What to prepare
- Your hotel’s Chinese address and a nearby landmark
- A working way to make voice calls, not only mobile data
- Your insurer’s assistance number and relevant personal medical information
- Your embassy or consulate’s official contact details, stored privately
Call the service for the immediate danger
Use 110 for urgent police help, 119 for fire or rescue emergencies, and 120 for urgent medical help. If there is immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency service instead of spending time searching travel websites.
Sources: Shanghai Municipal Government
Say where you are, then what happened
Give the city, street address, building or entrance and a recognizable landmark. Show nearby staff the Chinese address if you need help communicating. A hotel name in English may not identify the correct branch.
Describe the situation plainly and answer the operator’s questions. Keep the line available for a callback and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Ask for English, but do not assume the same language service is available everywhere.
Use these phrases to ask for help
“我需要帮助。” means “I need help.” “请叫救护车。” means “Please call an ambulance.” Show the screen to someone nearby if speaking is difficult.
For location: “我的位置是……” means “My location is …”. Fill the gap with the actual Chinese address or show a saved map. A translation is a communication aid, not a substitute for a dispatcher or clinician.
Use NIA 12367 for immigration questions
NIA 12367 offers English immigration-service guidance and other language support. Use it for questions about entry, stay or accommodation registration. For a lost passport, contact the local authorities and your embassy or consulate about the documents and next steps you need.
Sources: National Immigration Administration
Prepare information without exposing it publicly
Keep an offline note with your hotel address, trusted contact and insurer’s assistance details. Store sensitive passport or medical information securely; do not upload it to a public travel page.
If someone is helping you call, make sure they have the current location rather than the location of an earlier stop. Recheck your saved address each time you change accommodation.
If something goes wrong
- If your phone cannot place a call, ask nearby hotel, station, airport or shop staff to use a working phone.
- If language is a barrier, show the address and assistance phrase to someone nearby while seeking emergency help.
- Follow emergency responders’ instructions; contact your insurer after urgent help is underway, not instead of it.
Important boundaries
- Do not place test calls to emergency numbers.
- Language availability and call routing vary. Data-only travel plans may not support normal voice calls.
- This guide gives contact orientation, not diagnosis, treatment or legal advice.
Common questions
Can I use 12367 for a medical emergency?
No. Call 120 for a medical emergency. NIA 12367 is for immigration-service guidance.
Will an operator speak English?
Some local services provide English, and NIA 12367 documents English support. Do not assume universal local availability; ask nearby staff for help if needed.
Official sources & review
Source material reviewed on . These are source checks, not a claim of first-hand testing. Check the linked authority or provider for changes before acting.
- What to do in an emergency Shanghai Municipal Government
- 12367 immigration hotline and language services National Immigration Administration