Emergency numbers and when to call each service in China
Emergency numbers in China and when to call each service
In China, the main emergency numbers are 110 for police, 120 for ambulances and medical emergencies, 119 for fire and rescue, 122 for traffic accidents, and 12110 for police SMS alarms. Emergency calls are free of charge in China, and the most important step is to state the location and the type of emergency clearly and calmly.
Main emergency numbers
- 110 for Police: Call for crimes such as theft, assault, robbery, public order issues, and any immediate police assistance needed. Suitable for reporting dangerous situations or needing help in emergencies.
- 120 for Ambulance/Medical Emergency: Call when someone is seriously ill, injured, or requires urgent medical attention or ambulance transport.
- 119 for Fire and Rescue: Call if there is a fire, gas leak, or any emergency requiring fire department assistance or rescue services.
- 122 for Traffic Accident Reports: Call to report traffic accidents so the traffic police can assist at the scene.
- 12110 for Police SMS Alarm: For those who have difficulties calling or need to send a text to the police (e.g., deaf or mute).
These numbers are used for different response systems, so choosing the correct one can save time in an emergency. A traffic collision with injuries can involve more than one service, but 122 is the number for the road incident itself, while 120 is needed if medical help is required.
When to call each number
- Call 110 if there is a crime in progress, a credible threat, domestic violence, a suspicious person who poses immediate danger, or any situation where police presence is needed right away.
- Call 120 for chest pain, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulty, stroke symptoms, major burns, fractures with serious deformity, or any injury that could become life-threatening without rapid treatment.
- Call 119 if there is visible fire, smoke from a building or vehicle, a gas leak, trapped people, or a rescue situation that requires fire service equipment.
- Call 122 after a road accident, especially when vehicles are blocking traffic, there are disputes about responsibility, or traffic police need to document the scene.
- Use 12110 when spoken communication is difficult or impossible and a text message is the safest way to alert the police.
A simple rule helps in practice: crime = 110, medical emergency = 120, fire or rescue = 119, traffic accident = 122. In mixed emergencies, it is common to need more than one number, starting with the service that can provide the fastest life-saving response.
What to say when calling
Emergency operators need a few concrete details first:
- Exact location: city, district, street, building name, floor, room number, or a nearby landmark
- What happened: fire, injury, assault, collapse, crash, gas smell, and so on
- How many people are involved
- Whether anyone is unconscious, bleeding heavily, or trapped
- Your phone number in case the operator needs to call back
Short, direct sentences are best. In Chinese, many callers use simple phrases such as:
- 我需要警察。 — I need police.
- 这里有人受伤。 — Someone is injured here.
- 请尽快派救护车。 — Please send an ambulance as soon as possible.
- 这里着火了。 — There is a fire here.
- 有煤气泄漏。 — There is a gas leak.
Clear pronunciation matters, especially for addresses and floor numbers, so listening practice and spoken rehearsal are useful for learners who may need to explain an emergency location under stress. Active conversation practice is particularly effective for building that kind of fast, automatic recall.
Practical language points for travelers and residents
Emergency language in China is often concise and action-oriented. The most useful words are usually the location, the danger, and the request:
- 救命 — help, save a life
- 医院 — hospital
- 警察 — police
- 救护车 — ambulance
- 火警 — fire emergency
- 车祸 — car accident
- 受伤 — injured
- 失火 — on fire
- 煤气泄漏 — gas leak
For non-native speakers, it helps to memorize one sentence for each service instead of trying to build a long explanation in the moment. For example, “我在XX路XX号，有人受伤，请叫救护车” is enough to identify the place and the need for an ambulance.
Common mistakes
A frequent mistake is calling the wrong service first. A serious crash with no injuries may need 122, while a crash with injuries needs 120 as well. Another common mistake is giving a vague location such as “near the station” without a street name, building, or landmark, which slows response time.
Another pitfall is assuming one number handles everything. In China, emergency services are divided by function, so a fire scene should go to 119 even if police also need to come later. For medical issues, 120 is the ambulance line, not 110.
Additional useful numbers
- 114 for telephone inquiries and directory assistance
- 12395 for maritime search and rescue emergencies
These numbers are less universal in everyday use than the four main emergency lines, but they are useful in specific situations or for locating services and contacts.
Quick reference
- 110 — police, crime, threats, urgent public safety issues
- 120 — ambulance, serious illness, severe injury, urgent medical help
- 119 — fire, gas leak, rescue
- 122 — traffic accident, traffic police
- 12110 — police SMS alarm
Knowing these numbers in advance can make a critical difference when seconds matter.