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Safety & Emergency ยท ็ดงๆ€ฅๆƒ…ๅ†ต

Emergency Numbers & What to Do If Something Goes Wrong in China

The vast majority of trips to China go completely smoothly. But knowing this guide exists โ€” and having it saved on your phone โ€” means you'll travel with a calmness that actually makes your whole trip better. Read it once, save it, then forget about it and enjoy China.

โฑ 5 min read๐Ÿ“… Updated September 2026โœ… Save this page offline
๐Ÿ’ก Do This Right Now
Screenshot the emergency numbers below and save them to your phone's camera roll โ€” so you can access them even without internet. Takes 10 seconds and could save your trip.
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Emergency Numbers โ€” Save These Now

110
๐Ÿ‘ฎ Police
Theft, assault, anything threatening your safety. Text 12110 if you can't speak Mandarin.
120
๐Ÿš‘ Ambulance
State your condition and location clearly. Get travel insurance โ€” one ambulance ride can cost ยฅ500+.
119
๐Ÿ”ฅ Fire
Call immediately. Give your exact address. Evacuate the building first.
122
๐Ÿš— Traffic
Road accidents in cities. For expressway accidents dial 12122.
12308
๐ŸŒ Foreign Affairs
Lost passport, consular emergencies, legal issues. Multilingual support available.
12367
๐Ÿ“‹ Immigration
Visa questions, overstay issues, entry and exit problems.
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What to Do in Specific Situations

๐Ÿชช Lost or Stolen Passport

  1. 1Stay calm โ€” this is manageable. It happens to travelers every day.
  2. 2Call 12308 (Foreign Affairs hotline) for guidance
  3. 3Go to the nearest police station and file a loss report (ๅคฑ็‰ฉๆŠฅๆกˆ่ฏๆ˜Ž) โ€” you'll need this document
  4. 4Contact your home country's embassy or consulate in China to apply for an emergency travel document
  5. 5Keep a photo of your passport in your cloud storage โ€” makes the process much faster
Prevention
Before you travel: photograph your passport and email it to yourself + store in cloud. Done.

๐Ÿฅ Getting Sick or Injured

  1. 1For emergencies: call 120 for an ambulance or take a Didi to the nearest hospital
  2. 2Look for ๅ›ฝ้™…ๅŒป้™ข (International Hospital) โ€” they have English-speaking doctors
  3. 3Show your travel insurance card and policy number at reception โ€” saves you enormous paperwork later
  4. 4Key hospitals with international departments: Beijing United Family Hospital, Shanghai United Family Hospital, Chengdu United Family Hospital
  5. 5Call your travel insurer's 24/7 hotline โ€” they can coordinate payment directly with the hospital
โš ๏ธ Why Insurance is Non-Negotiable
A standard hospital consultation costs ยฅ300โ€“800. An overnight stay can be ยฅ3,000โ€“10,000. Surgery? Potentially ยฅ100,000+. Travel insurance costs ~ยฅ30โ€“50/day. The math is obvious. โ†’ See our travel insurance guide

๐Ÿ˜ฑ Scammed or Robbed

  1. 1Get to a safe, public location first
  2. 2Call 110 (Police) or send SMS to 12110 if you can't speak Mandarin
  3. 3Go to the nearest police station to file a report โ€” you'll need this for insurance claims
  4. 4Cancel any stolen bank cards immediately via your bank's app
Common Tourist Scams in China
Tea ceremony scam: "Friendly local" invites you for tea, then presents a ยฅ500 bill. Decline invitations from strangers leading you to private venues.
Art student scam: Student asks you to see their "gallery exhibition" โ€” overpriced prints then sold under pressure.
Taxi overcharge: Always use Didi. If taking a licensed taxi, insist on the meter (ๆ‰“่กจ).

๐Ÿš‚ Missed Train or Flight

  1. 1Trains: Go to the ticket office immediately โ€” you can usually switch to the next available train for a small fee (ยฅ5โ€“50)
  2. 2Flights: Go to your airline's desk in the airport โ€” policies vary. Some allow rebooking for a fee, others require buying a new ticket.
  3. 3Trip.com has 24/7 English customer service โ€” open the app โ†’ Help Center โ†’ chat with agent
  4. 4Travel insurance with "missed connection" coverage pays for rebooking costs โ€” another reason to always have it

๐Ÿ“ฑ Lost Phone

  1. 1Use Find My (iPhone) or Find My Device (Android) from another phone or computer to locate or remotely wipe
  2. 2Report to police to get the loss report needed for insurance
  3. 3Temporarily borrow a phone to contact your travel insurer
  4. 4Budget Chinese smartphones are available for ยฅ300โ€“600 at local phone shops if needed
Prevention
Enable cloud backup (iCloud or Google) before travelling. Keep your emergency contacts in your wallet on paper. Old school, but it works.
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Key Embassy & Consulate Contacts

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Embassy Beijing
  • +86 10 8531-4000
  • Emergency: +86 10 8531-4000
  • Consulates: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Wuhan, Shenyang
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง UK Embassy Beijing
  • +86 10 5192-4000
  • Emergency: +86 10 5192-4000
  • Consulates: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Wuhan
๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australian Embassy Beijing
  • +86 10 5140-4111
  • Emergency: +86 10 5140-4111
  • Consulates: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canadian Embassy Beijing
  • +86 10 5139-4000
  • Emergency: +86 10 5139-4000
  • Consulates: Shanghai, Guangzhou
๐Ÿ’ก Find Your Embassy
Search "your country embassy Beijing China" before you travel and save the emergency number in your phone contacts. Takes 2 minutes.

Next Steps โ†’

๐Ÿฅ
Travel Insurance Guide
The most important thing most travelers skip
๐Ÿ›ƒ
Immigration & Arrival
What to expect at the border
๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ
Key Chinese Phrases
Including emergency phrases
๐Ÿ“š
All Guides โ†’
Everything you need for your China trip
โœ… Last verified August 2026 by Kat โ€” always double-check official sources before you travel.