Emergency

China splits its emergency lines by situation: 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire, 122 for traffic accidents — all free, 24 hours, no area code needed. The guides below cover who to call and what to say, where English is actually spoken, how to reach your embassy, and the exact paperwork chain if your passport disappears.

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Emergency

Emergency Numbers in China: 110, 120, 119 and Who Speaks English

China has no 911. Dial 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire, 122 for accidents. Which lines speak...

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The bright reception desk of a hospital international department in China with staff greeting a foreign patient

Emergency

English-Speaking Hospitals in China: Where to Go in Beijing, Shanghai and Beyond

Three ways to see a doctor in China, the English-speaking hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and...

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A tree-lined street in Beijing's embassy district with walled compounds and flags on poles

Emergency

Embassies in China: Emergency Numbers, Consular Districts and What They Can Do

Embassy switchboards, after-hours emergency lines and addresses for nine countries, which consulate covers your...

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A passport, a stamped official certificate and a passport photo laid out on a desk

Emergency

Lost Passport in China: The Four Steps to Get Home

Lost or stolen passport in China? Report to the police, get a Loss Certificate, replace the passport at your...

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Key facts, verified

Emergency and help-line numbers in China

110 · 119 · 120 · 122free · 24h · no area code

110Police

120Ambulance — the call is free, the ambulance ride is charged

119Fire

122Traffic accident

12345City services hotline (non-emergency) — multilingual operators in Beijing and Shanghai

12315Consumer complaints — online: 12315.cn

96110Anti-fraud line — always answer if 96110 calls you

12110SMS to police (auxiliary) — call 110 instead whenever you can

12395Water rescue

12328Taxi / transport complaints — Chinese only — ask 12345 for language help

12308China MFA consular hotline — for Chinese citizens abroad, not for visitors

Embassies in Beijing: phone, emergency line, address

Country	Switchboard	Emergency line	Address
United States	+86 10 8531 3000	+86 10 8531 4000	No. 55 An Jia Lou Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区安家楼路55号
United Kingdom	+86 10 5192 4000	+86 10 5192 4000	11 Guang Hua Lu, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区建国门外光华路11号
Canada	+86 10 5139 4000	+86 10 5139 4000 24h	19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区东直门外大街19号
Australia	+86 10 5140 4111	+61 2 6261 3305 via Canberra, 24h	21 Dongzhimenwai Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区东直门外大街21号
South Korea	+86 10 8531 0700	+86 10 8532 0404 consular office line	No. 20 Dongfang Dong Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区第三使馆区东方东路20号
Japan	+86 10 8531 9800	+86 10 6532 5964 consular section, office hours	1 Liangmaqiao East Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区亮马桥东街1号
France	+86 10 8531 2000	+86 137 0107 8733 after-hours, serious emergencies only	60 Tianze Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区天泽路60号
Germany	+86 10 8532 9000	+86 10 8532 9202 after-hours only	17 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区东直门外大街17号
Spain	+86 10 6532 3629	+86 139 1146 1886 24h, serious emergencies	9 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600 北京市朝阳区三里屯路9号

Common questions

What is the emergency number in China?

There is no all-purpose 911. Call 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire and 122 for traffic accidents — free, 24 hours, from any phone. Our emergency numbers guide covers what to say when you get through.

Do Chinese emergency lines speak English?

Shanghai's 110 answers in English and several other languages; elsewhere assume Chinese. Hand the phone to a local if you can, and for non-urgent matters use the 12345 city hotline's foreign-language operators in Beijing and Shanghai.

What should I do if I lose my passport in China?

Report it at the nearest police station and get the loss certificate, have your embassy issue a replacement, then have a new visa or stay permit put into it before you fly out. The lost passport guide walks through it step by step.

When should I call my embassy?

For a lost or stolen passport, arrest, hospitalisation or a family emergency. If someone is in danger right now, call 110 or 120 first — the embassy cannot dispatch help. Numbers are in our embassy contacts page.

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