Safety

Need Help in China? Police, 110, 120, 119, and Emergency Numbers

When to call 110, 120, and 119 in China, who to ask for non-emergency help, and how foreigners can get hotel, station, police, and service desk support.

Last updated: May 8, 2026

What you will learn

Use this page as a practical setup guide before you travel and a backup checklist after landing.

China has clear help channels for visitors.
Use hotels, airports, high-speed rail stations, ports, customs areas, malls, and service desks before a problem grows.
Call 110 for police emergencies, 120 for ambulance, and 119 for fire.
Show Chinese addresses, booking pages, map pins, and translation screens.
Build backups so one failed app or payment does not stop your trip.

The short answer

If you need help in China, call 110 for police emergencies, 120 for medical emergencies, and 119 for fire. For non-emergency travel problems, ask hotel staff, airport counters, railway station staff, mall service desks, or nearby police officers.

China is generally safe and welcoming for foreign visitors. Even if you do not speak Chinese, you are not expected to solve every problem alone. Apps, hotels, airports, train stations, metro staff, shopping malls, police officers, and ordinary people can all help you get unstuck.

Many people may not speak much English, but showing a Chinese address, booking page, map location, or translated sentence often works.

For emergencies or situations where you feel unsafe, call 110 for police.
For medical emergencies, call 120.
For fire emergencies, call 119.
For non-emergency travel problems, ask hotel staff, airport staff, railway or high-speed rail station staff, ferry or cruise terminal staff, customs or border inspection staff, mall service desks, or nearby police officers.

China is built with many layers of backup

A first-time visitor often imagines one failure turning into a crisis: the payment app fails, the taxi app is confusing, the driver does not speak English, or the hotel address is hard to explain.

In real travel, one failed path usually does not mean you are stuck. A hotel can help call a car. A station worker can point you to the right gate. A mall service desk can help you find a taxi pickup area. A police officer can help when you are lost, unsafe, or dealing with a serious problem.

Software backup: Alipay, WeChat Pay, Didi, maps, translation, and screenshots.
Infrastructure backup: airports, railway stations, high-speed rail stations, ports, metro systems, hotels, malls, and service desks.
People backup: hotel staff, uniformed workers, police officers, and locals who can read your translated request.
Payment backup: one app, another app if possible, a physical card, and a little cash.

When to call 110

In China, 110 is the police emergency number. It is the number to remember if you feel unsafe, face theft or a serious dispute, are in danger, or need urgent police assistance.

For small travel questions, it is usually better to ask hotel staff, station workers, airport service counters, or a nearby police officer in person first. This keeps emergency lines available while still giving you a clear path to help.

Call 110 if you feel unsafe or are in immediate trouble.
Call 110 for theft, threats, serious disputes, or urgent police help.
Look for police officers or police service points at airports, railway stations, tourist areas, and busy public spaces.
Prepare your location, hotel name, passport name, and a short translated explanation if you can.

Who to ask before it becomes an emergency

Most travel problems are not emergencies. They are practical blocks: you cannot find the pickup point, your payment app fails, you cannot explain an address, or you are unsure which station entrance to use.

Ask early. China has many official or semi-official help points in the places travelers already pass through.

Hotel front desk: taxis, addresses, deliveries, local directions, and language help.
Airport staff and counters: transport, lost items, arrivals, departures, customs-area directions, and official taxi lines.
Railway, high-speed rail, and metro staff: gates, platforms, security checks, ticketing, and exits.
Port, ferry, and cruise terminal staff: boarding areas, arrivals, luggage, transport exits, and local directions.
Customs and border inspection staff: entry, exit, passport, declaration, and port-of-entry questions.
Mall or attraction service desks: location help, taxis, restaurants, and nearby facilities.
Police officers: safety concerns, lost property, disputes, or when you cannot solve the problem through staff.

What to show when language is a problem

You do not need perfect Chinese to get help. You need clear evidence of what you are trying to do. A screen is often easier than a long explanation.

Your hotel name, phone number, and address in Chinese.
A map pin for your destination.
Your train, flight, hotel, restaurant, or attraction booking page.
A translated sentence explaining the problem in simple language.
Your passport when dealing with hotels, police, train stations, or official services.

Simple preparation that lowers stress

The goal is not to avoid every problem. The goal is to make each problem small enough to solve. Do these before you fly or during your first day in China.

Save 110, 120, and 119 in your phone.
Save your hotel address in Chinese and English.
Keep screenshots of bookings and addresses available offline.
Set up payment backups before relying on them.
Keep your phone charged when moving between airports, stations, and hotels.
Choose a convenient first hotel so staff help is nearby while you are learning the local systems.

FAQ

Common questions

Is China safe for foreign tourists?

China is generally safe for foreign visitors, especially in major cities, transport hubs, hotels, shopping malls, and tourist areas. Normal travel judgment still matters: keep documents secure, use official transport, and ask staff or police for help if something feels wrong.

What number should I call for police in China?

Call 110 for police emergencies in China. For medical emergencies call 120, and for fire emergencies call 119.

Can I ask police for help if I am lost?

Yes, nearby police officers or police service points can be useful if you are lost, unsafe, dealing with lost property, or unable to resolve a serious problem. For simple directions, hotel staff, station staff, and service desks are also good first options.

What if people do not speak English?

Show your destination in Chinese, a map pin, a booking page, or a translated sentence. Many people who cannot hold an English conversation can still understand a clear screen and help point you in the right direction.

Sources

Helpful official and payment sources

China National Immigration Administration: service hotline 12367 Shanghai Government: emergency numbers in China TipTipChina: China Travel Starter Kit

Next steps

Turn this guide into a travel plan

China travel gets much easier when you connect each guide to your actual arrival city, payment setup, and first-day route.

Build your China arrival checklist

Start with Alipay, DiDi, maps, hotel addresses, mobile data, emergency numbers, and first-day backups.

Open Start Here

Match the advice to your city

Check what changes in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Chongqing before you book hotels or plan local routes.

Browse city guides

Know 110, 120, 119, and who can help

Save emergency numbers and learn when to ask hotel staff, airport counters, station staff, service desks, or police.

Open help guide

Ask about your exact route

If your situation is specific, share your travel month, cities, and biggest concern so the guide can be improved around real traveler questions.

Ask a local