Quick Answer

The main emergency numbers foreign visitors should know in China are 110 for police, 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire and 122 for traffic accidents. Save them before you travel. Also save your embassy or consulate emergency contact and the NIA immigration service hotline 12367 for immigration-related questions.

The Australian Embassy in China lists common emergency services as 110 police, 122 traffic accidents, 119 fire and 120 ambulance. The 12367 immigration hotline provides multilingual support according to official Shanghai guidance, but it is for immigration administration services, not a replacement for police, ambulance or fire emergency numbers.

The Core Emergency Numbers

110 — Police

Use for crime, theft, assault, harassment, serious public safety issues or when you need police help.

Chinese phrase:

请帮我报警。

Please call the police.

120 — Ambulance

Use for medical emergencies, serious injury, breathing trouble, severe pain or life-threatening conditions.

Chinese phrase:

请帮我叫救护车。

Please call an ambulance.

119 — Fire

Use for fire, smoke, explosion risk or rescue situations.

Chinese phrase:

这里着火了。

There is a fire here.

122 — Traffic accident

Use for traffic accidents and road incident reporting.

Chinese phrase:

这里发生了交通事故。

There has been a traffic accident here.

12367 — Immigration service hotline

Use for immigration-related consultation, entry-exit questions and administrative service inquiries. Shanghai's official guide says 12367 provides 24/7 multilingual support including English, Japanese, Korean and Russian.

What to Say First

When calling emergency services, speak slowly. If you cannot speak Chinese, ask a nearby hotel staff member, police officer, metro staff member or shop worker to help.

Start with:

  • I need help. 我需要帮助。
  • I am a foreigner. 我是外国人。
  • I cannot speak Chinese. 我不会说中文。
  • This is my location. 这是我的位置。
  • Please call my hotel. 请给我的酒店打电话。

Prepare Before You Need Help

  1. Save emergency numbers in your phone.
  2. Save your embassy/consulate emergency contact.
  3. Save your hotel address in Chinese.
  4. Keep passport photos and visa/entry screenshots stored securely.
  5. Share your itinerary with someone you trust.
  6. Keep travel insurance details offline.
  7. Know your nearest major hospital if you have medical conditions.

Embassy and Consular Help

For lost passport, arrest, serious medical emergencies or death of a family member, contact your embassy or consulate. For example, the U.S. Embassy in China maintains emergency contact pages for U.S. citizens. Other nationalities should save their own embassy contact before travel.

Embassies usually cannot pay your bills, force a hotel or airline to help, or override local law, but they can guide you through emergency procedures and replacement documents.

Lost Passport Basic Plan

  1. Report loss to local police if needed.
  2. Contact your embassy or consulate.
  3. Prepare passport photos and identity documents.
  4. Ask your hotel for help with address and local police station.
  5. Do not travel to another city until you understand replacement document rules.

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