guide · safety

China Emergency Numbers: 110 Police, 120 Ambulance, 119 Fire

Call 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire, or 122 for a traffic accident in China. See what to say, what location details to give, and where foreign visitors can get help.

Last updated: July 23, 2026

Emergency action

Choose the right number

You need the correct emergency number now: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire, or 122 traffic accident.

What to tell the operator

Call the matching number and give your exact location first, then explain what happened, whether anyone is injured, and the phone number where responders can reach you.

If you cannot call

If you cannot communicate or place the call, show this page to hotel staff, station or airport staff, a mall service desk, a security guard, or a nearby police officer.

What you will learn

Use this page as a practical setup guide before you travel and a backup checklist after landing.

Choose 110, 120, 119, or 122 based on what is happening.
Give your exact location before a long explanation.
Show a short Chinese request when speaking is difficult.
Use hotel, airport, station, mall, attraction, security, or police staff as a calling backup.
Save your hotel address and emergency details offline before departure.

Call the right number

Use 110 when you need police for danger, assault, theft, robbery, threats, or another urgent public-security problem. Use 120 for a serious illness, injury, or an ambulance. Use 119 for fire. Use 122 to report a road traffic accident.

Nationwide emergency calls are free. Do not use them for ordinary directions, app setup, payment questions, or minor travel inconvenience.

When the operator answers, give your location before telling a long story. Responders need a city, street, building or venue name, nearby landmark, floor or room number, and a callback number. For medical help, state the main symptom or injury and whether the person is conscious and breathing.

110 — Police: immediate danger, assault, theft, robbery, threats, or urgent police assistance.
120 — Ambulance: serious illness, injury, loss of consciousness, breathing trouble, or urgent medical transport.
119 — Fire: fire, smoke, people trapped, or another fire and rescue emergency.
122 — Traffic police: a road traffic crash or road emergency.

Show this if you cannot explain the emergency

Take a screenshot of the sentence that matches your situation. Add your location in a translation app if you can, then show the screen to a staff member, security guard, police officer, driver, or nearby person.

请帮我报警，打110。我的位置是这里。 — Please call the police on 110. This is my location.
请帮我叫救护车，打120。有人受伤/生病了。 — Please call an ambulance on 120. Someone is injured or ill.
请帮我报火警，打119。这里着火了。 — Please call the fire service on 119. There is a fire here.
请帮我联系交警，打122。这里发生了交通事故。 — Please call traffic police on 122. There has been a traffic accident here.
我不会说中文。请告诉接线员我的位置。 — I do not speak Chinese. Please tell the operator my location.

When to call 110

In China, 110 is the police emergency number. It is the number to remember if you feel unsafe, face theft or a serious dispute, are in danger, or need urgent police assistance.

For small travel questions, it is usually better to ask hotel staff, station workers, airport service counters, or a nearby police officer in person first. This keeps emergency lines available while still giving you a clear path to help.

Call 110 if you feel unsafe or are in immediate trouble.
Call 110 for theft, threats, serious disputes, or urgent police help.
Look for police officers or police service points at airports, railway stations, tourist areas, and busy public spaces.
Prepare your location, hotel name, passport name, and a short translated explanation if you can.

Who to ask before it becomes an emergency

Most travel problems are not emergencies. They are practical blocks: you cannot find the pickup point, your payment app fails, you cannot explain an address, or you are unsure which station entrance to use.

Ask early. China has many official or semi-official help points in the places travelers already pass through.

Hotel front desk: taxis, addresses, deliveries, local directions, and language help.
Airport staff and counters: transport, lost items, arrivals, departures, customs-area directions, and official taxi lines.
Railway, high-speed rail, and metro staff: gates, platforms, security checks, ticketing, and exits.
Port, ferry, and cruise terminal staff: boarding areas, arrivals, luggage, transport exits, and local directions.
Customs and border inspection staff: entry, exit, passport, declaration, and port-of-entry questions.
Mall or attraction service desks: location help, taxis, restaurants, and nearby facilities.
Police officers: safety concerns, lost property, disputes, or when you cannot solve the problem through staff.

What to show when language is a problem

You do not need perfect Chinese to get help. You need clear evidence of what you are trying to do. A screen is often easier than a long explanation.

Your hotel name, phone number, and address in Chinese.
A map pin for your destination.
Your train, flight, hotel, restaurant, or attraction booking page.
A translated sentence explaining the problem in simple language.
Your passport when dealing with hotels, police, train stations, or official services.

Simple preparation that lowers stress

The goal is not to avoid every problem. The goal is to make each problem small enough to solve. Do these before you fly or during your first day in China.

Save 110, 120, and 119 in your phone.
Save 122 for road traffic accidents.
Save your hotel address in Chinese and English.
Keep screenshots of bookings and addresses available offline.
Set up payment backups before relying on them.
Keep your phone charged when moving between airports, stations, and hotels.
Choose a convenient first hotel so staff help is nearby while you are learning the local systems.

First-arrival safety net

Arriving in China soon?

Get the free First 72 Hours Kit for payments, mobile data, airport-to-hotel transport, hotel check-in, and Chinese help cards.

Get the free kit Check readiness

FAQ

Common questions

Is China safe for foreign tourists?

China is generally safe for foreign visitors, especially in major cities, transport hubs, hotels, shopping malls, and tourist areas. Normal travel judgment still matters: keep documents secure, use official transport, and ask staff or police for help if something feels wrong.

What number should I call for police in China?

Call 110 for police emergencies in China. Call 120 for an ambulance or medical emergency, 119 for fire, and 122 for a road traffic accident.

What should I tell a Chinese emergency operator?

Give your exact location first: city, street, building or venue, nearby landmark, floor or room, and callback number. Then explain what happened. For medical emergencies, state the main symptom or injury and whether the person is conscious and breathing.

Can I ask police for help if I am lost?

Yes, nearby police officers or police service points can be useful if you are lost, unsafe, dealing with lost property, or unable to resolve a serious problem. For simple directions, hotel staff, station staff, and service desks are also good first options.

What if people do not speak English?

Show your destination in Chinese, a map pin, a booking page, or a translated sentence. Many people who cannot hold an English conversation can still understand a clear screen and help point you in the right direction.

Sources

Sources and further reading

China National Immigration Administration: service hotline 12367 Shanghai Government: public service hotlines Beijing Government: what to report when calling 110, 119, 120, or 122 TipTipChina: China Travel Starter Kit

Next steps

Turn this guide into a travel plan

China travel gets much easier when you connect each guide to your actual arrival city, payment setup, and first-day route.

Check your arrival readiness

Confirm payment, phone data, hotel address, passport, airport transport, and emergency help before you land.

Run the check

Match the advice to your city

Check what changes in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Chongqing before you book hotels or plan local routes.

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Download the first 72 hours kit

Keep payment, internet, airport-to-hotel, check-in, and Chinese help-card notes in one practical pack.

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Ask about your exact route

If your situation is specific, share your travel month, cities, and biggest concern so the guide can be improved around real traveler questions.

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