Calling for Help in China: 110, Emergency Numbers & Street Help
110 Police β’ 120 Ambulance β’ The 10-Language 12345 Line β’ Neighborhood Stations
In China, emergency services are split across dedicated direct numbers rather than routed through a single dispatch center. When in doubt, dial 110 for police or 12345 for multilingual government assistance. Here is how the system functions on the ground.
1. The Number Board (Memorize 110, Note the Rest)
| Number | Service | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Police | Crimes, scams, disputes, lost passport, feeling threatened. When in doubt, dial this β they reroute miscalls. |
| 120 | Medical ambulance | Medical emergencies only. Ambulances are a paid service (typically tens to a couple hundred RMB). |
| 119 | Fire | Fires and rescue. |
| 122 | Traffic accidents | Road collisions β dispatches traffic police who determine fault on the spot. |
| 12110 | Police by SMS | Text-based version of 110 for when you cannot safely speak aloud. |
| 12367 | Immigration service | Visa and entry-exit questions β the National Immigration Administration's own hotline. |
| 12345 | Citizen services (non-emergency) | The hidden gem: complaints, referrals, "who do I ask about X" β staffed in 10 languages including English, Japanese, French, Spanish, and Russian. |
2. How the Police Actually Operate in China
In China, the cultural motto is literally "ζε°ιΎοΌζΎθ¦ε―" (If you have any trouble, find the police). Chinese police functions more like an all-purpose community service desk than strict law enforcement. Feel completely free to approach them:
- Locals Ask Them for Almost Anything: Chinese citizens routinely ask police for street directions, tracking down lost phones, retrieving keys dropped down drains, or sorting out loud neighbors. Do not hesitate to approach an officer if you are lost, confused, or need assistance.
- 24/7 Neighborhood Stations Everywhere: Every few blocks has a local police station (ζ΄ΎεΊζ - Paichusuo) or a street-side blue-and-white police kiosk. Walk in anytime to report lost property, get a stolen passport certificate, or charge a dead phone.
- Mediation Over Arrests: For everyday disputes (a taxi fare disagreement, a vendor argument, or a minor traffic bump), police arrive within minutes to act as calm, on-the-spot mediators to settle a fair price or handshake, rather than throwing people in handcuffs.
- 100% Free Service: Never tip or pay a police officer. Official reports and street assistance cost strictly zero RMB.
3. Real Scenarios Travelers Actually Hit
- Scammed or strong-armed (the tea house trap, a rigged meter): pull out your phone and visibly dial 110. Extortion operations know exactly what that means and usually collapse on the spot. The full playbook is in our scams guide.
- Passport lost or stolen: report to police (call 110 or visit any station) and get the official loss report receipt β your embassy will not issue a replacement without it. Then book the earliest consulate appointment. Carry phone photos of your passport page everywhere, as covered in our entry rules guide.
- Phone or wallet left in a taxi/metro: report it. Between station cameras and the dense street network, recovery rates for lost items are far better than most travelers expect β station staff routinely trace a forgotten bag within hours.
- Lost with a dead phone: walk to any street police kiosk or subway station booth, or show our Lost Help flashcard to a passerby.
4. What to Say When You Dial
You don't need fluent Mandarin. Lead with location, then let the system work:
- Say: "QΗng shuΕ YΔ«ngyΗ" (θ―·θ―΄θ±θ― β "Please speak English") β in major cities, 110 connects English-speaking operators or a translator to the line.
- Give an address landmark: hotel name, a metro station, or a big-brand store nearby β dispatchers geolocate faster from landmarks than street numbers.
- Non-urgent question? Skip 110 and call 12345 β the multilingual service line built exactly for "who do I ask about this?"