What Emergency Numbers and First-Response Steps Should Foreign Travelers Use in China?

Last updated: 2026-03-02 Applies to: Foreign travelers in mainland China facing urgent safety, medical, document, or transport incidents.

TL;DR

In an emergency in China, call the correct hotline first (110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire), then share your exact location in Chinese if possible, and contact your embassy/consulate if identity or legal support is needed. Most bad outcomes come from delayed calls, unclear location sharing, or missing documentation after the incident. Build a simple response stack now: emergency numbers, hotel address in Chinese, and embassy contact saved offline.

Who this is for

Tourists, business travelers, and short-term visitors in mainland China
Travelers worried about medical events, theft, document loss, or accidents
People traveling across multiple cities and transport modes
Not a replacement for official legal or medical advice in active emergencies

Step-by-step

Call the right emergency number immediately.
110 for police/security incidents.
120 for medical emergencies.
119 for fire and rescue.
Keep the call short: who you are, what happened, where you are.
Share location in a format responders can use.
Use a map app pin plus nearest landmark.
Show your hotel card or saved Chinese address.
If language is a barrier, ask hotel staff or a nearby local to speak to dispatch.
Stabilize and document.
Prioritize physical safety first.
Take photos, time notes, vehicle/license details, and witness contacts when safe.
Keep receipts and records for insurance and consular follow-up.
Handle passport or document loss correctly.
File a police report promptly.
Contact your embassy/consulate emergency line.
Follow embassy steps for replacement travel documents.
Manage medical incidents with payment and records in mind.
Bring passport and payment method to hospital.
Request discharge notes, diagnosis, and invoice copies.
Keep prescription records if ongoing treatment is needed.
Close the loop after immediate danger is controlled.
Notify insurer and submit incident evidence.
Inform airline/hotel if itinerary changes are required.
Keep all official reports in one folder until you exit China.

Common mistakes

Mistake: Waiting to “see if it gets better.” Fix: Call early for urgent symptoms, safety threats, or fire risk.
Mistake: Not being able to state location clearly. Fix: Save key addresses in Chinese before day trips.
Mistake: Losing evidence after accidents or theft. Fix: Capture photos and written timeline as soon as possible.
Mistake: Contacting social media before authorities. Fix: Emergency hotline first, then embassy/insurance.
Mistake: Carrying no backup identity proof. Fix: Keep secure digital copies of passport and visa pages.

What changes by city / situation

Major cities: faster response options and more international hospitals.
Smaller cities: response remains available, but English support may be limited.
Night incidents: transport options can narrow; use ride-hailing or hotel assistance.
Border or transit incidents: immigration support channels become more important.

Quick checklist

[ ] Saved 110, 120, 119 and embassy emergency number
[ ] Stored hotel and key destination addresses in Chinese
[ ] Kept passport/visa digital copies securely
[ ] Prepared emergency payment method and insurance contact
[ ] Installed one reliable translation app with offline capability

Sources

China government portal (public services context): https://english.www.gov.cn/
National Immigration Administration (for immigration/document follow-up): https://en.nia.gov.cn/
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in China (consular emergency reference): https://china.usembassy-china.org.cn/
UK Embassy in Beijing (consular emergency reference): https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-beijing

Need a personalized version?

Use EastAssist in-app to create your city-level emergency card (hospital shortlist, embassy contacts, and one-tap response checklist).