Emergency Help
in China
What to do in urgent situations, which number to call, and how to ask for help if you do not speak Chinese.
Quick answer
Important note
1. Emergency numbers
In mainland China, dial these emergency numbers directly. Do not add +86 in normal use. If your foreign SIM or roaming plan does not connect, ask nearby staff, your hotel, or a local person to call for you.
2. What to do first
Use this as a quick action checklist in an urgent situation.
Call the right number or ask nearby staff to help.
Show your exact location or hotel address.
Explain what happened briefly.
Stay on the line and keep your phone available.
3. What information to prepare
Location
City, district, street, building, hotel name, landmark, metro exit, or map location.
What happened
Illness, injury, accident, theft, fire, lost passport, or other situation.
How serious it is
Unconscious, bleeding, breathing difficulty, chest pain, severe pain, allergy, etc.
Who needs help
Yourself, travel partner, child, elderly person, or injured person nearby.
Contact details
Your phone number, hotel name, room number, and insurance contact if available.
4. Useful emergency phrases
Show these phrases to nearby staff, hotel reception, or a local person if you need help.
5. After the emergency
Keep all receipts, invoices, medical reports, prescriptions, and police reports.
Contact your travel insurance provider as soon as possible.
Contact your embassy or consulate if your passport is lost or you are involved in a serious incident.
Tell your hotel or travel companion where you are going.
Do
Save emergency numbers before your trip.
Keep your hotel address in Chinese.
Carry your passport or a copy.
Keep insurance details easy to find.
Ask local staff to help you call if needed.
Keep all reports and receipts.
Avoid
Waiting too long if symptoms are serious.
Relying only on spoken English in an emergency.
Leaving without receipts, reports, or police documents.
Moving an injured person unless there is immediate danger.
Ignoring symptoms that are severe, persistent, or unclear.