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China

The practical basics before you go: plugs, emergency numbers, money, tipping and the time.

EmergencyPolice 110Ambulance 120Fire 119

Plug typesA · C · I220 V · 50 Hz CurrencyCNYChinese Yuan

Drives on theright

TippingNot expected

Local time–+86 · Calling code

The country in brief

About 1.41 billion people live in China, on 9,596,961 km². The capital is Beijing.

Capital: Beijing
Population: 1,406,585,000
Area: 9,596,961 km²
Official language: Putonghua

Land borders

Afghanistan Bhutan Hong Kong India Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Laos Macau Mongolia Myanmar Nepal North Korea Pakistan Russia Tajikistan Vietnam

Facts change, so check the important things before you travel.
Population: World Bank, 2025 (CC BY 4.0). Capital, area and languages: Wikidata. Facts fetched October 30, 2026.

Before you go

Which plugs are used in China?
Sockets take plug type A/C/I, at 220 V and 50 Hz.
What is the emergency number in China?
Call 110 for the police, 120 for an ambulance and 119 for the fire brigade.
Do you tip in China?
Not expected.
Which side of the road do they drive on in China?
Traffic drives on the right.
What currency is used in China?
Prices are in Chinese Yuan (CNY).
What language do they speak in China?
Official language: Putonghua.
How do I call a number in China from abroad?
To call a number there from abroad, start with +86.