China is safer than most Western countries for tourists — violent crime is rare and you can walk anywhere in any major city at 2am. The real risks are traffic (look right, not left), tap water (never drink it), and untreated food allergies — carry an Allergy Card.
1 Emergency Numbers — Save These
One-line takeaway: 120 for ambulance and poison control, 110 for police, 119 for fire.
You can call 120 from a Chinese payphone without a SIM card or money.
Just dial and speak. Poison control is handled on 120 as well, combined with the ambulance line.
2 Everyday Safety: Water, Valuables, Scams
One-line takeaway: never drink the tap water, keep your passport secure, and know the three scams that target tourists.
Stay hydrated — but with bottled water. Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in China.
Keep your passport safe.
It is your only legal ID in China: hotels need it to check you in, and police can ask for it. Lock the original in the hotel safe when you don’t need it, carry a photocopy or a phone photo for daily use, and take it with you when you fly, take a long-distance train, or visit a bank.
| Scam | How it starts | What it costs you | How to shut it down |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tea house scam | Friendly students or a young couple invite you to a “traditional tea ceremony” near a tourist street. | A bill of hundreds or thousands of RMB for a few cups of tea. | Decline invitations from strangers to a specific venue. Choose the place yourself, and check the price before you sit down. |
| Art gallery / student exhibition | Someone practising English walks you to a “graduation art exhibition”. | Heavy pressure to buy mass-produced paintings at inflated prices. | Don’t follow strangers to a gallery. Walk away — there is no obligation to buy. |
| Taxi scam | A driver touting outside the airport, train station or a landmark, refusing the meter or offering a flat “special price”. | Several times the correct fare, or a detour to a shop. | Use the official taxi rank or DiDi. Insist on the meter (打表), and pay by app so the route and price are recorded. |
| Fake charity / signature collector | A person with a clipboard asks you to sign a petition for a deaf or disabled charity. | An aggressive demand for a “donation” once you have signed. | Don’t sign anything on the street. Keep walking and say 不要 (bù yào). |
3 Which Kind of Hospital?
One-line takeaway: international hospitals for comfort and English, public hospitals for price and specialists, pharmacies and clinics for small stuff.
| International / Private | Public hospitals | Clinics / Pharmacies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Tourists with travel insurance | Most common option, affordable but challenging for foreigners | Minor issues: headaches, colds, stomach problems |
| English | Staff speaks English | Staff rarely speaks English; requires translation help | Limited |
| Cost of consultation | Expensive: 500–2000 RMB | Cheap: 100–500 RMB | Cheap: 50–150 RMB |
| Waiting | No waiting time | Very crowded, long waits | Quick — in and out in 30 mins, no appointment needed |
| Facilities | Modern, Western standards; accept international insurance and credit cards | Chinese-focused equipment and methods | Limited services — diagnosis only, not procedures |
4 International Hospitals Directory
One-line takeaway: these hospitals have English-speaking staff and international standards — save the number for your city now.
| Hospital | Phone | English | Specialties | Est. consultation cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huashan Hospital (West Campus) 华山医院西院 | 021-6437-0045 | Yes | General, Emergency | up to 1000 RMB |
| Shanghai United Family Hospital 联合医院 | 021-5879-9999 | Yes | All services, 24-hour ER | up to 2000 RMB |
| Beijing United Family Hospital 北京和睦家医院 | 010-5927-7000 | Yes | All services, high-end | up to 3500 RMB |
| Beijing International SOS Clinic 国际SOS医疗 | 010-6465-1102 | Yes | Emergency, Evacuation | up to 3000 RMB |
| Shenzhen Luohu Hospital 罗湖医院 | 0755-2523-8888 | Limited | General | up to 700 RMB |
| West China Hospital 华西医院 | 028-8555-1331 | Yes | All services, teaching hospital | up to 600 RMB |
5 Pharmacies & Medication
One-line takeaway: Chinese pharmacies are everywhere, surprisingly helpful, and cost 20–100 RMB for common medicines.
Find 药店
Look for 药店 (yào diàn) — pharmacy signs are green with a white cross.
Describe the symptom
Tell them your symptom, using Google Translate if needed.
Take the recommendation
They’ll recommend an over-the-counter medication. Many common Western medications are available (ibuprofen, antihistamines).
Pay
Usually 20–100 RMB for common medicines.
| Need | Ask for | Chinese |
|---|---|---|
| Cold / Flu | Lianhuaqingwen — very popular, effective | 莲花清瘟 |
| Headache / Pain | Ibuprofen — available everywhere | 布洛芬 |
| Stomach | Montmorillonite — the Chinese version of Imodium | 蒙脱石 |
| Acid reflux | Omeprazole — available OTC | 奥美拉唑 |
| Allergy | Loratadine — OTC antihistamine | 氯雷他定 |
6 If You Get Sick or Injured
One-line takeaway: match the severity to the venue — pharmacy, international hospital, or 120.
| Severity | What to do | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Minor: headache, cold, stomach trouble | Go to a nearby pharmacy or clinic, use Google Translate to describe symptoms, get medication and rest at your hotel. | 50–200 RMB |
| Moderate: fever, persistent pain, suspected infection | Go to an international hospital or clinic, call ahead if possible (hotel reception can help), bring your travel insurance card, and have them write a detailed report for your home doctor. | 500–1500 RMB |
| Emergency: chest pain, severe injury, difficulty breathing | Call 120 immediately, tell them your location (hotel name), stay calm — the ambulance arrives in 5–15 minutes. You’ll be taken to the nearest hospital, usually public. Contact your insurance and embassy immediately. | Varies widely, could be 5000+ RMB |
7 Inside the Hospital, Step by Step
One-line takeaway: Chinese hospitals work very differently from Western ones — you register, queue, see the doctor, then pay before anything happens.
Registration (挂号 guàhào)
Go to the registration desk (挂号处) and name the department you need: 内科 = Internal Medicine, 外科 = Surgery, 急诊 = Emergency. Pay the registration fee (¥10–50 at public hospitals, ¥200–800 at international clinics) and take your slip with a queue number.
Wait for your number
Watch the electronic display boards. Waits run 30 minutes to 3 hours at public hospitals, 15–30 minutes at international clinics. Go before 9 AM for shorter waits.
Consultation (看诊)
Typically 5–10 minutes at public hospitals (doctors see 60–80 patients a day), 15–30 minutes at international hospitals. Prescriptions are written on a computer and printed for you.
Pay (缴费)
Take the printed prescription to the payment window (缴费处). Pay via Alipay, WeChat Pay or cash. KEEP ALL RECEIPTS for insurance claims.
Lab tests / imaging
If ordered, go to 化验室 (Lab) or 放射科 (Radiology). Results are usually ready in 1–3 hours, then return to the doctor.
Pick up medicine (取药)
Take your paid prescription to the pharmacy window (取药处) inside the hospital. Ask the pharmacist to write the dosage in numbers, for example “2 pills × 3 times/day”, if you can’t read Chinese.
Public vs International Hospitals
| Feature | Public Hospital (公立医院) | International Clinic (国际诊所) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ¥50–500 | ¥800–5000 |
| English | Rare | Yes |
| Wait time | 1–3 hours | 15–30 min |
| Quality | Good — top hospitals are world-class | Good |
| Insurance | Pay first, claim later | Often direct billing |
| Best for | Serious issues, specialists | Routine visits, comfort |
8 Costs, Insurance & Prevention
One-line takeaway: travel insurance is essential — hospitalisation alone can run 5000–50000 RMB per day.
| Service | Cost without insurance |
|---|---|
| Doctor visit | 100–2000 RMB |
| Lab tests | 200–1000 RMB |
| X-rays | 150–500 RMB |
| Medications | 50–500 RMB |
| Hospitalization | 5000–50000 RMB per day |
With travel insurance, most costs are covered or reimbursable. Always keep receipts and medical reports.
Prevention is better than cure
| Before you leave | While you’re there |
|---|---|
| Get travel insurance | Stay hydrated — drink bottled water |
| Bring a basic first-aid kit (bandages, pain relievers, antacids) | Wash your hands frequently |
| Get vaccinated (check requirements for your destination) | Avoid street food if your stomach is sensitive |
| Keep medication you take at home in its original containers | Carry an allergy card if you have severe allergies |
You’re prepared for health emergencies.
You know the emergency numbers, you understand hospital types, and you’re ready to handle medical situations. Hopefully you won’t need this, but now you’re covered.