Understand the journey
What this looks like on a real trip
Health preparation is easiest while you are still at home. An insurer's assistance line, medicine documentation and a saved address become much harder to find during an emergency.
Emergency numbers below apply to mainland China. Insurance coverage and medicine import rules depend on your policy and the exact drug; verify those details with the insurer and relevant Chinese authority. For immediate danger, seek local help first.
At a glance · editorial diagram
Who to call in mainland China
Save these numbers with your hotel address in Chinese and your insurance assistance contact.
- 01
120 · Ambulance
For a medical emergency; give your exact location and ask hotel or station staff to help if language is a barrier.
- 02
110 · Police
For immediate safety concerns or a crime in progress.
- 03
119 · Fire
For fire; move to safety and follow local emergency instructions.
The short answer
What should I prepare in case I get sick or need help?
Buy travel insurance that fits your medical needs, carry prescribed medicine in its original packaging with documentation, and check any controlled medication with the relevant Chinese authorities before travel. Save emergency numbers and your insurer's assistance line. In mainland China, call 120 for an ambulance, 110 for police, 119 for fire, and 122 for traffic accidents.
See official emergency and assistance informationBefore you go
- Review insurance cover for medical care, evacuation and activities you plan to do; save the policy and assistance number offline.
- Ask your clinician about your medicines, carry a prescription or doctor letter, and confirm entry rules for restricted drugs with the Chinese embassy or customs authority.
- Save your hotel address, nearest hospital location and embassy/consulate contact.
- Share your route and check-in plan with someone you trust.
Choose the relevant path
Which situation fits your trip?
A serious medical emergency
- If
- Someone is unconscious, struggling to breathe, severely injured or otherwise needs urgent care.
- Do this
- Call 120 for an ambulance. Give a Chinese address or landmark, then tell your insurer as soon as practical.
- Watch for
- Do not delay emergency help while comparing hospital reviews or checking insurance fine print.
Ill but stable
- If
- You need a clinician but it is not an immediate emergency.
- Do this
- Ask your insurer for its recommended facility and payment process; ask your hotel to help with the location or translation if needed.
- Watch for
- Healthcare is not free for visitors. Keep receipts, diagnosis and prescriptions for the claim.
Medicine or passport problem
- If
- A prescription medicine may be restricted, runs out, or your passport is lost.
- Do this
- Before travel, confirm medicine legality with the Chinese embassy and your clinician. In China, seek a qualified clinician for medicine issues; for a lost passport, contact police and your embassy or consulate.
- Watch for
- Do not substitute an unknown medicine or assume an overseas prescription can be filled unchanged.
Follow the steps
Practical playbooks
01
Prepare your health and emergency file
Do this well before a trip with a chronic condition, pregnancy or demanding activity.
- 1.Check current travel-health recommendations for your destinations with a qualified travel clinic; health risks vary across China's regions and seasons.
- 2.Choose insurance covering your medical needs, activities, evacuation and repatriation. Read the exclusions and how to obtain approval for care.
- 3.Carry prescription medicines in original packaging with the prescription or doctor letter; ask the Chinese embassy whether any ingredient or quantity needs special permission.
- 4.Save the insurer's 24-hour line, policy number, hotel Chinese address and your embassy contact offline. Make sure a trusted person can find them if you cannot.
02
Respond to a medical problem
Use this sequence when you or a companion becomes unwell.
- 1.For immediate danger call 120. For a stable problem, call your insurer's assistance line and ask for an appropriate hospital or clinic and whether it can arrange payment.
- 2.Show the hotel or responder the Chinese address of your location. Use a translation app for symptoms but tell clinicians your allergies and medicines clearly.
- 3.Keep the hospital receipt, diagnosis, test results, prescriptions and discharge notes. If you pay up front, ask for an itemized bill.
- 4.Contact the insurer again if you are referred onward, admitted or advised to change flights. Follow the insurer's claims instructions.
03
Handle theft, a scam or a lost document
Useful at a crowded attraction, station or after a payment dispute.
- 1.Move to a safe staffed place; for an active threat call 110. If a card is missing, freeze it through your bank before investigating charges.
- 2.For passport loss, make a police report, contact your embassy or consulate for a replacement travel document, and ask local exit-entry officials about the document needed for onward travel.
- 3.Keep copies of the police report, booking changes and card transactions. If a payment was disputed, contact the payment provider and issuer using official channels.
- 4.If a friendly stranger pressures you into an expensive tea, massage or bar visit, leave before agreeing to an unknown price; ask police for help if threatened.
More practical detail
Water, food, air and hospitals
Most health problems on a short trip are ordinary. Prepare for the common ones first.
- Drinking water
- Do not drink untreated tap water. Use bottled or boiled water, including for brushing teeth if you are unsure about the supply.
- Food
- Busy restaurants with high turnover are a reasonable default. Be cautious with raw or room-temperature food in hot weather.
- Air quality
- Winter air quality varies by city and day. Check a current AQI and move intense outdoor plans if conditions are poor.
- Hospitals
- International clinics usually cost more but may have English support. Call your insurer before non-emergency care and keep itemized receipts.
- Altitude
- Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai. Ascend gradually, avoid alcohol at altitude and seek medical help for severe symptoms.
Show this when words are difficult
Save the relevant line with your address or booking. Show the Chinese text to staff rather than relying on pronunciation.
Medical help
请帮我叫救护车。我的地址是这里。
Please call an ambulance. This is my location.
Allergy
我对这个过敏，请帮我确认食物里有没有。
I am allergic to this; please check whether the food contains it.
If things go wrong
- In an immediate emergency, call the relevant local emergency number first; then contact your insurer or embassy as appropriate.
- If a medicine is lost, seek a qualified local clinician or pharmacist rather than buying an unverified substitute.
Common questions
What is the ambulance number in China?
In mainland China, dial 120. The police number is 110 and the fire number is 119.
Can I bring my prescription medicine?
Many travelers do, but specific medicines can be controlled or restricted. Check the rules for your medicine before travel and carry supporting documents.
Is tap water safe to drink?
Tap water is generally not considered safe to drink untreated in mainland China. Use bottled or boiled water, including when brushing your teeth if you are unsure about the supply.
Do I need travel insurance for China?
It is not a blanket legal requirement for short tourist visits, but it is strongly recommended. Healthcare is not free for visitors; check that your policy covers treatment, evacuation and any activities you plan to do.
Sources & review
Reviewed on 18 October 2026. Rules, services and local operating details can change. Check the linked authority or venue again close to travel.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: China health
Medical care, insurance and medicine checks.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: getting help
Mainland emergency numbers and assistance.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: safety and security
Scams, taxis and personal safety.
- State Council: guide to working and living in China
Official visitor services and emergency contacts.