Emergency Procedures for Foreigners in China: What to Do When Things Go Wrong

Medical emergencies are high-stakes anywhere. In China, they come with an added layer: a language barrier, an unfamiliar hospital system, and payment processes most foreigners have never encountered. This guide gives you concrete steps for the most common emergency scenarios — so you're not figuring it out under pressure.

Before diving in: this article is about emergency logistics, not medical advice. If you're in a life-threatening situation, call 120 first. Read the rest later.

Who This Guide Is For

First-time visitors to China with no local emergency contacts
Travelers who want to plan before they need to
Anyone supporting a family member or colleague who is in China and in trouble

This guide does not apply to expats with full local coverage, or anyone already enrolled in a medical tourism program with dedicated support. If you're in that situation, use your program's emergency line first.

The Three Numbers You Need to Know

| Service | Number | Who to Call | |---|---|---| | Medical emergency (ambulance) | 120 | Chest pain, accident, stroke, sudden collapse | | Police | 110 | Crime, theft, assault, safety threat | | Fire | 119 | Fire, gas leak |

Save all three in your phone before you arrive. Mandarin is the default — have a hotel staff member or local contact on speed dial to interpret if needed.

Local hospital emergency departments are also valid for walk-in emergencies — faster than waiting for an ambulance in many urban areas. Most major hospitals have a 24-hour 急诊 (jí zhěn) ward.

Medical Emergency Procedures: Step by Step

Immediate Response

Call 120 — state your location clearly. If you don't speak Mandarin, stay on the line. Give your hotel name, street address, or nearest landmark. Many operators have basic English or can route to a translator.
If you can't call, ask anyone nearby to call 120 for you. Show them your phone if you've already dialed. The word for emergency is 急救 (jí jiù).
Do not move someone with a neck or spinal injury unless there's immediate danger (fire, flood). Wait for the ambulance.
If you're transporting yourself to the ER: take your passport, insurance card, and any prescription medication you're currently on. Travel light — you may be waiting hours.

At the Emergency Room (急诊)

Chinese hospital ERs work differently from Western ones. Here's what to expect:

Registration first, treatment second. Even for serious (but non-critical) presentations, you'll likely need to register and pay a deposit before full workup begins. At international departments, this is often handled more smoothly.

Bring cash or have Alipay/WeChat Pay ready. Most hospitals require payment at multiple stages — initial deposit, labs, imaging, medication. Credit cards are not widely accepted outside private hospitals. A deposit of ¥500–2,000 is common.

What to say if language is an issue:

Show this text to hospital staff:

我是外国人。我需要帮助。请帮我联系翻译。 (Wǒ shì wàiguó rén. Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù. Qǐng bāng wǒ liánxì fānyì.) "I am a foreigner. I need help. Please help me contact a translator."

Many public hospitals have translation apps or English-speaking nurses on call — especially in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

Who Is a Good Fit for Chinese ERs

Yes, go to a Chinese public hospital ER if:

You have a clear acute condition: broken bone, laceration, severe infection, chest pain
You're in a tier-1 city (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu)
You have international insurance that covers emergency care in China

Consider an international department or private clinic if:

Your condition is serious but not immediately life-threatening
You need English-language communication throughout
You're paying out-of-pocket and want a more predictable process

Do NOT delay going to the ER if you have:

Chest pain or difficulty breathing
Signs of stroke (face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty)
Severe allergic reaction
Unconsciousness or altered mental status
Severe trauma

Who This Doesn't Cover (Bad Fit)

This guide does not help with:

Mental health crises — see your consulate for referral resources; ER is not the right path in most cases
Pre-existing conditions requiring complex coordination — these need planned medical support, not emergency response
Medication emergencies from controlled substances — contact your embassy and local police simultaneously

What Happens After the ER Visit

Most foreigners don't realize the ER is often a starting point, not an endpoint.

After stabilization, you may be:

Admitted to a ward (住院, zhù yuàn)
Referred to a specialist outpatient appointment
Discharged with a prescription and follow-up instructions in Mandarin

Translation of discharge documents: Ask the hospital for an English summary, or photograph all paperwork and use a translation app. Keep every document — you'll need it for insurance claims and follow-up at home.

Notifying your insurer: Do this within 24 hours of any serious ER visit. Most international insurance policies require prompt notification for emergency hospitalization.

Contacting your embassy: Recommended if you're admitted. Your embassy can provide a list of local emergency contacts, legal resources, and — in extreme cases — coordinate emergency repatriation.

Non-Medical Emergencies

Theft or Crime (110)

Call 110 immediately
Go to the nearest police station (派出所, pàichū suǒ) to file a report
You'll need the police report for insurance claims and to replace documents
Your consulate can help with emergency passport replacement

Lost Passport

Contact your consulate or embassy first — not the police
Police can provide a document stating the passport was lost (useful for insurance), but your embassy issues the replacement
Carry digital copies of your passport on your phone and email; it significantly speeds up the replacement process

Embassy / Consulate Emergency Lines

Most embassies in China maintain a 24-hour emergency line for citizens abroad. Find yours before you travel and save it in your phone:

US Embassy Beijing: +86-10-8531-4000 (ask for emergency duty officer after hours)
UK Embassy Beijing: +86-10-5192-4000
Canadian Embassy Beijing: +86-10-5139-4000
Australian Embassy Beijing: +86-10-5140-4111

Check your specific embassy's website for current numbers before traveling — these can change.

Practical Pre-Trip Checklist

Before leaving for China, take 30 minutes to do this:

[ ] Save 120, 110, 119 in your phone contacts
[ ] Save your hotel's address in Chinese characters (ask the hotel for a card)
[ ] Save your embassy's emergency line
[ ] Photograph your passport main page, visa, and insurance card — upload to email
[ ] Note your blood type, allergies, and current medications on your phone in English and Chinese (translation apps work)
[ ] Confirm your insurance covers emergency care in China; know your policy number and insurer's 24-hour line

Where ChinaEasey Fits

If you're planning a medical trip to China — not handling a sudden emergency — that's where ChinaEasey's pre-trip coordination support applies. We help you plan the workup, coordinate hospital access, and handle translation and logistics before you're in a high-pressure situation.

Emergency response is different. It happens in real time and requires local emergency services, not coordination agencies. That's why the answer to "what should I do if something goes wrong on the ground?" is: call 120 first, then sort the rest.

For pre-planned medical trips, see how we coordinate hospital access and logistics →