | Number | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Crime, immediate danger, or lost property requiring police | 110 | Give your location first and explain whether anyone is injured. |
| Fire or rescue | 119 | State the address, floor, and visible danger if you can. |
| Ambulance or urgent medical help | 120 | Describe symptoms and ask a Chinese speaker to assist when possible. |
| Road collision or traffic emergency | 122 | Use for a crash, road obstruction, or traffic-police assistance. |
| Government services or non-emergency complaints | 12345 | Useful for local public-service enquiries; it is not a substitute for emergency services. |
| Immigration and exit-entry questions | 12367 | A 24-hour NIA service with Chinese and English, plus additional language options announced by NIA. |
Prepare the information that matters
Emergency response is faster when you can provide a precise location. Keep your hotel's name, address, and phone number saved in Chinese. In a map app, take a screenshot that shows the Chinese place name and nearby landmark. If you are on a train or in a station, provide the train number, carriage, station name, or gate.
Use a simple order when you call:
- Say the type of emergency.
- Give the location.
- Say whether anyone is injured or in immediate danger.
- Give a phone number where you can be reached.
- Stay on the line until the operator tells you to end the call.
If communication is difficult, ask hotel reception, station staff, a shop employee, your guide, or a nearby passenger to help. Translation apps are useful, but a saved Chinese address is usually more reliable than translating an English hotel name during an emergency.
Medical help and insurance assistance
Calling 120 requests emergency medical assistance; it does not guarantee a particular hospital, language service, treatment cost, or insurance arrangement. Contact your insurer's emergency line as soon as it is safe to do so. Keep receipts, medical reports, police records, and transport invoices because insurers may request them.
For a non-life-threatening problem, ask your hotel or insurer which facility is appropriate. Do not delay emergency care while trying to confirm insurance coverage.
Consular help
Your embassy or consulate may help after an arrest, serious accident, hospitalization, death, or lost passport, but it does not replace Chinese emergency services. Save the current consular emergency contact for your nationality before departure. Consular officers generally cannot cancel local laws, pay private bills, or guarantee a particular legal or medical outcome.
If your passport is lost or stolen, report the incident promptly and follow the separate process involving the local public security exit-entry administration, your embassy or consulate, and replacement of the Chinese visa or stay document where required.
Before you travel
- Save 110, 119, 120, 122, 12345, and 12367 in your phone.
- Save your accommodation address in Chinese.
- Keep digital copies of your passport identity page, visa, insurance policy, and emergency contacts in secure storage.
- Share a basic itinerary with someone you trust.
- Check your own government's latest China travel advice.
This guide is general planning information, not an emergency dispatch service or a guarantee of language availability.
Official sources
- State Council guide covering emergency contacts and services: https://english.www.gov.cn/2025special/bizexpatsinchina2025
- State Council information on the 12345 system and emergency hotlines: https://english.www.gov.cn/policies/latestreleases/202506/26/content_WS685d4031c6d0868f4e8f3aac.html
- National Immigration Administration lost-passport guidance: https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147428/n147498/n147780/n147970/c159250/content.html
- State Council report on NIA 12367 language services: https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202411/26/content_WS67455fb2c6d0868f4e8ed6cf.html
Last reviewed: 17 July 2026.