Every number on this page was recorded by Joy — a certified Mandarin teacher — so you can hear exactly how locals say it, or simply show your screen. In a real emergency, that difference is everything.
No. 911 is a North American number, and mainland China's networks do not treat it as an emergency call — dialing it will not reliably reach any dispatcher. The same goes for Europe's 112: on Chinese mobile networks it typically plays a recorded message (in Chinese) pointing you to 110 or 119, not a live operator. Don't gamble on either.
Memorize the real ones instead — or save this page. Three numbers cover almost everything: 110, 120, 119. They work from any phone with signal, including foreign SIMs and eSIMs, and as of 2026 the calls are free.
Every phrase on this page — and 200+ more — lives in the China Survival Kit app: tap to show it big, play it in teacher Joy's real voice, and let locals tap their answer back. Works 100% offline.
Get the appFree China Trip Prep PackTheft, assault, a scam turning ugly, a traffic dispute, anything that needs an officer: 110 is China's national police line, and it's the number locals dial first when they're not sure who to call — the dispatcher will route you. Response is generally fast in cities.
The catch is language: dispatchers work in Mandarin. The single most reliable move is handing your phone to any nearby adult with this on screen:
If something was stolen, you'll want the police report (报警回执) for your insurance and embassy — ask the officers for it before you leave.
Medical emergencies: 120 dispatches an ambulance. Big-city dispatch centers sometimes manage to transfer an English speaker, but you cannot count on it, and in a crisis you shouldn't have to. Two show-phrases do the work:
119 is fire and rescue — fires, but also people trapped in lifts or buildings. 122 is the traffic-accident line; in practice you can also just call 110 for a crash and they'll route it. If you only remember one number for anything involving police, remember 110.
Panic plus a language barrier is the worst combination. The strategy that works: get a local to make the call, and let your screen do the talking. These three lines — in Joy's real voice — cover the first thirty seconds of almost any crisis:
In the China Survival Kit app this goes further: an offline Emergency Card holds your allergies, blood type and contact in correct Chinese, and every phrase shows full-screen with tap-to-answer buttons for the other person. It works with zero signal — which is exactly when you need it.
Traveling with a food allergy? Our free Chinese allergy card generator builds the exact wording to show any waiter — severity levels and cross-contamination included.
Chinese cities are dotted with physical SOS points, and they're worth recognizing: red-and-yellow intercom pillars on metro platforms (press to reach station staff), roadside emergency phones on highways placed at regular intervals, and SOS posts in parks and scenic areas. Pressing one connects you to staff or police for that location — no phone, no SIM, no Mandarin number required.
They're a good fallback if your phone is dead or stolen. Otherwise, a direct call to 110/120/119 — or any shopkeeper making it for you — is faster.
Chinese public hospitals run register-first: before a doctor sees you, you register at the 挂号 (guàhào) window with your passport and pay a small fee, then pay before each step — consultation, tests, medication. Costs are modest by Western standards but vary; mobile payment is standard, and big cities also have international clinics with English-speaking doctors at much higher prices.
Keep every receipt — your travel insurer will want them. Check before you fly whether your policy covers China, how claims work, and whether any hospitals offer direct billing; confirm the details with your insurer rather than relying on any list you find online.
No. China uses 110 for police, 120 for ambulance and 119 for fire — all free to dial. Dialing 911 on a Chinese network will not reliably reach a dispatcher, so memorize 120 and 110 instead.
110 is China's national police emergency line, staffed around the clock. It's also the safe default when you're not sure which service you need — the dispatcher will route your call. Operators mostly speak Mandarin, so if you can't, hand your phone to a local or show the phrase on this page.
120, free from any phone with signal. Locals read it “yāo-èr-líng” — the digit 1 is pronounced yāo in Chinese numbers. For non-life-threatening problems, a taxi to the nearest hospital is often faster than waiting for an ambulance.
Don't rely on it. 112 is not China's emergency number — on Chinese mobile networks it typically reaches a recorded message in Chinese directing you to 110 or 119, not a live dispatcher. Use 110, 120 or 119 directly.
Physical SOS points: intercom pillars on metro platforms that connect to station staff, emergency phones along highways, and SOS posts in parks and scenic areas. Pressing one reaches staff or police for that exact location — useful if your phone is dead or stolen.
There is no nationwide English emergency line. Dispatch centers in big cities sometimes have English-capable staff or can transfer you, but availability is never guaranteed. The reliable strategy: have a local make the call, and show the Chinese phrase instead of speaking.
Yes. Public hospitals treat foreigners — bring your passport, register at the front window first, and pay as you go at each step. Big cities also have international clinics with English-speaking doctors at higher prices. Keep all receipts for your travel insurer.
Every phrase on this page — and 200+ more — lives in the China Survival Kit app: tap to show it big, play it in teacher Joy's real voice, and let locals tap their answer back. Works 100% offline.
Get the appFree China Trip Prep Pack