Foreign Visitor Emergency Survival Guide for China (Updated 2026)

China Emergency Hotlines: 120, 110, 119, 122 (English Operators Available)

Numbers and consular procedures can change. Verify before relying on them.

Ambulance / medical emergency

120

Use for breathing trouble, severe injury, or any life-threatening medical emergency.

Police

110

Use for theft, harassment, assault, or when you need police assistance right away.

Fire

119

Use for fire, smoke, or building evacuation emergencies.

Traffic police

122

Use for road accidents. If anyone is injured, call 120 as well.

Immigration hotline

12367

National Immigration Administration hotline. English service may be available depending on the shift.

9 Major Embassy Contacts in Beijing (US, UK, EU, AU, CA, JP, KR, SG)

Emergency Decision Matrix: Which Number to Call for Your Situation

Use this quick matrix to choose the right channel before you start explaining the problem.

SituationRecommended channelNote
Life-threatening medical emergency120Ambulance and urgent medical dispatch.
Fever, diarrhea, minor injuryPharmacy or clinicUse the emergency cards below to explain symptoms.
Theft, harassment, missing item110Ask hotel staff or bystanders to help place the call if needed.
Fire or smoke119Leave the area first if you can do so safely.
Road accident122If someone is hurt, call 120 as well.
Visa, residence, TWOV procedure question12367National Immigration Administration hotline.
Passport lost110 then embassyPolice record first, then consular help.

Medical Emergency Cards: 11 Symptoms in English-Chinese

Use these cards to explain symptoms and urgent needs. They are for communication support only and do not replace professional diagnosis or treatment.

Emergency help request only.
HIGH

Call ambulance

English

Please call 120. I need an ambulance. I am a foreign visitor.

Chinese for local staff

请拨打 120。我需要救护车。我是外国游客。

Ask a pharmacist or doctor what to do.
HIGH

Fever: I need help

English

I have a fever, I need help.

Chinese for local staff

我发烧了，我需要帮助

Ask a pharmacist or doctor what to do.
HIGH

Diarrhea: I need help

English

I have diarrhea symptoms, I need help.

Chinese for local staff

我有腹泻症状，我需要帮助

For breathing trouble or severe swelling, seek emergency help immediately.
HIGH

Allergy: I need help

English

I may be having an allergic reaction. I need help.

Chinese for local staff

我可能过敏了。我需要帮助

Point to the location while showing the card.
HIGH

Stomach pain: I need help

English

I have stomach pain here. I need help.

Chinese for local staff

我这里肚子痛，我需要帮助。

Use for sprains, falls, or injuries.
HIGH

Injury help

English

I am injured. Could you help me find medical assistance?

Chinese for local staff

我受伤了。可以帮我找医疗帮助吗？

Pharmacies (药店 yàodiàn) are common in Chinese cities. Show this to hotel staff or passersby.
LOW

I need to buy medicine

English

I need to buy medicine. Where is the nearest pharmacy?

Chinese for local staff

我需要买药，最近的药店在哪里？

Ask a pharmacist or doctor what to do next.
HIGH

Headache: I need help

English

I have a headache now, I need help.

Chinese for local staff

我现在感觉头痛，我需要帮助

Ask a pharmacist or doctor what to do.
HIGH

Nausea/Vomiting: I need help

English

I feel nauseous or want to vomit, I need help.

Chinese for local staff

我现在感觉恶心或想呕吐，我需要帮助。

Use for injuries after a fall or impact. Seek urgent help if you cannot move or there is heavy swelling.
HIGH

Sprain or possible fracture

English

I may have a sprain or a broken bone. I need help.

Chinese for local staff

我可能扭伤了，或者疑似骨折，我需要帮助。

Use before eating or when asking for urgent help after a reaction.
HIGH

Food Allergy Help

English

I have a severe food allergy. I need to confirm ingredients or seek emergency help.

Chinese for local staff

我有严重食物过敏。我需要确认成分或寻求紧急帮助。

Theft, Harassment & Accident Cards (Show to Police or Strangers)

Use neutral factual wording. For formal police reports, keep your passport and hotel registration details with you.

Use for immediate safety concerns. Keep the wording neutral and factual.
HIGH

Call the police

English

Please call the police for me. I need help right now.

Chinese for local staff

请帮我报警，我现在需要帮助。

Use when something is lost but you are not claiming theft.
MEDIUM

Lost item report

English

I lost an item. I need a loss report or proof of record.

Chinese for local staff

我丢失了物品，需要报失证明或登记记录。

Use when you need immediate safety assistance in public.
HIGH

Harassment or stalking

English

I am being harassed or followed. Please help me call 110.

Chinese for local staff

我被骚扰或尾随，请帮我拨打 110。

Use after a road accident. If there are injuries, call 120 as well.
HIGH

Traffic accident

English

I was involved in a traffic accident. Please help me contact 122.

Chinese for local staff

我遇到了交通事故，请帮我联系 122。

Use when you need directions before making a report.
LOW

Find police station

English

Where is the nearest police station?

Chinese for local staff

最近的派出所在哪里？

Lost Passport in China: 24-Hour Recovery Procedure for Foreign Visitors

This section covers lost passports, immigration hotline handoff, and hotel registration issues. Exit-visa wording is only for after passport replacement.

Use after confirming the passport is missing and you need official help.
HIGH

Lost passport

English

I lost my passport. I need to contact my embassy or consulate.

Chinese for local staff

我的护照丢了，我需要联系大使馆或领事馆。

Use for immigration procedure questions, not for medical or police emergencies.
MEDIUM

Immigration help

English

I have a visa, residence, or transit-without-visa question. Please help me call 12367.

Chinese for local staff

我有签证、居留或过境免签问题，请帮我拨打 12367。

Use only after your passport has already been replaced by your embassy or consulate.
MEDIUM

Apply for exit visa after passport replacement

English

My passport has already been replaced. I now need to apply for an exit visa.

Chinese for local staff

我的护照已经补办，现在需要申请出境签证。

Use if staff seem unsure whether the property can register a foreign guest.
MEDIUM

Foreigner hotel registration

English

I am a foreign visitor. Please register my stay with my passport.

Chinese for local staff

我是外国游客，请用我的护照办理住宿登记。

ATM Card Eaten or Account Locked? Emergency Banking Cards

These cards help when an ATM keeps the card or a mobile wallet account is locked. Do not show full card numbers or balances.

Use when your card is retained by an ATM. Keep the machine location and time noted separately.
MEDIUM

ATM kept my card

English

The ATM kept my card. Please help me contact the bank.

Chinese for local staff

ATM 吞了我的卡，请帮我联系银行。

Use for account access problems, not for card disputes with your bank.
MEDIUM

Payment account locked

English

My WeChat or Alipay account is locked. Please help me contact customer service.

Chinese for local staff

我的微信或支付宝账户被锁了，请帮我联系客服。

Language Barriers & Document Loss: Universal Help Cards

Use these fallback phrases when none of the specific emergency cards fit your situation.

Use as a universal fallback when none of the specific cards fit the situation.
LOW

I do not speak Chinese

English

I do not speak Chinese. Could you help me communicate in English?

Chinese for local staff

我不会说中文，可以帮我用英文沟通吗？

Use when you receive instructions or text you do not understand.
LOW

I don't understand (Help translate)

English

I don't understand this. Could you help me translate it into English?

Chinese for local staff

我看不懂这些内容，请帮我翻译成英文。

About This Guide

✍️ Written & reviewed by the China Transit Guide Editorial Team · 🗓 Last reviewed: May 2026

This guide is compiled from firsthand transit experience across mainland China, covering medical, safety, document, and payment emergency scenarios. All hotline numbers and embassy contacts are subject to change — verify with official sources before your trip.

This page does not provide medical, legal, or emergency-response advice. In any emergency, immediately call local emergency services (120 / 110 / 119) or seek qualified professional assistance.

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