Emergency Care in China: What to Do First

If the situation may be serious, do not spend the first hour looking for the perfect English-speaking hospital. Call 120 or go to the nearest emergency department. Language, insurance, and comfort matter, but they come after immediate safety.

When to treat it as urgent

Call 120 or seek emergency care for chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke symptoms, major bleeding, severe allergic reaction, loss of consciousness, serious injury, severe abdominal pain, high fever with confusion or stiff neck, severe dehydration, pregnancy emergency, suicidal thoughts or immediate mental health crisis, or any rapidly worsening condition.

What to say or show first

If you cannot explain in Chinese, show a short message on your phone: I need emergency medical help. Please call 120 and tell them my exact location. Then show the address in Chinese if you have it. A hotel card, map pin, building name, gate number, floor, room number, and nearest entrance can matter more than the English street name.

Prepare an emergency card now, not during the emergency

• Full name, passport number, date of birth, nationality.
• Emergency contact in China and overseas.
• Hotel or home address in Chinese and English.
• Major conditions: diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, pregnancy, cancer treatment, immune suppression, implanted device.
• Medication list and allergies.
• Insurance assistance number and policy number.
• Preferred language and whether you need an interpreter.

At night or on weekends

Ordinary outpatient clinics may be closed. Emergency departments in hospitals are the safer entry point for serious or unclear symptoms. For children, pregnancy, eye trauma, dental trauma, psychiatric crisis, or another specific problem, the first hospital may still need to redirect you, but it is usually better to start with emergency assessment than to wait for a daytime appointment.

Who can help you communicate

Ask hotel reception, apartment management, building security, a Chinese-speaking friend, school staff, employer HR, or a nearby shop worker to call 120 or explain the address. In a hospital, ask for the emergency nurse station, patient service desk, international office if present, or a written instruction you can translate.

After the immediate problem is stable

• Call your insurer or assistance company if you have one.
• Ask what diagnosis and tests were done.
• Keep invoices, itemized bills, prescriptions, and reports.
• Ask whether you need admission, observation, transfer, or outpatient follow-up.
• If you are discharged, ask what warning signs mean you should return immediately.

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Last reviewed: July 13, 2026. Hospital routes, app rules, payment policies, insurance networks, and document counters can change by city and by hospital. Use this page as a practical checklist, then confirm the details with the hospital, insurer, school, employer, or treating doctor before you rely on them.

Medical disclaimer: This site provides practical information only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, treatment advice, legal advice, or insurance advice.