Safety & Emergency Contacts in China

China is a very safe country for travellers, and the honest risks are narrow: pickpocketing in crowds and consumer scams aimed at tourists. Knowing the emergency numbers and one process — ours — covers the rest.

Emergency numbers

Service	Number
Police	110
Ambulance	120
Fire	119
Traffic police	122
Your guide or our operations desk	In your Pickup Card and WeChat group

Call first, then call us. If something happens, dial the emergency number immediately — do not wait to reach us first. We will follow up: we call the police, arrange transport and communicate with the hospital on your behalf, in Chinese.

Medical care

Top-tier hospitals in the major cities our itineraries visit are well equipped and have international departments where English is spoken. Smaller towns and villages have limited facilities, which is why our itineraries keep significant medical needs in reach of a city.

For anything serious we arrange transfer to a larger facility and stay with you. This is the reason we ask for your insurance details and the 24-hour assistance number before departure — and the reason we insist on medical evacuation cover.

The two risks worth taking seriously

Pickpocketing in crowds. Wear your daypack in front on public transport and in markets. Do not carry your phone in a back pocket. This is the same advice as any large city, and it is the most common way travellers lose something.
Consumer scams aimed at tourists. Refuse “helpful strangers” who offer to buy tickets for you, who invite you to tea or an art show, or who claim a shop is closed and offer to take you to another. Do not exchange currency unofficially. Anything described as a “government subsidy” or a “limited-time special price” is not.

Traffic is the other one, and it is worth saying plainly: even on a green light, watch for turning vehicles, especially scooters.

If you lose your passport

Report it to the police immediately and get the report — you cannot proceed without it.
Contact us. We will accompany you through the report and the replacement process.
Contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document.
Keep a photo of your passport information page on your phone and a photocopy in a separate bag. It makes every step faster.

Health items worth packing

Your prescription medication in original packaging, with the English prescription
Rehydration sachets and a basic stomach remedy
Antihistamine and plasters
Sunscreen and lip balm — altitude and dryness are more of a factor than most people expect
A mask if you are sensitive to dust or pollution in winter

Common questions

Is China safe for solo female travellers?

In our experience yes — street harassment is less common than in many Western cities, and violent crime against foreigners is rare. The realistic risk is petty theft, and the advice is the same as anywhere.

What if I get ill in a small town?

We move you to a facility that can actually treat you, which may mean the nearest city. That decision is made by our operations desk, not left to you to work out locally.

Do I need special vaccinations?

No vaccinations are required for entry to China from our markets. Check your own country’s travel health advice, and if you are visiting rural Yunnan or Tibetan areas, ask about altitude rather than disease.

What if my passport is stolen?

Police report first, then us, then your embassy. Keep a photo of your information page and a photocopy stored separately — it turns a multi-day problem into a same-day one.

Last verified 2026-10-31. Information on this page is checked against official sources and re-verified monthly. If you are booking, we confirm your specific case in writing before you pay anything.

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