To call an ambulance in Shanghai, dial 120 from anywhere in mainland China; operators speak Chinese, but they can bring a translator onto the line.
This is the guide I hope you bookmark and never need. But emergencies do not wait for you to learn the system, and the middle of a crisis is a terrible time to discover that the ambulance dispatcher speaks only Chinese. Ten minutes of reading now buys you real calm later.
Good to know
- Good for: knowing exactly who to call and roughly what it costs before an emergency happens, not during one.
- What you'll pay: a 120 ambulance is usually under 300 RMB, a public ER is cheap, and a private English-speaking ER consult commonly starts around 1,000 to 1,500 RMB before tests.
- Make the most of it: save 120, the two hospital hotlines below, and your home address in Chinese on your phone today.
What number do I call for an ambulance in Shanghai?
Dial 120 for an ambulance, anywhere in mainland China. Police is 110 and fire is 119. The 120 operators work in Chinese; they can bring a translator onto the line, but that takes time, so the fastest options are having a Chinese speaker call for you, or reading out your address from a saved note in characters. Give three things: where you are, who you are, and what happened.
Save your home and office addresses in Chinese on your phone's lock screen or notes app today. It is the single highest-value preparation on this page.
How much does an ambulance cost?
Far less than you might fear. The fee structure is a 30 RMB base charge plus 7 RMB per kilometer after the first three, a 60 RMB pre-hospital care charge, and an 80 RMB hourly waiting fee if it applies. In practice the total usually stays under 300 RMB. Once you are aboard, you can usually tell the crew which hospital you prefer, so it helps to know your answer in advance.
Which emergency rooms have English-speaking staff?
Two private hospitals run 24/7 emergency rooms with English-speaking teams, and both are used to treating international patients:
- Jiahui International Hospital, 689 Guiping Lu, Xuhui. A 24/7 bilingual emergency department in a 500-bed hospital that collaborates with Massachusetts General Hospital; services are routinely available in English, and often Japanese, Korean, French and German. Hotline: 400-868-3000.
- Shanghai United Family Hospital, 699 Pingtang Lu, Changning. A 24-hour emergency room with in-house pediatrics, radiology, pharmacy and lab around the clock. 24-hour emergency hotline: 021-2216-3999.
Private ER visits cost accordingly, but both hospitals commonly direct-bill international insurance. If you are not sure what your plan covers in an emergency, find out this week, not in the waiting room; our insurance guide explains the options.
Can I use a public hospital ER?
Yes. Shanghai's major public hospitals run 24-hour emergency departments (急诊, jízhěn) that are medically excellent and inexpensive; the trade-offs are queues and limited English.
- Huashan Hospital, on Wulumuqi Zhong Lu in Jing'an, runs 24-hour emergency care and has a dedicated expats' clinic where staff work in English and Japanese.
- Ruijin Hospital, 197 Ruijin Er Lu, Huangpu, runs a 24/7 ER known for trauma, cardiac emergencies and burns. Emergency line: 021-6437-0045.
Bring your passport, expect to register (挂号, guàhào) and pay modest fees as you go, and be ready for a busier, more utilitarian experience than the private hospitals. If public hospitals are new territory, our guide to seeing a doctor in Shanghai demystifies the whole flow.
What should I prepare before anything happens?
- Save your addresses in Chinese, plus 120 and the two hospital hotlines above, in your phone.
- Keep a photo of your passport ID page and your insurance card in an album you can find one-handed.
- Learn one sentence: 我需要救护车 (wǒ xūyào jiùhùchē), "I need an ambulance."
- Know your nearest 24-hour ER by name, and tell a friend or your compound guards in an emergency; they can talk to the dispatcher for you.
- WeChat can share your real-time location with a contact, which is faster than describing a street corner mid-crisis.
What about a mental health crisis?
Mental health emergencies are emergencies too, and Shanghai has English-speaking support, including crisis lines and therapists who take urgent appointments. We keep the full list, with numbers, in our guide to English-speaking mental health support in Shanghai.
Common questions
Will the ambulance take me to the hospital I choose?
Usually yes; you can tell the crew your preference and they will accommodate it when your condition allows. In severe situations they head for the closest appropriate hospital, which is what you want anyway.
Should I just take a Didi instead?
For anything involving breathing, chest pain, heavy bleeding or loss of consciousness, call 120; the crew starts care on arrival, which a car cannot. For a sprained ankle at midnight, a car to a 24-hour ER is often the quicker, cheaper call. Judgment, not heroics.
Are ERs open on holidays?
Yes. Emergency departments run 24/7 year-round, including Chinese New Year, when much of the rest of the city sleeps.
Do the English hotlines work at 3am?
Yes. Jiahui's 400-868-3000 and United Family's 021-2216-3999 are staffed around the clock, and both can guide you on whether to come in, and how.
How much does an ambulance cost in Shanghai?
The fee is a 30 RMB base charge plus 7 RMB per kilometer after the first three, a 60 RMB pre-hospital care charge, and an 80 RMB hourly waiting fee if applicable. In practice, the total usually stays under 300 RMB.
What is the emergency number for an ambulance in Shanghai?
Dial 120 for an ambulance anywhere in mainland China. Police is 110 and fire is 119. The 120 operators work in Chinese, but they can bring a translator onto the line.
