Coming to China
Health, safety & emergencies
Emergency numbers — save these now
Save 110 (police), 120 (medical ambulance), 119 (fire) and 122 (traffic accidents). Whether a device without a SIM or local service can connect depends on the device, network and location. If your phone cannot connect, ask nearby staff or another person to call immediately. Save the current contact details of your own embassy or consulate in China before departure. China's 12367 platform provides immigration-policy information and services; it does not replace the police, ambulance service or your embassy in an emergency.
| Number | Service | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| 110 | Police | Theft, crime, personal safety — also the first call if you are unsure which number to use |
| 120 | Medical ambulance | Medical emergencies; dispatches the nearest appropriate hospital |
| 119 | Fire brigade | Fire, gas leaks; also performs some rescue operations |
| 122 | Traffic police | Road accidents and vehicle incidents |
| 12308 | Consular emergency (MOFA) | Helps locate your own country's embassy or consulate in China |
Foreign-language service varies by region and call conditions. Lead with the city, an exact address, a nearby landmark and the type of emergency; ask staff on the spot to help if communication stalls, and keep your location in Chinese ready.
Pharmacies, hospitals, and paying upfront
Care options and language support vary by city, hospital, department and time. Public hospitals normally require registration, and some major hospitals have international or VIP departments. Private international facilities may offer more foreign-language support. For non-emergency care, ask your insurer, accommodation or embassy for a suitable facility. In an emergency, do not delay treatment while searching for an English-speaking hospital. You may need to pay first — keep bills, records and prescriptions for insurance, and travel insurance matched to your trip is recommended.
Care may require upfront payment — keep bills, medical records and prescriptions for reimbursement. Travel insurance suited to your itinerary is recommended; for non-emergency visits, ask your insurer which facility to use.
Bringing medicine: check ingredients and documents
Medicine-entry rules depend on the active ingredient, formulation, quantity and documentation. Do not rely only on a brand-name list or stop prescribed treatment without medical advice. For stimulants, codeine-containing medicines, pseudoephedrine products and other controlled ingredients, confirm the rule with Chinese customs and the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate before travel. Keep permitted medicines in original packaging, carry a prescription or doctor's letter, and bring a reasonable personal-use quantity. Avoid cannabis and CBD products unless an authoritative source has confirmed that the exact product is lawful.
The test is the active ingredient, formulation, quantity and documentation — not the brand. Confirm controlled ingredients with Chinese customs and the relevant embassy before travel; keep permitted medicines in original packaging with a prescription or doctor's letter.
Air quality: what to expect and how to protect yourself
Air quality varies by place, season and day. Check current local readings and public-health guidance. On poor-air days, or if you feel unwell, reduce strenuous outdoor activity. A well-fitting, standards-compliant N95 or KN95 particulate respirator can reduce exposure to fine particles, but it does not remove every pollutant and must be worn correctly.
Check current local air-quality readings and public-health advice; cut strenuous outdoor activity on poor-air days. A standards-compliant, well-fitting N95/KN95 reduces fine-particle exposure but must be worn correctly.
Common risks in tourist areasis rare
In busy tourist areas, airports and stations, be cautious about unsolicited invitations, services without a price agreed in advance, unofficial vehicles, payment QR codes and informal currency exchange. Confirm prices before accepting a service, use official taxi queues or app-recorded rides, check the payee and amount before payment, and never share payment passwords, verification codes or screen-control access. If you feel threatened, move to a staffed public place and call 110.
- Tea-house / art-show invitations: can be a pricing trap — confirm who pays and where before accepting
- Unofficial vehicles: use official taxi queues or app-recorded rides
- Aggressive donation requests: decline politely and walk away
- Check the payee and amount before paying; never share passwords, codes or screen control
- Black taxis (黑车): drivers who approach you at airports, train stations, or tourist sites offering rides — always use DiDi or a metered official taxi; never get into an unmarked car
- Fake monks: robed individuals who approach you and hand you 'blessed' beads or trinkets, then demand payment or aggressively solicit donations
- Counterfeit money swap: someone offers a cash exchange and switches genuine notes for fakes during the handoff — always use Alipay or WeChat Pay for large transactions
Policy Policies change often — re-check the official source before you travel.