Medical help in China for visitors: emergency numbers and preparation
Last checked 2026-10-17 · ChinaLocal team
The short answer
For an urgent medical emergency in China, call 120. Call 110 for police assistance and 119 for fire. Give the operator your location and a short description of the emergency.
For a non-emergency health concern, ask your hotel or a local host to help identify a suitable nearby medical facility. Verify the facility’s current address, hours and services directly.
Before travel, check China Customs rules for any medicines you plan to carry and read your own insurance terms. No medicine, clinic, insurance payment method or admission outcome is guaranteed by this guide.
What to do
- Save 120, 110 and 119 in your phone. Keep your hotel name and address in Chinese where you can show or read them aloud.
- If someone needs urgent medical assistance, call 120 or ask staff nearby to call. Give the location, what happened and a callback number if possible.
- For a non-emergency problem, ask your hotel or host to help locate a medical facility, then confirm the address and current service with that facility.
- Before departure, check official China Customs guidance for your exact medicine. Carry it in its original packaging with a prescription or doctor’s note as prudent supporting information; ask Customs about any controlled or unusual product.
- Read your own travel-insurance terms for medical treatment, emergency transport, payment and claims. Keep your insurer’s help number and policy details accessible.
In an emergency
Official Chinese government guidance lists 110 for police, 119 for fire and 120 for medical first aid. For a serious health emergency, call 120 promptly and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. If language is a problem, show your location and ask a nearby staff member to help with the call.
A Chinese-language help card can help explain the situation to staff, but it does not replace an emergency call or a medical assessment. Keep an address that identifies your actual location, not just a city name.
Finding care for a non-emergency
Ask a hotel, host or local staff member to help find a facility appropriate to your needs. Check its official contact details and current hours before travelling. This guide does not recommend an unverified clinic, promise English-language care or claim a facility accepts a particular insurer.
Medicines and insurance before travel
China Customs supervises travelers’ baggage and distinguishes personal use and reasonable quantity from commercial carriage. Some substances are restricted or require special handling; check the rules for your actual product before flying and ask Customs at 12360 if unclear. Original packaging and a prescription or doctor’s note are sensible documents to carry, not a promise of permission to import a medicine.
Your insurance policy may have exclusions, authorisation requirements or a claims procedure. Review the terms for your own plan before leaving, and contact your insurer about a large expense. Do not assume a hospital will bill an overseas insurer directly.
Common problems
Which number should I call for an ambulance?
Call 120 for an urgent medical emergency. Give your precise location and a short account of what happened.
Can I bring my prescription medicine into China?
It depends on the exact medicine and current Customs rules. Check official guidance and ask Customs at 12360 about restricted or controlled substances before travel.
Will a hospital accept my travel insurance?
Do not assume direct billing or coverage. Read your insurer’s terms and ask the facility and insurer about their current payment process.
Where can I find a Chinese phrase to show staff?
Open ChinaLocal’s help cards. They can help communicate, but urgent medical care still needs a call to 120 or on-site medical assistance.
Sources
Last checked 2026-10-17. Follow the official source for live rules and availability.