China Emergency Numbers: Police, Fire, Ambulance, and Traffic Help

Save the four main China emergency numbers

Call 110 for police assistance, 119 for fire and rescue, 120 for emergency medical rescue, and 122 for road traffic accidents. These short numbers are intended for calls within the Chinese mainland. If you are using roaming, a foreign SIM, or Wi-Fi calling, test your ability to place local calls before you rely on it.

Use the number that matches the immediate danger. If several risks are present, state the most urgent one first and follow the operator’s instructions. Do not delay a real emergency while waiting for an email reply, translation draft, hotel message, or travel-platform chat.

• Police: 110.
• Fire and rescue: 119.
• Ambulance: 120.
• Road traffic accident: 122.

Lead with location, danger, and the help needed

Prepare three facts: where you are, what happened, and whether anyone is in immediate danger. Show or read the full Chinese address, nearby landmark, building, floor, room, station exit, or road direction. A map pin alone may not explain which entrance responders should use.

If speaking is difficult, ask a hotel desk, station worker, shop employee, or nearby person to help place the call. Keep a short note such as “请帮我报警” (Please help me call the police) or “请帮我叫救护车” (Please help me call an ambulance). Do not hand over an unlocked phone containing sensitive documents unless necessary.

Prepare for medical, police, and traffic follow-up

For medical help, share the person’s condition, consciousness, breathing, known allergies, and exact location. Follow the emergency operator rather than attempting a treatment you do not understand. Keep a travel-insurance assistance number separately, but do not call the insurer instead of 120 when immediate medical rescue is needed.

For police or traffic incidents, move away from continuing danger when you can do so safely. Record the location, time, vehicle or property details, and any official report or reference number. Avoid signing a document you cannot understand; ask for a translation or written explanation when the scene is stable.

Use non-emergency services for non-urgent problems

The China Immigration Service Hotline is 12367 for entry and exit questions, and 12345 is widely used as a government service hotline for non-emergency public-service issues. Availability, language support, and local handling can vary, so treat these as service channels rather than substitutes for 110, 119, 120, or 122.

Local Help can help you prepare a question, address card, or next-day plan by email. It cannot see your live location, contact responders for you, guarantee a reply, or manage an emergency. If there is immediate risk, call the relevant emergency number or ask a nearby person to call now.