China Safety & Emergency Guide — Numbers, Scams & Tips

Emergency Numbers and How to Call

Save China’s emergency numbers and prepare the location, identity, and medical details responders need.

China uses separate emergency numbers for different services rather than one nationwide 911 or 112 number. Call 110 for police assistance, including a personal assault or property crime; call 119 for fire and rescue; call 120 for first aid, ambulance dispatch, or a medical emergency; call 122 for a traffic accident; and call 12395 for a maritime or water emergency. These numbers are listed in official Chinese and embassy guidance, including the National Health Commission emergency numbers and the Australian Embassy emergency services page. Save them in your phone before travelling, and write them on paper in your accommodation in case your phone battery is empty, your mobile data does not work, or you are helping someone who cannot communicate in English. If the situation involves both injury and danger, call the service that must respond immediately and then contact the other service: for example, call 120 for an injured person after a road accident and 122 for traffic police, or call 119 for a fire while also reporting trapped or injured people to the dispatcher. The official working-and-living guide also states that passport loss should be reported immediately to the local police station, so a missing passport is not merely an administrative inconvenience to handle later.

When calling 120, the most useful information is the exact location. State the city, district, street, building name or number, apartment or hotel information, and a nearby landmark. Then explain whether the problem is an accident or sudden illness and give the most important symptom first: unconsciousness, abnormal breathing, severe bleeding, chest pain, or possible stroke symptoms. Give the patient’s approximate age and sex, known medical conditions if available, and the number from which you are calling. A clear address can be more important than a long medical explanation because the ambulance must find the scene. In major cities, English assistance may sometimes be available, but it is not guaranteed. If you are at a hotel, university, workplace, station, or shopping centre, ask staff or a Chinese-speaking bystander to place the call and repeat the address in Chinese. Keep a phone note containing your full name as shown in your passport, passport number, current Chinese address, city and district, local phone number, emergency contact, allergies, chronic conditions, current medication, blood type if known, and the words English only if that is your language need. The China ambulance guidance recommends prioritising the location and explains the information a dispatcher normally needs.

Ambulance transport in China is normally fee-based rather than free. The supplied medical guidance gives a usual total range of 300 to 1,500 RMB, depending on the city and the complexity of the case. The bill can include the dispatch or pre-hospital care fee, mileage from the ambulance station to the scene and then to the hospital, and medical treatments or supplies such as oxygen, ECG monitoring, medication, or procedures during transport. Payment is commonly settled separately from the hospital bill, either after arrival or during transfer. Alipay or WeChat Pay may be used where handheld scanners are available; cash is a practical backup, while direct swiping of an international Visa or Mastercard on the ambulance is rarely supported. The same guidance suggests having 1,000–2,000 RMB in cash if mobile payment has not been arranged. In Beijing, both 120 and 999 may appear in local information. The source describes 120 as the primary nationwide government emergency dispatch service and 999 as the Beijing Red Cross Emergency Rescue Center; for an acute, life-threatening emergency, dial 120 first. Do not delay an emergency call while trying to identify a preferred hospital, arrange insurance, or find a card machine.

At the emergency department, the process may differ according to the seriousness of the condition. Hospitals may use a green channel for critical emergencies such as severe trauma, cardiac arrest, stroke, or respiratory failure, prioritising urgent treatment while administrative or payment steps are handled later. For an urgent but stable problem, such as a high fever or minor fracture, the normal sequence may include registration and triage, an initial consultation, payment for tests before blood work or imaging, and payment for treatment or medicine before it is provided. This means a newly arrived resident should keep a payment method ready even when an insurance policy exists. For suspected cardiac arrest, call 120 immediately, ask someone to locate an AED, and start CPR if trained. If you have public or private medical insurance, keep official invoices, itemised expense lists, medical records, discharge summaries, diagnostic reports, and prescriptions. The official invoice is called a Fapiao, or 发票, and may be required for reimbursement. Short-term visitors are generally financially responsible for medical care, while insurance and reimbursement depend on the policy and facility. Before moving to China, confirm how your insurer handles emergency treatment, direct billing, evacuation, original documents, and overseas claims.

Common Scams and Crime Prevention

Recognise tourist, payment, authority, investment, romance, and online scams before money or personal data is lost.

Common scams in China often depend on friendliness, urgency, authority, or a promise of easy money. In popular tourist areas, a stranger may say they want to practise English, invite you to a tea tasting, massage, café, or bar, and then take you to an establishment that presents an inflated bill. The traveller may be pressured, threatened, prevented from leaving, or asked to pay by credit card. The UK safety and security guidance for China describes the tea-tasting and massage pattern, while the U.S. Embassy scams page describes a tea-house scam in which an apparent English student invites a visitor to a nearby restaurant and the visitor is forced to pay an exorbitant bill. An art-house version begins when an apparent art student approaches a traveller at a tourist site, offers tea and snacks, and then pressures the traveller to buy artwork or pay for hospitality. The safest response is to decline unsolicited invitations and keep walking. Do not enter a bar, restaurant, studio, or private vehicle because a new acquaintance insists that it is nearby or inexpensive. If you feel trapped, prioritise leaving safely, call 110, and report the incident at the nearest police station.

Petty crime remains a practical risk in crowded places even where serious crime against foreign nationals is relatively rare. Pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and theft of laptops, passports, and mobile phones can occur on public transport, at major tourist sites, in shopping areas, and in entertainment districts popular with expatriates. The Smartraveller China advice warns that resisting a theft can lead to injury if criminals become violent. Keep your passport and phone in a closed, secure place rather than an open back pocket, and keep a hand on a bag in crowded transport. Do not leave a drink or food unattended, and do not accept food, drink, or transportation from strangers; the supplied travel advice reports cases in which travellers were drugged and robbed after accepting such offers. At an ATM, use a machine inside a bank or shopping centre during daylight hours. If a phone, passport, card, or bag is stolen, contact the relevant bank or provider, report the crime immediately to the nearest police station, and obtain a police report. A report can be important for replacement documents, insurance, and later communication with your embassy.

Online and financial scams may appear more professional than a street scam. China’s Ministry of Public Security identified ten prevalent telecommunications and cyber-fraud types in a 2024 awareness campaign; nearly 88.4 percent of reported telecommunications and cyber-fraud cases involved those ten types. The list included brushing and click-farm jobs, false investments, impersonation of e-commerce logistics support, fake credit-repair services, fake online shopping, fake loans, impersonation of authorities, online dating deception, and gaming-product sales fraud. In one brushing or click-farm case, a victim lost over 420,000 yuan. A victim of an investment-related romance variant lost 1.4 million yuan, and a fake online equipment purchase caused a loss of over 13,000 yuan. These examples do not mean every online offer is fraudulent, but they show why a promise of easy earnings, guaranteed returns, or a cheap product should be independently checked. The China awareness campaign report says that investment scammers may build credibility first, show apparent account growth, block withdrawals, and then demand additional payments. Never pay a new fee to unlock money that an unfamiliar platform claims you have already earned.

Authority-impersonation scams deserve special attention for English speakers and international students. A caller may claim to be police, a prosecutor, an embassy official, a bank, or another government organisation. The caller may accuse you of a crime, display a realistic-looking document, threaten arrest or violence, or demand money and personal information immediately. The caller ID may look official because criminals can spoof a trusted number. The Internet Crime Complaint Center warning on Chinese authority impersonation says not to release identifying information or send money when an unknown person contacts you to accuse you of a crime, and to resist pressure to act quickly. Hang up and independently contact the organisation using a number or website you found yourself. Do not use a link or phone number supplied by the caller. Similar warning signs apply to messages claiming that a bank account has been hacked, a parcel has a problem, a visa requires an urgent fee, or a payment must be made to avoid legal consequences. Keep original emails, messages, phone numbers, receipts, screenshots, and transaction records. If money was sent, contact the bank or payment company immediately and state that the transaction may be unauthorised.

Romance, investment, job, shopping, and phishing scams often share the same sequence: unexpected contact, trust-building, a convincing story, urgency, and a request for money or account access. A romance scammer may spend months creating rapport before asking for help with illness, travel, a family emergency, or visa costs. An investment scam may use a website or app whose name resembles a legitimate institution, display fake gains, and pressure you to invest more. A job scam may promise a high salary or work-from-home opportunity but demand upfront payment for training, software, uniforms, taxes, or security clearance. An online seller may send a faulty item, send nothing, or move the transaction outside a secure platform to collect bank or card information. Phishing links may imitate a bank login page, a delivery company, or an official service. The FDIC scam-prevention guidance advises not opening unexpected messages, not clicking links unless they are known to be safe, protecting personal information, using strong passwords, and keeping operating systems and applications updated. In China, also treat unsolicited QR codes as a payment and phishing risk. Open the official app yourself, verify the recipient and amount, and do not scan a code simply because a stranger says it is necessary.

• Decline unsolicited invitations to tea, massage, bars, cafés, art studios, or private transport, especially when a stranger approaches you at a tourist site.
• Do not resist a bag-snatching or pickpocketing attempt if resistance could cause violence; move to safety and call 110.
• Use ATMs inside a bank or shopping centre during daylight hours, and check the screen and card slot before entering a PIN.
• Never carry a parcel, suitcase, or package for another person; the travel advice specifically warns that travellers may be asked to carry concealed drugs out of China.
• Do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, bank details, passwords, or identity documents to a new online contact or an unexpected official-looking caller.
• If a scam payment has occurred, contact the bank or payment company immediately, preserve chats and receipts, and report the incident to the nearest police station.

Safety Information and Security Tips

Follow local law, protect identity and devices, and prepare for transport, weather, accommodation, and health risks.

Foreign residents should treat local law and identification requirements as part of everyday safety planning. The UK guidance says to carry your passport because police conduct random checks, particularly during heightened security and major sporting or political events, and printed copies are not accepted. The official Chinese working-and-living guide says that a foreigner staying in a hotel can complete residence registration through the hotel by presenting a valid passport or other international travel document. A foreigner staying somewhere else must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival, using the passport or travel document together with a rental contract or property ownership certificate. If you enter China with a visa and plan to work and live there, the same guide says to apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry. If a visa stay extension is needed, submit the application at least 7 days before the permitted stay expires; a residence-permit extension should be requested 30 days before expiry. Keep your original passport secure but accessible, and keep a separate record of the passport number, visa details, residence address, and emergency contact. If the passport is lost, report it immediately to the local police station. These steps reduce the risk of being unable to prove your identity or residence when arranging help, replacing documents, travelling, or dealing with authorities. The 2025 Guide to Working and Living in China is the official reference for these registration and document procedures.

China’s national-security and public-order rules can affect ordinary activities that a newcomer might otherwise treat as casual travel behaviour. The supplied UK advice says that national-security laws have broad scope, and foreign nationals may be detained without having intended to break the law. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, do not photograph or video protests, and follow local-authority instructions. Taking photographs or engaging with political groups, charities, or ethnic-minority communities in sensitive areas may attract additional attention. Do not photograph military installations, including buildings, sites, or facilities directly used for military purposes. Restricted military areas may lead to detention, fines, or deportation if entered without prior authorisation. The advice also states that social-media activity, including activity outside mainland China, may fall within the scope of mainland legislation in some circumstances, and that posting or supporting political statements critical of China or the authorities could be viewed as illegal. During periods of political tension, access to news, text messaging, the internet, or international telephone lines may be blocked. Keep communication plans flexible, avoid sharing sensitive information publicly, and do not assume that a foreign service, VPN, social platform, or familiar online tool will work in China. The China safety and security guidance should be checked before travel and again after arrival because local sensitivities and enforcement conditions can change.

Digital security is especially important because daily payments, transport, study administration, and communication may depend on a phone. The travel advice warns that devices and data can be stolen when using public Wi-Fi, public computers, or Bluetooth, and that criminals can use stolen information for scams or resale. Avoid logging into banking or payment services on an untrusted public computer, keep the operating system and applications updated, use strong and unique passwords, and enable device protection before leaving home. Do not click unknown links in text messages or email, and verify new website addresses carefully because malicious addresses may differ from legitimate ones by only a small spelling or logo change. When using Alipay, WeChat Pay, or another payment app, check the recipient, amount, and payment screen before confirming. The official Chinese guide says foreign users can register WeChat, Alipay, or UnionPay apps with a foreign or Chinese mobile number and bind cards carrying Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, American Express, JCB, Diners Club, or Discover logos, but payment limits, card coverage, and charges vary by product. Keep a second payment method and some RMB cash available. Do not share a password, bank-card details, passport image, student ID, or account verification code with an unknown person. If a card is lost, report it to the issuing bank promptly and monitor the account for unauthorised use.

Accommodation and transport require practical checks rather than assumptions. The UK advice recommends checking fire precautions, identifying fire exits, confirming that a fire alarm works, and ensuring exits are not blocked. It also recommends a working carbon-monoxide alarm because incorrectly installed gas equipment has caused deaths. On arrival at a hotel, dormitory, or rental, locate two ways out, identify the building address, and save the property name in Chinese in your phone. For hiking, do not go alone in isolated areas, including on the Great Wall, because weather can change and injuries may occur. Even in a group, leave your route, mobile number, and expected return time with the hotel or another person. To drive in China, you need a Chinese driving licence and valid insurance; driving without them can lead to fines and detention. Traffic accidents are common because of road quality, high traffic volumes, and low driving standards. After a serious crash, call the police, do not move the vehicle until they arrive, and move yourself and passengers to a safe place. Call 120 when there are injuries. Driving under the influence of alcohol can bring harsh penalties, including fines, detention, and imprisonment, even at very low levels. Do not assume that a foreign licence or familiar driving habits are enough.

Weather and health preparation should be adjusted to location and season. Typhoons can affect southern and eastern coastal areas from May through November, and their direction and strength can change with little warning. If a typhoon approaches, identify the accommodation or cruise ship evacuation plan, locate the local shelter, secure your passport in a safe waterproof place, monitor official alerts, keep in contact with family, and ask the airline about current flight information before travelling to the airport. The Smartraveller China advice also warns that tap water may not be safe to drink, so use bottled water with intact seals. Protect yourself from mosquito bites because dengue fever and chikungunya risks exist, stay away from live poultry because bird flu deaths have occurred, and handle poultry properly and cook it thoroughly. Rabies and hand, foot, and mouth disease are common, so take care around wild and domestic animals, wash your hands carefully and regularly, and follow local health advice. High pollution levels can affect major cities; follow local-authority guidance on days with harmful pollution. Before leaving, obtain comprehensive travel insurance that covers planned activities, overseas medical costs, and evacuation. The UK China travel advice says insurance should cover the itinerary, activities, and expenses in an emergency.

Foreign nationals should also understand that legal, employment, commercial, and drug-related problems can become serious quickly. The supplied travel guidance says that many business and employment issues may be treated as criminal matters, and people involved in commercial or civil disputes may face an exit ban until the matter is resolved. Obtain professional legal advice before entering an employment or commercial contract, and research a school or university carefully before accepting a teaching or study-related arrangement. Illegal-drug possession, trafficking, and manufacture carry heavy fines, lengthy prison sentences, or the death penalty. Police may conduct random drug testing on foreign nationals, and a positive result may be prosecuted regardless of when or where the substance was taken. Never carry drugs or an unknown package, and do not accept luggage from another person. Drone possession and use are strictly regulated; contact the Civil Aviation Administration of China before travel for current registration and use rules. If arrested or detained, contact your embassy or consulate as soon as possible, but remember that consular services cannot override Chinese legal procedures. Keep emergency contacts for your own embassy, your university or employer, your insurer, and a trusted local person. U.S. citizens in China can use the U.S. Embassy emergency contacts, but nationals of other countries should save the contact details for their own diplomatic mission.

1. Before arrival, save 110, 119, 120, 122, and 12395; write your Chinese address and a short emergency message in your phone.
2. Within 24 hours of staying outside a hotel, complete residence registration at the local police station with your passport and rental contract or property ownership certificate.
3. Carry your original passport, not only a printed copy, and report a lost passport immediately to the local police station.
4. Check fire exits, alarms, gas equipment, and carbon-monoxide protection when moving into a dormitory, hotel, or rental.
5. Avoid demonstrations, protests, military installations, restricted areas, and unauthorised photography of sensitive sites.
6. Use secure networks for banking, update devices, protect passwords, and verify every payment recipient and QR code before confirming.
7. During the May–November coastal typhoon season, monitor official alerts, identify shelters, waterproof your passport, and confirm transport status.
8. Do not drive without a Chinese driving licence and valid insurance, and call 122 and 120 after a road accident when injuries are present.