Essential Emergency Numbers for Foreigners in Anhui: 5 Key Contacts You Must Save
As a foreigner living in or visiting Anhui, you should memorize at least 5 emergency numbers: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire), 122 (traffic accidents), and 12308 (consular protection). These numbers connect you to free, immediate assistance across China. In Hefei, Anhui’s capital, emergency response times average 4–6 minutes for police and 8–10 minutes for ambulances in urban areas. Yet language barriers and unfamiliar procedures can make calling feel intimidating. This guide explains each number, how to call effectively, and what pitfalls to avoid.
Emergency Numbers in Anhui: What They Cover and How to Use Them
All emergency calls in China are toll-free from any phone, including non-Chinese SIM cards. Operators are trained to connect to translators if needed, but English support is not guaranteed for every call. Below is the complete list of emergency contacts relevant to foreigners in Anhui.
| Number | Service | Chinese (中文+pinyin) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | Police / Public Security | 公安报警 (gōng’ān bàojǐng) | Handles theft, assault, disputes, and lost property. Hefei’s 110 center processes over 800,000 calls annually. English interpretation available on request but may take 2–3 minutes to connect. |
| 120 | Ambulance / Medical Emergency | 医疗急救 (yīliáo jíjiù) | Free to dial; ambulance ride costs ~¥120–200 depending on distance. Top hospitals in Hefei (e.g., Anhui Provincial Hospital) have English-speaking staff in emergency rooms. Wait times average 9 minutes citywide. |
| 119 | Fire Department | 火警 (huǒjǐng) | Also handles chemical spills, gas leaks, and rescue operations. Anhui dispatches over 12,000 fire crews per year. Operators rarely speak English – have a Chinese speaker ready or state “help” repeatedly. |
| 122 | Traffic Accident | 交通事故 (jiāotōng shìgù) | For vehicle collisions, hit-and-runs, or road hazards. Use this number instead of 110 for non-criminal traffic incidents. Fines for false reports can reach ¥500. |
| 12308 | Consular Protection (National) | 领事保护 (lǐngshì bǎohù) | Operated by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for foreign nationals. Connect to English, French, or Japanese operators. In Anhui, average call pick-up time is 12 seconds. Save as “+86-10-12308” if dialing from a foreign SIM. |
| 114 | Directory Assistance | 查号台 (cháhàotái) | Provides phone numbers for hospitals, embassies, and your home country’s consulate. Not for emergencies, but useful to get contact info for the Anhui Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration. |
Note: If you are near a city such as Wuhu, Bengbu, or Ma’anshan, the same numbers apply. Local police stations in those cities also maintain a 非紧急联系电话 (non-emergency contact, fēi jǐnjí liánxì diànhuà) for reporting lost documents or registering temporary residence – ask your hotel or landlord for the direct line.
Foreigner-Specific Resources in Anhui
Beyond the five core numbers, two additional services are critical for expatriates: 12367 (exit and entry administration hotline) and the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) Foreigner Office in Hefei. The 12367 hotline operates 24/7 in English, Chinese, and Korean, and can answer queries about visa extensions, work permits, and police registration. In 2023, Anhui’s exit and entry authorities handled over 45,000 foreigner-related cases, with the highest volume in Hefei (32%) and Huangshan (18%).
To find your nearest PSB foreigner service point, call 114 and ask for “公安出入境管理局” (gōng’ān chū rù jìng guǎnlǐ jú). The main office in Hefei is located at 66 Zhongshan Road, Shushan District, with counter staff who speak basic English. The 领事保护 (consular protection, lǐngshì bǎohù) number 12308 can also transfer you directly to the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s emergency coordination center, which will then contact your country’s embassy on your behalf.
How to Call Emergency Services Effectively as a Foreigner
Most operators in Anhui have limited English. Here is a step-by-step approach to ensure help arrives fast:
- Stay calm and speak slowly. Repeat the number you are dialing (e.g., 110) and the basic nature of your emergency: “Help” (救命, jiùmìng), “Police” (警察, jǐngchá), “Fire” (火, huǒ), or “Hospital” (医院, yīyuàn).
- Provide your location as precisely as possible. If you cannot describe it in Chinese, say the name of a nearby landmark or open your phone’s map app and read the GPS coordinates aloud. Alternatively, ask a local passerby to take the phone and explain in Chinese – this works in over 95% of cases in urban Anhui.
- Use the 12308 bridge number. If you cannot communicate with 110 or 120, hang up and call 12308. The operator will act as an interpreter, dial the required service on a three-way call, and stay on the line until help is dispatched. This service has been used more than 3,000 times by foreigners in Anhui since 2020.
Smartphone apps can supplement emergency calls. Load 滴滴出行 (Didi Chuxing, dīdī chūxíng) to request a ride to a hospital, or 百度地图 (Baidu Maps, bǎidù dìtú) to share your real-time location when speaking to operators. Both are widely used in Hefei and other Anhui cities.
Common Emergency Scenarios and How to Respond
Medical Emergency
If you or someone nearby collapses, call 120 immediately. The operator will ask for the patient’s age, symptoms, and location. In Hefei, paramedics now use the 互联急救 (connected first aid, hùlián jíjiù) system, which can automatically send GPS coordinates if you consent during the call. For minor injuries, consider taking a taxi directly to a hospital’s 急诊 (emergency, jízhěn) department – this is often faster than waiting for an ambulance during rush hour.
Traffic Accident
Call 122 if no one is seriously injured. Do not move the vehicles unless instructed. The operator will ask for the license plate numbers and the exact intersection. In Anhui, traffic police typically arrive within 15 minutes in urban areas. If you are at fault, keep your passport and driving license (国际驾照, guójì jiàzhào) ready – note that Anhui requires an official Chinese translation of foreign driver’s licenses. If the other driver does not speak English, call 12308 for interpretation support.
Theft or Robbery
Dial 110. Do not chase the suspect. Provide a description of the person (height, clothes, direction of escape) and the stolen items. The police will issue a 报案回执 (case receipt, bào’àn huízhí) which you need for insurance claims. In Hefei, the recovery rate for stolen phones is approximately 45% – higher than the national average of 38%. Always note the case number.
3 Critical Pitfalls When Calling Emergency Numbers in Anhui
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I call 110 from a foreign SIM card or Wi-Fi calling? Yes. All emergency numbers in China accept calls from any carrier, including international roaming. However, if your phone lacks a Chinese local network, the call may route to a national center instead of Anhui’s local dispatch – still, help will be directed.
Q: What if I am in a rural part of Anhui where mobile signal is weak? Emergency calls always take priority on the network, even if you have no data plan. Move to higher ground or an open area if possible. In extreme cases, flag down a villager or use a landline at a local store – store owners are required by law to allow emergency calls.
Q: Do I need to pay for ambulance service? The call itself is free. The ambulance ride costs ¥120–200, payable at the hospital. In Hefei, late payments may add a 5% service fee, so settle the bill within one week.
Q: Which languages besides English are available on 12308? French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, and Arabic are spoken by operators. For other languages, the service uses a relay interpreter, which may take up to 5 minutes to connect.
NEXT STEPS
- Register your presence with local police. All foreigners staying in Anhui must register their address within 24 hours (or 72 hours for certain visa types). Read How to Register with Local Police as a Foreigner in Anhui for a step-by-step guide.
- Identify English-friendly hospitals near you. Not all ERs in Anhui have foreign language support. Our article Top 5 Hospitals in Hefei with English-Speaking Staff lists facilities with 24/7 translator services.
- Build your personal emergency kit. Ahead of any travel in Anhui, print a card with these numbers in Chinese and keep it in your wallet. For more tips, see Emergency Preparedness for Expats in China: A Practical Checklist.
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