Emergency Numbers in China: 110, 120, 119

Quick Answer (30 seconds)

Three emergency numbers in China: 110 for police, 119 for fire, 120 for ambulance. These work nationwide, no area code needed, free from any phone. Operators primarily speak Chinese. 12367 is the National Immigration Administration hotline offering service in English, Russian, Japanese, Korean, and French — a lifeline for foreigners. 12308 is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular protection hotline.

You'll hopefully never need these numbers. But you must have them saved.

Full Guide

I've lived in China for five years. I've called 120 twice (once for a passerby who collapsed, once for a coworker) and 110 once (phone stolen). Every time I dialed, my heart was racing — but at least I knew the numbers. You need to know them too.

The Three Core Numbers

110 (Police) — Call for theft, robbery, harassment, traffic accidents, disputes. The operator is at a public security command center and speaks Chinese. Some areas have English-speaking operators, but don't count on it.
119 (Fire) — Fire, gas leaks, stuck in an elevator. The fire department responds.
120 (Ambulance) — Sudden illness, fainting, injury. Dispatches an ambulance. 120 is the emergency medical service, not a hospital — but the ambulance takes you to the nearest hospital.

Memory tricks:

110 = Police — "1" looks like a baton
119 = Fire — in Chinese phone numbers, "1" is read as "yāo", so "119" sounds like 要要救 (yào-yào-jiù, meaning "need, need, rescue")
120 = Ambulance — same as many countries' emergency numbers

How to Call

Any phone — Dial 110/119/120 directly. No area code, no +86 prefix needed
Overdue phone — Even if your phone bill is unpaid, these three numbers still work
No SIM card — In theory you can call with signal and no SIM, but in practice this varies by carrier (China Mobile and China Unicom may not connect) and isn't always reliable
Public phones — Free

Hotlines for Foreigners

12367 (National Immigration Administration Hotline)

This is the official service hotline for foreigners in China. Available in:

English
Russian
Japanese
Korean
French

You can inquire about: visa issues, accommodation registration, entry/exit policies, residence permits. The service is available 24/7 with multilingual human operators.

12308 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Protection Hotline)

This is China's MFA consular protection hotline, primarily serving Chinese citizens abroad in emergencies. But foreigners in China with consular questions (e.g., lost passport needing embassy assistance) can also call for guidance.

Your Embassy/Consulate Phone Number

This is the most important one. Before traveling, save your embassy or consulate's 24-hour emergency number for the city you're visiting. Major foreign embassies and consulates in China:

Beijing — Most countries have embassies here
Shanghai — Most countries have consulates
Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang, Wuhan, Xi'an, Chongqing — Some countries have consulates

What to Do When the Operator Only Speaks Chinese

The vast majority of 110/119/120 operators speak only Chinese. If you don't speak Chinese:

Say keywords — Say "police" or "help" — the operator may understand
Ask a Chinese person to call — If someone is nearby, they'll usually help
Ask hotel front desk — Hotel staff usually speak some English
Prepare a Chinese emergency info card — Write your name, passport number, blood type, allergies, and hotel address (in Chinese)

What to Do in a Medical Emergency

Scenario 1: Minor ailment

Go to a pharmacy (药店 - yào diàn) for medicine. Pharmacies are everywhere in China — one on practically every corner
Over-the-counter drugs (cold medicine, fever reducers, bandages, anti-diarrheal) don't require a prescription
Pharmacy staff generally don't speak English — use a translation app to communicate

Scenario 2: Need to see a doctor

Go to a hospital. Chinese hospitals are ranked in three tiers; the highest is Grade 3A (三甲 - sān jiǎ)
Grade 3A hospitals are best — Top equipment, best doctors
International departments — Large-city 3A hospitals have international or VIP clinics with English service. Registration fee: ¥300-800 (vs. ¥50-100 for regular)
Foreign hospitals — Beijing and Shanghai have United Family Hospital, Parkway, and other foreign hospitals with full English service at near-Western prices

Scenario 3: Emergency

Call 120 for an ambulance
The ambulance takes you to the nearest hospital with emergency capability
If you're conscious, you can request a hospital with an international department

Foreign Prescription Medications

If you take long-term prescription medications (blood pressure, insulin, antidepressants, etc.):

Bringing medication into China — Carry medicine in original packaging + prescription + Chinese-English translation. Quantity should not exceed personal use (usually 30 days). Some medications (psychiatric drugs) require advance import permits
Getting prescriptions in China — Foreign prescriptions aren't directly valid. You need to bring your prescription + notarized translation to a hospital, where a doctor will prescribe a Chinese equivalent
Refrigerated medications (insulin) — Declare at customs; arrangements can be made for cold storage

What to Do If Robbed

Ensure personal safety — Don't chase. Money can be replaced; your life cannot
Call 110 — Even if your belongings won't be recovered, the police report is needed for insurance
Go to the nearest police station for a report — Bring your passport. Police station = 派出所 (pài chū suǒ)
Contact your embassy — If your passport was stolen, you'll need to replace it
Contact your insurance — Keep the police report (受案回执 - shòu àn huí zhí) for claims

Troubleshooting

Problem 1: Called 120 But Can't Explain Your Address

What happens: You or someone with you has a medical emergency. You called 120 but can't communicate where you are.

Fix: Ask someone nearby to help — Chinese people are quick to assist when they see someone in distress. Use your phone's map app to get your coordinates and tell the operator. If you're at a hotel, say the hotel name — operators know most major hotels. After calling 120, also call the hotel front desk to have someone wait at the entrance to guide the ambulance.

Problem 2: Can't Read Medicine Labels at the Pharmacy

What happens: You have diarrhea, went to a pharmacy, but the medicine boxes are all in Chinese.

Fix: Use a translation app to scan and translate the label. Say the English generic name — many Chinese pharmacists know common drug names (ibuprofen = 布洛芬, loperamide = 洛哌丁胺). Describe your symptoms — "diarrhea" (拉肚子), "fever" (发烧), "headache" (头痛). For severe diarrhea or persistent high fever, skip the pharmacy and go to a hospital.

Problem 3: Passport Lost or Stolen

What happens: Your passport is gone.

Fix: Step 1: Call 110, go to the police station, file a report, get the police report. Step 2: Contact your embassy/consulate to schedule a passport replacement or emergency travel document. Step 3: With your new document, go to the Entry-Exit Administration to transfer your visa (if you have a Chinese visa). If you lost it at a hotel: contact the front desk immediately to review security footage — hotels have a responsibility to assist. Backup tip: before traveling, photograph your passport's main page and store it on your phone and in the cloud. Also carry a printed copy.

Last verified: August 2026 · Sources: National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) 12367 service description, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department (cs.mfa.gov.cn) 12308 hotline, Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC · Hotline service hours may change.