Replace a lost ID card immediately; get a temporary ID if you need it urgently

Cost: There is a statutory fee for issuing ID cards. The exact amount is set by national regulations and posted locally. You must apply at the police station in your area of permanent residence — just one visit is required.
In plain terms: For standard replacements, the new ID card is issued within 60 days from the date you submit the application. If you need it right away, you can also request a temporary ID card on the spot; it is delivered within three days and remains valid for three months. Without an ID card, you cannot apply for jobs, rent housing, open bank accounts, or receive government benefits — it is a prerequisite for all such procedures.
Benefit: Once you submit the application form for a resident ID card, authorities must issue the card within 60 days. During this period, if you urgently need identification, you may apply for a temporary ID card, which is issued within three days and valid for three months nationwide.
Evidence grade: A
Sources:全国人大常委会 (2003). 居民身份证法（主席令第四号，第十二、二十条）. https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2003/content_62254.htm；公安部 (2005). 临时居民身份证管理办法（公安部令第 78 号，第二、七、九、十二、十七条）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-12/25/content_5712922.htm
Notes: Without an ID card, you cannot secure employment, rent housing, open bank accounts, or receive subsidies; it is a mandatory prerequisite for all related processes. The ID Card Law was amended in 2011; the text cited here is the version published in 2003, and current regulations apply. Whether you can apply in a location other than your registered residence depends on local police announcements.