Emergency Contacts in China
Essential numbers for police, medical, fire, and daily support issues
Quick Summary
These work from any phone, even without a SIM card. Payment issues: WeChat 95017 / Alipay 95188
⚠️ Critical Numbers (Work Without Internet)
These three numbers work from ANY phone, even without a SIM card or internet connection. Save them in your phone and memorize them.
💬 What to Say on the Phone
If you call 110/120 and the operator speaks only Chinese, try these phrases. Say them slowly and clearly:
🚨 General Emergency Call
1. Say: Help, I need an English speaker
Chinese: 救命，我需要英语翻译 (jiù mìng, wǒ xū yào yīng yǔ fān yì)
2. Give your location: "I am at [location]"
You can also send your location via SMS to the operator. Or text 12110 (national SMS emergency number).
📱 Text 12110 Instead (SMS)
In many cities, you can send an SMS to 12110 with your location and emergency type. This is useful if you can't speak Chinese on the phone.
Sample text:
✓ Include your exact address and describe the emergency.
💡 Before you need it: Save this to your phone
Save your hotel address in Chinese and your embassy's 24-hour hotline in your phone contacts. In an emergency, you can just show your phone to someone and they'll know where you need help.
💳 Payment App Issues
Can't pay? Card rejected? Call official support:
WeChat Pay Issues
24-hour hotline
Press 2 for English (available most hours)
- Card not working
- Verification failed
- Payment limits
- Account locked
Alipay Issues
24-hour hotline
English: Use app chat feature
- Tour Pass problems
- Card rejection
- Verification issues
- Refund requests
💡 Tip: What to Tell Them
English phrase: "I'm a foreign user. My [card/payment] is not working. My passport number is [XXX]. Can you help me?"
Chinese phrase: "我是外国用户，支付有问题，请帮助" (Wǒ shì wàiguó yònghù, zhīfù yǒu wèntí, qǐng bāngzhù)
⚡💧🔥 Utility Services
⚡ Electricity
State Grid (nationwide)
24-hour hotline
English: Limited, try "English please"
View guide →🛂 Visa & Immigration
National Immigration Administration
Nationwide immigration hotline
Visa issues, residence permits, overstays
English service available at some times
Common Issues
- Visa extension questions
- Residence permit renewal
- Overstay guidance
- Entry/exit questions
What You'll Need
- Passport number
- Current visa/residence info
- Chinese address (if applicable)
- Specific questions prepared
🏛️ Embassy & Consular Support
⚠️ Important Note
Embassy contact information changes. Always verify current phone numbers on your embassy's official website before relying on this information.
Last verified: April 2025 - requires website confirmation
Contact your embassy or consulate for:
- Lost or stolen passport
- Arrest or detention
- Serious illness or death
- Major natural disasters
- Other serious emergencies
How to Find Your Embassy
- Google "[Your Country] Embassy Beijing" or "[Your Country] Consulate Shanghai"
- Verify you're on the official .gov or embassy domain
- Look for "Contact" or "Emergency" sections
- Save both the regular and emergency numbers
Major diplomatic cities: Beijing (most embassies), Shanghai (many consulates), Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang
What to Say (Key Phrases)
Emergency Situations
"Help! I'm a foreigner."
救命！我是外国人。
Jiùmìng! Wǒ shì wàiguó rén.
"I need an ambulance."
我需要救护车。
Wǒ xūyào jiùhù chē.
"I need police."
我需要警察。
Wǒ xūyào jǐngchá.
Utility Issues
"Power is out."
停电了。
Tíng diàn le.
"No water."
没有水了。
Méiyǒu shuǐ le.
"No gas."
没有燃气了。
Méiyǒu ránqì le.
"I already paid."
我已经缴费了。
Wǒ yǐjīng jiǎo fèi le.
Important Tips
- • Keep addresses in Chinese: Write down your address in Chinese characters. Emergency responders may not read English.
- • Translation app: Have a translation app ready (Baidu Translate, Microsoft Translator work offline with downloaded packs).
- • Embassy registration: Some countries offer traveler registration services. Check your foreign ministry website.
- • Insurance: Have travel/health insurance details saved. Some insurers have 24-hour hotlines.
- • Emergency contact: Save a local friend's number as your emergency contact - they can help with language barriers.
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⚠️ Disclaimer
Emergency numbers and hotlines are subject to change. Always verify current information through official channels. Embassy contact information especially requires verification on official embassy websites.
Last updated: April 9, 2025 | Next review: July 2025
Emergency numbers (110/120/119/12367) are government services and generally stable. Embassy contacts require individual verification per country.