Healthcare · free, all of it
I am sick, right now. Start here
A 30-second check on how serious it is, plus the full step-by-step hospital guide as a free PDF. Free forever, nobody should pay to find out when to call an ambulance.
1
Life-threatening
→ Call 120 now. Do NOT travel there yourself.
Call if you see any of these: sudden collapse or unresponsiveness · struggling to breathe, can't finish a sentence, lips turning blue · crushing chest pain lasting 15+ minutes, spreading to arm, jaw or back, with cold sweat · stroke signs, face drooping, arm weakness, slurred speech, sudden loss of balance or vision (any one = call now) · bleeding that spurts or won't stop · a seizure · a severe allergic reaction: rash with throat tightening or trouble breathing.
Don't drive yourself or take a taxi. The ambulance treats on the way and takes you to a hospital that can handle your case, not just the nearest one. Say your address first when you call.
2
Serious, but you can move
→ Go to a hospital Emergency department yourself.
e.g. fever over 39°C that won't come down (or over 38.5°C for two days) · a wound that needs stitches · a likely fracture, swelling, deformity, can't put weight on it · bleeding that pressure doesn't stop · a deep animal bite · vomiting or diarrhoea so persistent you can't keep water down · a brief faint you've now recovered from.
Take a taxi or a friend. ER runs 24/7 and treats by severity, an official five-level triage, not first-come-first-served. Tell the triage nurse your worst symptom first.
3
Unpleasant, but it can wait
→ Book an outpatient visit.
e.g. a lingering cough, mild fever, skin rash, a check-up, anything chronic.
You book ahead on your phone, usually through the hospital's WeChat account. The free PDF below walks you through it screen by screen.
4
Minor
→ A pharmacy is enough.
e.g. a common cold, mild stomach upset, a small cut.
Many everyday medicines are over-the-counter in China. No need for a big hospital.
Not sure between two levels? Always act on the more serious one. This is orientation, not diagnosis or medical advice. If you are frightened or in doubt, call 120.
Please read this. Everything on this site and in any answer I give is general advice for orientation only, not a medical diagnosis or professional medical advice. Rules, prices and hospital procedures change and vary case by case, so treat this as a starting point, judge your own situation, and always follow what qualified doctors and hospital staff tell you on site. You act on this information at your own discretion, and I accept no liability for any outcome or final decision. In an emergency or any real doubt, call 120 or get to a hospital.
Criteria simplified from China's official standards: National Health Commission WS/T 810-2022 (emergency assessment & referral) and Chinese Citizens' Health Literacy 2024.