# Emergency care in China: what to do in the first hour

> In mainland China, call **120** for an ambulance. If the patient can travel safely, a taxi or ride-hail car to the nearest large hospital's emergency department (急诊, jízhěn) is often faster. Bring the patient's passport and a way to pay, because public hospitals usually ask for payment before each test or treatment.

- Canonical URL: https://chinahealthcareinfo.com/guides/emergency-care-in-china/
- Topic: Emergency
- Published: 2026-10-01 · Last updated: 2026-10-01 · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01
- Publisher: China Healthcare Info (https://chinahealthcareinfo.com)

## Key facts

- Ambulance (mainland China): **120**. Police: 110. Fire: 119. Traffic accidents: 122.
- Hong Kong and Macau use **999** for emergencies, not 120.
- Emergency departments are labelled **急诊** (jízhěn) and are open 24 hours at large public hospitals.
- Registration needs the patient's **passport**; a photo of it helps if the original is elsewhere.
- Public hospitals usually take payment step by step — registration, then each test, then medicines — and may ask for a deposit before admission.
- 120 dispatchers mainly speak Mandarin. Have the address ready in Chinese characters.

## Call 120, or go yourself

**Call 120** when the person can't be moved safely: suspected heart attack or stroke, serious injury, unconsciousness, severe breathing difficulty, or heavy bleeding. Stay on the line and give the address first — dispatchers need the location before anything else.

**Go by taxi or ride-hail** when the patient can sit up and travel. In big cities this is often quicker than waiting for an ambulance. Ask the driver for the nearest large hospital's emergency department:

| English | 中文 (show to staff) | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Please take me to the nearest hospital emergency department. | 请带我去最近的医院急诊。 | Qǐng dài wǒ qù zuìjìn de yīyuàn jízhěn. |
| Please call an ambulance. | 请叫救护车！ | Qǐng jiào jiùhùchē! |


In Beijing, the Red Cross emergency centre also runs ambulances on **999**. Outside the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau use **999** as the general emergency number.

## What to have ready

- **Passport** (or a clear photo of it). Hospitals register patients by ID.
- **A phone that can pay**: Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card, or the hospital's own payment mini-program.
- **Some cash in RMB**, as a fallback if a payment fails.
- **The address in Chinese** — copy it from a map app or your hotel booking.
- **A list of medicines, allergies and conditions**, ideally with the Chinese translation. The [hospital Chinese guide](https://chinahealthcareinfo.com/guides/hospital-chinese-phrases/) has phrases you can show.
- **Your insurer's 24-hour assistance number**, if you have travel or international health insurance.

## What happens at the emergency department

Large public hospitals run a separate emergency department (**急诊**) that stays open around the clock. The usual sequence is:

1. **Triage (预检分诊)**: a nurse checks how urgent the case is. Serious cases are seen first.
2. **Registration (挂号)**: show the passport and pay a small registration fee.
3. **Doctor's assessment**: the doctor orders tests such as blood work, an ECG or a CT scan.
4. **Pay, then test**: in many public hospitals you pay for each test before it is done, at a counter, a kiosk or by scanning a QR code.
5. **Treatment or admission**: if you are admitted, the hospital usually asks for an inpatient deposit (住院押金).

> **Important:** If someone is critically ill, say so clearly — "这是紧急情况" (zhè shì jǐnjí qíngkuàng, "this is an emergency") — so they are triaged as urgent. Don't wait in the general registration line.


## Public or international hospital?

| | Public Grade 3A hospital (三甲医院) | International / private hospital |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency capacity | Full emergency department, specialists on site | Varies; some have full emergency care, some are clinics |
| Language | Mainly Mandarin | English-speaking staff |
| Cost | Lower | Several times higher |
| Insurance | Usually pay first, claim later | Often direct billing with international insurers |
| Best for | Life-threatening emergencies | Urgent but stable problems, follow-up care |

For a life-threatening emergency, the nearest capable hospital matters more than language. Once the patient is stable, many foreigners transfer follow-up care to an international department or private hospital.

## After the emergency

- Ask for **copies of everything**: the medical record (病历), test reports, the diagnosis certificate (诊断证明) and official invoices (发票). Insurers usually need them; see [paying for healthcare in China](https://chinahealthcareinfo.com/guides/paying-for-healthcare-in-china/).
- If you'll stay longer than your visa or visa-free period allows because of treatment, contact the local **Exit-Entry Administration** early. See [visas and entry for medical travel](https://chinahealthcareinfo.com/guides/china-visa-and-entry-for-medical-travel/).
- For serious incidents, your **embassy or consulate** can help contact family and may provide lists of English-speaking doctors.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do 120 operators speak English?

Sometimes, but don't count on it. Dispatchers mainly speak Mandarin, and English support varies by city and shift. Ask a hotel receptionist, shopkeeper or anyone nearby to make the call, or read the address aloud in Chinese. A pin shared in a Chinese map app helps the ambulance find you.

### Can I choose which hospital the ambulance takes me to?

Public 120 ambulances normally take patients to the nearest suitable hospital, and you may not get a choice. If you want a specific private or international hospital and the situation is not life-threatening, many of those hospitals run their own emergency lines or you can travel there by taxi.

### Will a hospital treat me if I can't pay straight away?

Hospitals are expected to provide emergency treatment to critically ill patients, but you should expect to be asked for payment or a deposit as soon as possible. Having Alipay or WeChat Pay set up with a foreign card, plus some cash, avoids most delays.

### Should I go to a public hospital or an international hospital in an emergency?

For anything life-threatening, go to the nearest large hospital — usually a public Grade 3A (三甲) hospital with a full emergency department. International private hospitals are easier for language and insurance, but not every one has the capacity of a major public emergency department.

## Sources

- [Medical care in 2026 for foreigners in China](https://www.hiredchina.com/articles/foreigners-in-china-healthcare-guide/)
- [Hospital payment methods in China: a 2026 practical guide for international patients](https://www.medicaltravelchina.org/hospital-payment-methods-in-china/)

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Disclaimer: General information, not medical advice. In a medical emergency in mainland China call 120. Rules and prices change; confirm with the hospital, your insurer or the nearest Chinese embassy. Source page: https://chinahealthcareinfo.com/guides/emergency-care-in-china/