Save four numbers: 110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire and rescue, and 122 for traffic accidents[1][2][3][4]. China has no single emergency number, so keep the set together on one screenshot.
It is frightening to think about a parent falling ill in a country where you cannot read the signs. A card in your wallet takes that fear down a notch.
Which numbers should you save?
The Beijing government lists these four.
- Police: 110[1].
- Ambulance and medical emergency: 120[2].
- Fire and rescue: 119[3].
- Traffic accident: 122[4].
China has no single 911-style number, and operators mostly speak Mandarin[5]. If you can, ask a hotel desk or a Mandarin-speaking friend to make the call, or have a translation tool open before you dial. Our translation apps guide shows how to set one up offline.
Who can you call in the Malaysian missions?
The Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing can be reached on (86-10) 6532-2531, 6532-2532 or 6532-2533[6]. It lists an after-hours emergency line of (86) 13718942581 and office hours of Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm[7].
If you are in Yunnan, the Consulate General in Kunming is on +86 871 6316 5088, with an after-hours line of +86 197 1166 4043[8]. Other consulates are listed on the Wisma Putra website, so check the one nearest your route.
Registering on e-Konsular is voluntary, but Malaysians travelling abroad are encouraged to do it[9]. It helps the missions contact citizens in a crisis[10].
What health phrases should you carry?
Show the Chinese on your phone, or say the pinyin aloud.
| English | Chinese | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| I feel unwell | 我不舒服 | wo bu shufu |
| I need a doctor | 我需要医生 | wo xuyao yisheng |
| Please call an ambulance | 请叫救护车 | qing jiao jiuhuche |
| I am allergic to this | 我对这个过敏 | wo dui zhege guomin |
| I have heart trouble | 我有心脏病 | wo you xinzangbing |
| Where is the hospital? | 医院在哪里？ | yiyuan zai nali |
Add your own medicines and conditions to the same card. Pair it with a Chinese food allergy card and a bilingual hotel and transfer sheet.
What if you are somewhere remote?
Signal can vanish in mountain areas, so tell your hotel where you are going and when you expect to return. Read about mobile signal in remote Yunnan and Sichuan before you plan a day away from the city.
Check how your phone will get data, using the eSIM, roaming and local SIM guide. Browse the preparation topic page for the rest of the checklist.