🆘 The Emergency Contacts Reference
Plain English
Print or screenshot police, ambulance, embassy, and your hotel address before you need them.
Share the card with family traveling with you.
Scope: national
请帮我叫救护车
qǐng bāng wǒ jiào jiùhùchē
Please call an ambulance for me.
TL;DR: Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · NIA 12367. Carry a paper hotel card with the Chinese address. Faster print: repo print-pack.html.
Prerequisites:
- Physical printout or laminated card (phone battery dies)
- Hotel front-desk card the moment you check in
- Passport for hospital / police procedures
- Embassy/consulate numbers verified on official sites before the trip
Problem
In a real emergency your English, apps, and battery all degrade. A one-page card with numbers + Chinese address is the lowest-tech fix that still works.
📋 The Runbook
1. Save the critical numbers
| Service | Number | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| Police | 110 | Stay on the line. Say “English, please.” |
| Ambulance | 120 | State location; use Alipay/WeChat translation if needed |
| Fire | 119 | Active fire/rescue only |
| NIA hotline | 12367 | 24/7 visa/entry English support |
2. Pin embassy / consulate (Shanghai examples)
[!WARNING] Numbers and addresses change. Verify on official consulate sites before travel.
| Country | Phone | Area (Shanghai) | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 021-8011-2200 | Huaihai Middle Rd 1469 | shanghai.usconsulate.gov |
| UK | 021-3279-2000 | Nanjing West Rd 968 | gov.uk/world/china |
| Canada | 021-3279-2800 | Nanjing West Rd 1788 | shanghai.gc.ca |
| Australia | 021-2215-5200 | Fuxing Middle Rd 1376 | china.embassy.gov.au |
| Germany | 021-3401-0106 | Yongfu Rd 181 | china.diplo.de |
3. Build the physical card
- Print print-pack.html or write: 110 / 120 / embassy / hotel Chinese address / your name + passport number.
- Put one copy in wallet, one in each adult’s bag, one in stroller if traveling with kids.
- Star consulate + hotel in your map app offline.
4. Survival phrases (say or show)
| Phrase | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | 救命！ | Jiù mìng! |
| I’m lost. | 我迷路了。 | Wǒ mílù le. |
| I’m allergic. | 我过敏。 | Wǒ guòmǐn. |
| Call the police. | 我要报警。 | Wǒ yào bàojǐng. |
| Take me to… | 请带我去… | Qǐng dài wǒ qù… |
5. Verification
- You can dial 110/120 without unlocking obscure menus
- Hotel card is paper, not only a phone screenshot
- Family members each have a copy
🚨 Fallback (Plan B)
Phone dead and you need help
- 5-star hotel lobby (Marriott / Hyatt / etc.) — concierge is trained for foreigner emergencies and charging.
- Police kiosk / booth near metro exits or major junctions.
- Show hotel card to a passerby and say Help / 帮帮我 — people usually assist when distress is obvious.
Battery critical (under 10%)
Treat as incident: stop non-essential apps → charge at café/hotel → do not start a long DiDi ride until above 20%.
💡 TechDad’s Tips
- Save 12367 as “China Visa Support” in contacts.
- Phone album EMERGENCY: passport, visa, insurance PDF screenshots.
- Phone = wallet + map + ID; below 10% you are already in Plan B territory.
| Last Updated: Jul 21, 2026 | Author: TechDadShanghai |