Keep this page saved

Essentials: Numbers, Help & Warnings

Save this page to your phone. Emergency numbers, your embassy, medical help, and the short list of scams that actually happen — so you can recognize them in seconds.

0 / 6 ⬇ Save / Print

Check items off as you complete them — your progress is saved on this device.

01 Emergency numbers (work from any phone, free) 110 — Police. 120 — Medical emergency / ambulance. 119 — Fire. These three numbers work nationwide, from any phone, without a SIM, and operators can connect English speakers in major cities. Also save: 12367 (National Immigration Administration, visa & entry questions, English service) and 12345 (city government hotline, complaints including taxi overcharging, English in major cities).
02 Your embassy / consulate If your passport is lost or stolen, contact your embassy FIRST — they can issue emergency travel documents. Registering your trip with your foreign ministry (e.g. STEP for US citizens, FCDO for UK) means they can find you in a crisis. What to do: before departure, save your embassy’s address and phone in Beijing plus the nearest consulate (Shanghai / Guangzhou / Chengdu / Hong Kong) in your phone. If stuck: a police report (from any 派出所) is required for a lost passport — get it before visiting the embassy.
03 Consular protection: what your country can do Understand what embassies can and cannot do: they can replace documents, contact family, provide lawyer and translator lists, and visit detained citizens. They cannot pay your bills, get you out of jail, or override Chinese law. What to do: save your consular emergency line before any problem exists. If stuck: in any legal trouble, ask for consular notification — China is obliged to inform your embassy if you request it.
04 Medical care for foreigners Emergency: 120 or any hospital 急诊 (emergency) department — treatment is not refused for lack of payment, but a deposit is routine, so carry your insurance policy. Non-urgent: international clinics in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu have English-speaking doctors and direct billing to major insurers. What to do: ask your hotel for the nearest international clinic; pharmacies (green cross) handle minor ailments cheaply. If stuck: the BOC Compass app and Nihao China app both have English clinic finders and translation support.
05 Pharmacies & bringing your own medicine Pharmacies (药店, green-cross signs) are on every block and can handle most common issues — show a translated symptom note. Bring prescription medicines in original packaging with a doctor’s note in English; some Western medicines are restricted or unavailable in China, so pack the full trip’s supply. What to do: for a specific drug’s Chinese equivalent, use the BOC Compass app’s photo-translation on a picture of the box. If stuck: hospital pharmacies dispense on prescription; international clinics prescribe familiar Western brands.
06 Scam red flags — recognize in 5 seconds Red flag 1: a friendly stranger’s invitation that involves going somewhere (tea ceremony, art gallery, "student exhibition") → politely decline. Red flag 2: anyone inside an airport or station hall offering transport → use official ranks only. Red flag 3: any website charging a fee for official forms (arrival card, visa check) → official channels are free. What to do: no legitimate service requires you to move locations with a stranger. If stuck: overcharged? Call 12345 with the receipt. Threatened? Call 110.