Living in China
China Emergency Number: 110, 120, 119 and 122 (2026 Guide)
By the 17Talk teaching team - certified Mandarin teachers, 8+ years of classroom experience, 3,500+ students in 40 countries
Last updated:
Quick answer
China uses four emergency numbers: 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire, and 122 for traffic accidents. They are free and work from any phone, including a foreign SIM on roaming. The operator will ask for your location first, so the single most useful thing you can prepare is your address written in Chinese on your phone or a hotel card. English on the line is hit or miss - in a real emergency, hand the phone to a Chinese speaker and let them talk.
The four numbers, and what each one is for
110 is the police line and the general emergency number. Use it for crime, theft, assault, being locked out in a dangerous situation, or when you simply do not know who else to call.
120 is the ambulance. It dispatches a medical team, and you will usually be asked what happened, how old the patient is and whether they are conscious.
119 is fire and rescue - including people trapped in lifts or cars. 122 handles traffic accidents and traffic disputes; if anyone is injured, call 120 as well.
| Number | What it is for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Police, crime, general emergency | Free from any phone; English support exists in major cities but is not guaranteed |
| 120 | Ambulance and medical emergencies | Expect questions about the patient's condition; a fee usually applies |
| 119 | Fire, rescue, people trapped | Also used for non-fire rescues such as lifts |
| 122 | Traffic accidents | Call 120 too if anyone is hurt |
What actually happens when you call
A dispatcher answers, asks where you are, and asks what happened. Location comes first: if you cannot say the address, they cannot send anyone. That is why the address card matters more than any phrasebook line.
Language is the real bottleneck. In Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen you may reach someone with basic English; anywhere else, assume not. The fastest route in an emergency is to hand your phone to the nearest Chinese speaker - a hotel receptionist, a shop assistant, a passer-by - and let them give the address. They will do it without hesitation.
If you do not speak Chinese: three lines that work
1. 我需要帮助 (wǒ xū yào bāng zhù) - I need help. Short, clear and enough to get attention.
2. 请帮我打电话 (qǐng bāng wǒ dǎ diàn huà) - please help me make a call. Say it while holding out your phone.
3. Show your hotel card or the Chinese address on your screen. Pointing at an address is faster and less error-prone than pronouncing one.
The numbers that are not emergencies
China also runs complaint and service hotlines that are useful when nothing is life-threatening: 12315 for consumer and price disputes, 12328 for taxis, buses and metro, 12345 as the city services line that routes almost anything else, and 12308 for consular help if you are a Chinese citizen abroad.
Our guide to complaining in China walks through the evidence to collect before you call any of them.
Medical help when 120 is more than you need
For a fever, a stomach bug or a sprained ankle, a pharmacy or a clinic is usually faster than an ambulance: pharmacies sell common medicine over the counter, and hospital emergency departments take walk-ins. Take your passport - hospitals register foreign patients.
In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen there are international clinics with English-speaking staff, but they cost several times a local hospital. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is the thing that makes this decision easy.
For the pharmacy route instead of the hospital one, see where to buy medicine in China.
Is 110 the same as 911?
No. China's emergency lines are separate: **110** police, **120** ambulance, **119** fire. Dialling 911 reaches nothing in mainland China.
The split matters because it is not one number for everything - for a medical emergency you want 120, not 110. If you cannot speak Chinese, say the number you need and your location slowly, or hand the phone to someone nearby.
Do I have to pay for an ambulance in China?
Dialling 120 costs nothing. What may be charged is the ambulance service and the treatment afterwards, and it is billed by the hospital you are taken to rather than by the phone call.
Two consequences worth planning for: carry a payment method that works even when your phone does not, and keep every receipt - that paperwork is what travel insurance asks for. Costs vary by city and hospital, so ask at the hospital rather than trusting a figure from the internet.
The five-minute setup, do it before you need it
Save the four numbers in your phone under names you will find at 2 a.m.: Police 110, Ambulance 120, Fire 119, Traffic 122.
Screenshot your hotel's name, address and phone number in Chinese and keep a paper copy in your bag. Add your embassy's phone number, your insurance emergency line, and one person at home who knows where you are.
Keep 200-300 RMB in cash. In a real emergency, the problem is rarely the phone call - it is everything that follows.
Common questions
What is the emergency number in China?
110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire, and 122 for traffic accidents. All are free and work from any phone, including a foreign SIM on roaming.
Do the emergency lines speak English?
Sometimes, in the biggest cities, but it is not guaranteed. Prepare to hand the phone to a Chinese speaker - hotel staff, a shop assistant or a passer-by - and let them give your address.
Can I call 110 from a foreign phone?
Yes. The emergency numbers work from foreign SIMs on roaming and from most hotel phones. 112 also redirects to emergency services on many networks.
Is the ambulance free in China?
No - expect a charge for an ambulance call-out. That is what travel insurance is for; keep your policy number and the emergency contact line saved in your phone.
What number do I call to complain about a taxi or a shop?
12328 for taxis, buses and metro; 12315 for consumer and price disputes; 12345 for city services. These are not emergency lines, so use them once you are somewhere safe.
What should I have ready before I call?
Your address in Chinese, the phone number you are calling from, and a short description of what happened. In an emergency, an address on screen is worth more than any phrase you have memorised.
Read next
- Overcharged in China? How to Complain and Get Your Money Back (2026)
- Lost Your Passport in China? What to Do, in Order (2026)
- Your First 24 Hours in China: An Arrival Checklist (2026)
- Medicine in China: How to Buy It as a Foreigner (2026)
- Is China Safe for Tourists? Crime, Scams and What Actually Matters (2026)
Sources
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - China travel advice (emergency numbers)
- National Immigration Administration of China (English)
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