Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119, traffic accidents 122 - China has no single emergency number. Call 120 rather than the Red Cross line 999 that Beijing also runs, because 120 is the state service and covers the whole country.
- Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119, traffic accidents 122 - there is no single emergency number.
- English on those lines is patchy; a Chinese speaker making the call helps.
- Beijing 24h emergency care: Beijing United Family Hospital, +86 10 5927 7120 (2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang).
- Peking Union Medical College Hospital international department: +86 10 6915 5288 (53 Dongdan North Road).
- Hospitals require payment before treatment at every step - have a card or Alipay ready.
- Keep the Fapiao (发票) receipt with the hospital's red stamp for the insurance claim.
Emergency numbers
China has no single 112 or 911 line - the service you need decides the number. For an ambulance call 120: it is the state emergency medical service and covers the whole country. Beijing also runs a Red Cross line on 999, but 120 is the one to dial first.
| Service | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Police | 110 | Crime, danger, anything requiring an officer. |
| Ambulance | 120 | The national emergency medical service. |
| Fire brigade | 119 | Fires, gas leaks, technical rescue. |
| Traffic accidents | 122 | Road accidents; call 120 as well if anyone is hurt. |
| Directory assistance | 114 |
English on the emergency lines is not reliable. If you can, have someone Chinese-speaking make the call, or use the international department of a hospital directly.
Paying for treatment
Chinese hospitals charge before they treat. You pay the registration fee, then pay for tests before they are run, and for medicine before it is dispensed. Keep the itemised list and the red-stamped Fapiao (发票) receipt - without it your insurer will not reimburse you.
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