The core emergency numbers in mainland China are 110 for police, 119 for fire and rescue, 120 for medical emergencies, and 122 for traffic accidents. Save them before travelling and keep your accommodation address in Chinese where it can be opened without mobile data.
These are separate services rather than one all-purpose dispatch number. Call the service that best matches the immediate danger, lead with your location, and do not rely on 911 as your plan in mainland China.
The four numbers to save
| Number | Service | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Police | There is an immediate threat, theft, assault, fraud with coercion, or another urgent public-security problem |
| 119 | Fire and rescue | There is fire, smoke, an explosion, people trapped, or another rescue emergency |
| 120 | Medical emergency | Someone needs urgent medical assessment or an ambulance |
| 122 | Traffic police | A road collision needs traffic-police attendance or formal reporting |
The UK government’s current China help page and Chinese municipal guidance publish the same core numbers. Use the short number exactly as shown while you are in mainland China. Hong Kong and Macao operate different systems, so this page should not be used for either special administrative region.
What to say first
An operator can act on a usable location more quickly than on a long story. Start with the city, district, street, building or landmark. Then describe the service needed and any continuing danger.
Prepare these details if it is safe to do so:
- The address in Chinese and a nearby landmark.
- The floor, room, gate or station exit.
- What happened and whether danger is continuing.
- How many people may need help.
- The number from which you are calling.
Send someone to a building entrance only when that can be done safely. Keep access clear for responders. If you move away from the original location, tell the operator rather than assuming a map pin will update automatically.
Useful short phrases include “我在这里” (wǒ zài zhèlǐ, I am here), “请报警” (qǐng bàojǐng, please call the police), “请叫救护车” (qǐng jiào jiùhùchē, please call an ambulance), and “这里着火了” (zhèlǐ zháohuǒ le, there is a fire here). The Mandarin phrases for travellers guide provides more practical language, but an address screenshot is more important than memorising a script.
Language support varies
Do not assume every dispatcher nationwide will speak English. Shanghai’s municipal emergency guide says its 110, 119 and 120 services provide foreign-language or English support, but that is a local service statement, not a guarantee for every city.
If communication is difficult, ask a hotel employee, station worker, security guard or nearby Chinese speaker to relay the location and situation. Do not delay the first call while looking for perfect translation. Say “English” clearly, give the address slowly, and keep the line open unless the operator tells you to disconnect.
Make sure your phone can place a voice call
Some travel eSIM products provide data without a voice number. A data connection by itself does not prove that the handset can call 110, 119, 120 or 122. Check the plan before departure and know a fallback: a hotel phone, a companion’s SIM, station staff or another nearby handset.
The Chinese phone number guide explains when a local number helps with calls, reservations and verification. Keep the emergency numbers outside the phone as well—on a wallet card or paper itinerary—in case the device is lost, damaged or out of power.
Non-emergency help is different
Do not use emergency lines for ordinary questions. 12345 is a municipal government-service channel in cities that operate it; Beijing explicitly describes it as non-emergency and offers multilingual service. Local availability and dialling instructions can differ.
12367 is the National Immigration Administration’s service hotline for immigration and entry-exit questions. It is useful for matters such as stay documents or accommodation registration, but it does not replace police, fire, medical or traffic emergency dispatch.
For a lost passport, get to a safe place, report theft or urgent circumstances to police when appropriate, and contact your own embassy or consulate. Replacement-document procedures depend on nationality. Save the correct consular emergency contact before the trip rather than copying another country’s number.
A two-minute preparation checklist
- Save 110, 119, 120 and 122 with plain-language labels.
- Save your hotel name, full address and telephone number in Chinese.
- Check whether your SIM or eSIM supports normal voice calls.
- Keep your insurer’s assistance number and policy details offline.
- Save your embassy or consulate’s emergency contact.
- Give a trusted person your itinerary and a way to reach your accommodation.
No preparation removes risk, and a webpage cannot decide which service an unfolding incident requires. The purpose of the list is to remove avoidable delay when local help is needed.
FAQ
Does 911 work in mainland China?
Do not rely on it. Save and use 110 for police, 119 for fire, 120 for medical emergencies and 122 for traffic accidents.
Is there one nationwide English emergency line?
No English-language response should be assumed nationwide. Language support varies by city and service; use the local emergency number first and seek nearby translation help if needed.
Can a data-only eSIM call an emergency number?
It may not support ordinary voice calls. Confirm the product’s capability before travel and identify a second handset or fixed-phone fallback.
Is 12345 an emergency number?
No. It is a government-service channel where available. Use 110, 119, 120 or 122 for an immediate emergency.
Sources and review date
- UK government: emergency services in China
- Shanghai municipal government: what to do in an emergency
- Beijing municipal government: 12345 is a non-emergency multilingual service
- China government: National Immigration Administration 12367 service
Numbers and service descriptions were checked on 30 August 2026. Recheck local government and consular guidance before travel.
Image credits
- Featured image: Mainland China police vehicle in Fujian. Image by JamesYoung8167, cropped and resized, via Wikimedia Commons. — CC BY-SA 4.0.
- First inline image: Fire engines in Xi'an. Image by Wahsaw, cropped and resized, via Wikimedia Commons. — CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Second inline image: Ambulance in Aksu City. Image by Windmemories, cropped and resized, via Wikimedia Commons. — CC BY-SA 4.0.
