What to do and Who to call during an emergency in China

Emergency in mainland China right now? Dial 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire and rescue, 110 for police, or 122 for traffic police. For an urgent emergency at sea, call 12395. Give the exact city, district, street, building, floor and nearest landmark. Do not delay an emergency call while reading this guide.

This guide covers mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, provincial cities and rural communities. Hong Kong and Macao have different emergency arrangements; the numbers below are for the mainland. The first sections give an immediate checklist; the later sections explain fire, medical incidents, accidents, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, language assistance and household preparation. Emergency contacts checked against Chinese government directories and foreign travel advice on 5 November 2026.

Quick answer: which emergency number should you call in mainland China?

120 — ambulance (急救): serious illness, collapse, suspected stroke, severe breathing difficulty, major injury, serious bleeding or another emergency needing medical care.
119 — fire and rescue (火警): spreading fire, smoke, dangerous gas or chemical incident, explosion or urgent fire-related rescue.
110 — police (报警): a violent threat, crime in progress, serious personal-safety danger or another incident requiring police intervention.
122 — traffic police: an urgent road-traffic collision or traffic-safety incident. If people are seriously injured, also seek ambulance help through 120.
12395 — maritime search and rescue: serious emergency involving a vessel or people in distress at sea.
12345 — government service hotline: general government-service requests and complaints, not a replacement for 110, 119 or 120 during an emergency.
12356 — national mental-health support hotline: psychological support and crisis guidance, distinct from urgent on-scene medical or police dispatch.

These numbers are supported by Beijing Municipal Government emergency contacts, Shanghai government’s 2026 service directory and the UK government’s China emergency-service directory. The Ministry of Health’s 12356 notice explains the distinct mental-health number.

The first 60 seconds: seven actions that matter

Get out of immediate danger if possible. Avoid flames, smoke, traffic, damaged buildings, unstable slopes, rushing water or violence. During strong earthquake shaking, protect your head and neck before attempting to leave.
Call the correct service. Dial 120 for ambulance, 119 for fire/rescue or 110 for police. If it is a serious road incident, 122 may be relevant; explain if medical or fire help is also needed.
Give the location first. State the province or municipality, city, district or county, street, building or compound, tower, floor and unit. In a railway station, name the line, platform or numbered exit.
Describe the incident in one sentence. ‘One person has collapsed’, ‘a kitchen is on fire’ or ‘a vehicle crash has injured two people’ is more useful than a long story.
Count the people affected. Say who is unconscious, having difficulty breathing, bleeding heavily, trapped or unable to leave.
Listen and answer the operator’s questions. Stay connected as instructed. Follow medical or safety instructions within your ability; do not invent a diagnosis or location.
Help responders reach the correct entrance. Have another person meet the crew at the right gate or building entrance if doing so is safe. Keep the phone available for a callback.

A useful English script is: ‘Ambulance needed. One adult is unconscious at [full address], [district], [city]. Building 3, floor 12, unit 1204. Use the north gate. My phone number is [number].’ If you cannot pronounce an address in Chinese, show the written address to a safe local helper rather than delaying the call.

Why mainland China has several emergency numbers

China’s emergency lines serve different agencies. The police may attend a violent incident or urgent public-safety problem, the fire and rescue service handles fires and certain dangerous rescues, and ambulance services assess urgent medical transport. A highway collision can involve more than one service. When a person is badly injured after a road crash, for example, emergency medical help through 120 is essential even if traffic police are also being contacted on 122.

Official government lists consistently identify 110, 119, 120 and 122. Some foreign travel sites also display additional local hospital, property or insurance contacts. Those extra numbers should not distract a caller from the government emergency service when life is in danger.

How to tell a dispatcher where you are in China

The exact entrance matters as much as the city name. In large apartment compounds, a street address can lead to several towers and security gates. A shopping centre may have several floors, loading entrances and underground passages. In mountain or rural areas, formal road numbers may be less useful than the village name, bridge, road junction or marked trailhead. Report both the address and the most accessible approach.

City or province: state Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Sichuan or the province, city and district where relevant.
Road and building: road name (路, lù), building number (号, hào), compound (小区, xiǎoqū) and tower (楼, lóu).
Floor and room: floor (层, céng), unit (单元, dānyuán), room or apartment number (室, shì).
Transit: metro station, line, platform, numbered exit or a nearby station staff desk.
Highway: expressway number, travel direction, kilometre marker and closest toll station or interchange.
Remote location: village, road access, trail sign, landmark, river crossing or reliable map coordinates.
Callback: provide your reachable phone number and say if you may lose battery or signal.

Location-sharing apps and satellite positioning may help, but a map pin cannot always identify a usable staircase or emergency-vehicle entrance. Do not assume your phone automatically passes every building detail to the call centre. Give the address aloud or allow an interpreter to read it.

Medical emergencies: when to call 120

Collapse, severe chest pain or difficulty breathing

Call 120 immediately for an unconscious person, severe breathing trouble, serious chest pain, symptoms suggesting stroke, major bleeding, seizures or serious trauma. State the symptoms you can observe. Do not search the internet for a diagnosis while the person’s condition is deteriorating. The dispatcher may ask about breathing, responsiveness, age, time of onset and what happened just beforehand.

If a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, follow emergency instructions for CPR and use of an AED, according to your training and available equipment. If an injury involves serious bleeding, apply appropriate direct pressure while waiting for professional help, if safe. Do not give food or water to a person who is not fully conscious. Avoid unnecessary movement after major trauma unless an immediate environmental threat makes staying in place unsafe.

A visitor has a serious medical problem

A traveller who needs urgent medical assistance should not wait to speak with an insurer before contacting the ambulance service. Give the hotel or accommodation address, telephone number and condition. Ask reception or a trusted local contact to help communicate if language barriers are substantial. Bring identification and treatment or medication information if readily available, but do not delay the emergency call to find paperwork.

The emergency medical telephone number on mainland China is 120. Hospital availability and capabilities vary between cities and rural locations. Ask the operator what to do when transport could be difficult. The UK foreign travel advisory and Shanghai municipal directory agree on 120.

Fire and smoke: when to call 119

If a fire starts in an apartment, office, shop, hotel, factory or warehouse, raise the alarm when appropriate, move people to safety and call 119. Do not try to fight a spreading fire alone. Avoid lifts during an active building fire, follow emergency-exit signs and close doors behind you when safe to slow smoke spread. Do not return to retrieve a phone, passport or cash.

If smoke blocks the only apparent exit, do not rush blindly into a smoke-filled stairwell. Move to a safer part of the building if possible, report your room, floor, staircase and window location to 119, and follow the firefighters’ directions. Some buildings have refuge arrangements or specialised fire procedures; the actual fire service and building plan take precedence over generic advice.

Fire crews may need to know if hazardous chemicals, gas cylinders, lithium batteries, industrial machines or high-voltage equipment are present. Share only information you can verify safely. Never re-enter smoke to read a label or look for missing people; report the last known location of anyone unaccounted for.

Police emergencies: when to call 110

Call 110 for an assault, serious threat, robbery in progress, immediate danger to a child or other situation requiring urgent police intervention. First move to a safer location when possible. Give the incident address, what you actually saw, whether anyone is injured and any relevant description of a person or vehicle. Do not follow someone armed or behaving violently to collect photographs.

In China, 110 is a police contact and not a replacement for an ambulance or firefighter number. For a medical collapse following violence, describe both the danger and the need for medical help. If there is no immediate threat, relevant local police stations and government-service channels can guide routine reporting rather than occupying an emergency line.

Traffic collisions: the role of 122

For a traffic accident or urgent roadway incident, the traffic police number is 122. The operator may need the road or expressway, direction of travel, nearest exit or kilometre marker, number of vehicles, whether lanes are blocked and whether anyone is injured. If injuries are severe, call 120 for medical assistance. If there is fire or people trapped in burning wreckage, 119 may also be needed.

Do not walk across moving traffic to photograph a collision or retrieve belongings. Move to a safer position if the scene allows. Avoid touching leaking fuel, damaged electrical cables or a smoking vehicle. Do not remove a seriously injured person from a vehicle without a clear reason, such as imminent fire, or the dispatcher directing an appropriate method.

Maritime emergencies: 12395

The 12395 line is listed for maritime search and rescue in mainland China. Give the nearest port, bay, island, river mouth or coastal landmark, vessel name if known, number of people, nature of distress and accurate coordinates where possible. On a vessel equipped with marine radio, follow the applicable distress procedures and instructions from the maritime rescue authorities. Do not invent a position.

If someone is injured after reaching shore, the ambulance service on 120 may also be needed. A beach or promenade rescue needs a safe access point. Stay at a usable landmark if requested and do not enter rough water without appropriate rescue training and equipment.

Typhoons and heavy rainfall: the right response depends on your location

Southern and eastern coastal provinces may experience typhoons with strong wind, heavy rain and storm surge. Other cities face severe river flooding or flash floods. Check official weather and local government alerts before travelling or evacuating. Secure light objects and charge communication devices before conditions worsen, but do not continue outside once strong winds, water or falling debris make action unsafe.

Avoid underground garages, low underpasses, swollen streams, river embankments and roads where floodwater obscures the surface. Do not drive through flowing water or attempt to retrieve a vehicle from an inundated basement. If the local government orders evacuation, leave promptly using the approved route. For someone trapped or facing immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service and state the exact location.

Flood and typhoon response can differ sharply between a high-rise neighbourhood in Shanghai, a coastal community in Fujian and a mountain valley in Sichuan. Follow the instructions for the actual hazard rather than a forwarded message about another province. The Ministry of Emergency Management maintains the nation’s emergency plan and public preparation resources.

Earthquakes: protect yourself first

During earthquake shaking, get low and protect your head and neck from falling objects. Shelter below sturdy furniture or take another safe protective position, and stay away from windows, unstable shelves and exterior walls where possible. Do not rush down a stairwell or out onto a street while glass and masonry may be falling. Once shaking ends, look for debris, damaged structures, broken utility lines and aftershocks before moving.

If the building is damaged or officials order evacuation, use a safe route, avoid lifts in damaged structures and proceed to the officially designated assembly or shelter location. In a coastal area where a tsunami warning is issued or strong shaking suggests an immediate wave hazard, move toward safe high ground or inland as directed. Do not return to damaged structures until authorised.

China’s Ministry of Emergency Management publishes the national earthquake emergency plan and other preparedness plans. A national plan describes response responsibilities; it does not tell a visitor precisely which stairwell or street is safe. Follow building staff, responders and local instructions.

Industrial, chemical and gas incidents

A strong chemical smell, unexplained vapour, gas leak or explosion risk may require firefighters through 119. Move away from the immediate area, avoid flames and electrical switches that could produce a spark, and do not enter unknown fumes to identify a substance. If people show serious symptoms, 120 may be needed as well.

Depending on the incident, authorities may instruct residents to shelter indoors, turn off ventilation or evacuate away from the plume. These are different actions, and generic instructions can conflict. Follow the actual instructions from firefighters and local public-safety alerts rather than assuming that going outside is always safer.

Mental-health crisis: 12356 versus urgent emergency numbers

The National Health Commission created the 12356 national mental-health assistance number and directed nationwide rollout by May 2025, with service coordination continuing. It is for psychological support, counselling and crisis guidance. It is not the same as sending an ambulance or police to an immediate physical emergency.

If a person is unresponsive, severely injured or facing an urgent medical threat, call 120. If immediate violence is occurring, call 110. For non-immediate emotional distress or support needs, 12356 can be relevant. The national policy is explained in the National Health Commission’s hotline directive.

Useful Mandarin phrases for emergencies

救命！(Jiùmìng!) — Help! Save me!
请叫救护车 (Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē) — Please call an ambulance.
着火了 (Zháohuǒ le) — There is a fire.
请报警 (Qǐng bàojǐng) — Please call the police.
有人受伤 (Yǒu rén shòushāng) — Someone is injured.
有人失去意识 (Yǒu rén shīqù yìshí) — Someone is unconscious.
地址是… (Dìzhǐ shì…) — The address is…
我不会说中文 (Wǒ bù huì shuō Zhōngwén) — I do not speak Chinese.
请帮我翻译 (Qǐng bāng wǒ fānyì) — Please help me translate.

The pronunciation guides are approximations, not a guarantee that the call-taker will understand. Keep your accommodation address in Chinese characters and, where possible, the phone number of a trusted local helper. Do not delay a life-saving call because you cannot form a complete Chinese sentence. Short, clear English plus the written address is preferable to silence.

The five-minute emergency preparation checklist

Save 110, 119, 120, 122 and 12395 with a label explaining the service.
Write the current address in Chinese, including province, city, district, road, building, gate, tower, floor and unit.
Identify the nearest building fire exit, open emergency gate and safe outside assembly point.
Check local risks: coastal typhoon, river flooding, mountain landslides, winter storms or earthquake hazards.
Keep a charged phone, power bank, flashlight, essential medication, water and important identification readily accessible.
Plan how children, older adults, people with disabilities and those needing electrically powered medical equipment can receive help.
Know which local official weather, police or emergency-management channel issues warnings for the area.
Agree a family contact and safe meeting point if local networks or electricity fail.

Common mistakes that delay emergency help

Trying 911, 999 or 112 out of habit rather than using China’s published 110, 119, 120 and 122 service numbers.
Calling traffic police on 122 but forgetting to request 120 when a crash has critically injured people.
Using 12345 routine government service instead of 119 during a dangerous fire.
Giving only a city name while omitting the actual building gate, tower and floor.
Waiting for an insurer to approve emergency care before calling 120.
Returning into fire or smoke to gather photographs or collect valuables.
Entering floodwater, a damaged tunnel or unstable slope despite warning signs.
Assuming emergency response and English-language capability are identical in every province or rural community.

Frequently asked questions

What is China’s emergency ambulance number?

120 is the nationally published medical emergency number in mainland China. State symptoms, location and contact information.

What is the number for police in mainland China?

110 connects to police emergency services, including incidents involving immediate threats or crimes in progress.

Are the numbers the same in Hong Kong and Macao?

No. This article covers mainland China only. Hong Kong and Macao have different emergency telephone arrangements. Check the official contact directory for the jurisdiction you are actually visiting.

Who responds to a fire in China?

Dial 119 for fire and rescue. Evacuate when safe and give the precise building address, gate and floor.

Which number is for road accidents?

122 is the traffic-police number. Serious injuries may also require ambulance services through 120.

What does 12356 do?

It is a national psychological support hotline. It is not a substitute for ambulance dispatch on 120 or police response on 110 when a person is in immediate physical danger.

Official sources and related country guides

Safety note: This is general public information, not live dispatch or medical care. Mainland China has location-specific response procedures and communication capabilities. Contact numbers and official guidance were reviewed on 5 November 2026. In a current emergency, use the appropriate hotline immediately.