Xi'an Emergencies: Numbers, Hospitals & Help for Visitors

China does not use a single 911/112-style number — you have to pick the right line.

Service	Number	When to call
Police	110	Crime, theft, assault, a dispute, or any situation needing authorities. Also accepts SMS at 12110 if you can't speak safely.
Ambulance / medical	120	Serious illness or injury needing an ambulance.
Fire	119	Fire, smoke, gas leak — also rescues such as elevator entrapment.
Traffic accident	122	Any car, scooter, or bike collision.

All four are free and work nationwide. If you're not sure which line fits, dial 110 and they can reroute.

Foreign SIMs: emergency calls are designed to connect from any phone, but a roaming foreign SIM isn't always reliable for reaching Chinese dispatch. The most dependable call comes from a Chinese SIM, a local's phone, or your hotel's landline.

This is the one to read before you need it.

• Expect Mandarin only. In Beijing or Shanghai you sometimes reach English operators; in Xi'an, you generally won't. Do not count on being understood in English.
• Get a Chinese speaker to make the call — your hotel front desk, a guide, or anyone nearby. Hand them the phone.
• Dispatch needs your address in Chinese characters. Pinyin or an English address usually won't help. Have a screenshot of your hotel's address ready (see the show-your-phone pattern below).
• Minimum phrase to learn: 我需要救护车 (wǒ xūyào jiùhùchē — „I need an ambulance”), then read out the address. More phrases at Mandarin phrases.
• Follow up: if the ambulance hasn't arrived in about 20 minutes, call 120 again.
• It isn't always free. Ambulance rides in China typically run 120–500 RMB depending on distance, payable on arrival or at the hospital. Carry some cash.

For anything that isn't life-threatening, a Didi or taxi to the hospital's ER is often faster and simpler than waiting on 120. See Didi ride-hailing.

Three solid options, all in the southwest's High-tech (Gaoxin) zone:

• Global Doctor Xi'an (西安环球医生) — a clinic built for foreigners, with English- and Korean-speaking doctors. Inside the Xi'an International Medical Center, 8th floor. Clinic line +86 29 8111 2673 (Mon–Sat, 9am–6pm); 24-hour after-hours line +86 173 9175 7290; email xian@globaldoctors.asia. This is your first call for non-emergency illness when you want English.
• Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital (西安国际医学中心) — a large private hospital and member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. Address: No. 777 Xitai Road (西太路777号), High-tech Zone. International standards, but English availability varies by department — call ahead.
• Xi'an Gaoxin Hospital (西安高新医院) — affiliated general hospital, No. 16 South Tuanjie Road, Gaoxin (English site: www.gxyy.cn).

In a genuine emergency, don't shop around — get to the nearest large hospital and look for the 急诊 (jízhěn, ER) sign.

Pharmacies (药店, yàodiàn) are everywhere and well-stocked.

• Look for the green cross sign and the characters 药店 or 大药房 (dà yàofáng — the larger, more reliable chain pharmacies).
• To find one nearby — or a 24-hour branch — open Amap (高德地图) and search 药店 (pharmacy) or 24小时药店 (24-hour pharmacy). Meituan and Ele.me also deliver over-the-counter medicine, sometimes around the clock.
• Common chains: 老百姓大药房, 同仁堂 (Tongrentang), 海王星辰.
• Cold, stomach, headache, and allergy medicine are easy to get over the counter.
• Bring your own prescription meds, in original packaging with a copy of the prescription and a doctor's note. Chinese pharmacies won't fill a foreign Rx, and some drugs common at home (certain stimulants and strong painkillers) are restricted or outright illegal here. Details at Packing list.

In any emergency you'll be asked to show where you are and who you are. Set these up before you need them, as offline screenshots (not just inside an app):

• Your hotel's full address in Chinese characters. Screenshot it from your booking. This is the single most useful item on the list — 120 dispatch and taxi drivers both need it.
• A photo of your passport photo page and your visa/entry stamp. Speeds up hospital check-in and police reports.
• An emergency contact back home, plus your embassy or consulate's China number.
• Your travel insurance assistance hotline (and policy number). Most policies have a 24-hour English line that can arrange payment guarantees or medical evacuation — keep it on the lock screen or in your wallet.
• A few key phrases: 我需要帮助 (I need help), 我需要救护车 (I need an ambulance), 医院在哪里 (where is the hospital?). See Mandarin phrases.

This is the difference between a 5-minute delay and a 50-minute one.

Lost or stolen passport

1. Report it at the nearest police station (派出所, pàichūsuǒ) and get a loss certificate (报案回执). Your embassy requires this document.
2. Contact your embassy or consulate to arrange a replacement passport or an emergency travel document. A full replacement can take several business days; an emergency travel doc is faster.
3. Expect a visit to the Entry-Exit Bureau (出入境) to sort out exit stamps before you fly out.

Common scams and incidents to know

• Pickpockets in dense tourist zones — the Muslim Quarter, Bell Tower, and the Terracotta Army gates. Bag in front, zipped.
• Taxi overcharging — insist the driver uses the meter (打表, dǎ biǎo). Skip anyone quoting a flat „tourist” fare at the airport or railway stations.
• „Friendly stranger” scams — someone approaches to practice English, then steers you to a tea house or gallery and a huge bill. Politely walk away from unsolicited approaches.
• If you're scammed or robbed, call 110 and insist on an official police report (报案回执) — you'll need it for any insurance claim.

Major incident (a serious accident, protest, or natural event): get to safety first, then 110 or 122 as appropriate, and tell your embassy so they can assist. Keep your phone charged and carry a power bank.

For the broader health picture — tap water, food safety, vaccines, and altitude if you're heading to Mount Huashan — see Health & Safety.