Save the 12308 hotline number and your local embassy/consulate’s consular protection number in your phone, then write them down and keep a copy in your wallet — don’t wait until an emergency to look them up

Cost: No cost at all. Saving two numbers and writing one copy down takes just a few minutes.

In plain terms: There is only one main hotline to call for help in an emergency. Inside China, dial 12308; abroad, call +86-10-12308. Since this hotline launched, it has handled over 3 million calls. During the same period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its overseas missions dealt with more than 500,000 consular protection cases.

Benefit: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs operates a 24-hour global emergency hotline for consular protection and services. Inside China, call 12308; abroad, call +86-10-12308 or +86-10-65612308. Since its launch in 2014, this hotline has answered over 3 million calls, while the Ministry and its overseas missions have resolved more than 500,000 consular protection incidents.

Evidence grade: A

Sources:外交部、中国驻缅甸使领馆 (2023). 关于当前缅北地区安全局势的领事提醒. https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/zggmzhw/lsbh/aqtx/202311/t20231109_11176682.shtml；国务院新闻办 (2023). 国务院政策例行吹风会介绍领事保护与协助有关情况. https://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2023zccfh/11/index.htm

Notes: Your local embassy or consulate also maintains its own consular protection hotline, which is often quicker to reach than the main hotline. Before traveling, look up that number on the China Consular Service website for your destination country and save it alongside the main hotline number. However, if your phone is lost or runs out of battery, those saved numbers become useless. That’s why it’s wise to write down both numbers and keep one copy in your wallet, or give a copy to a family member.