It is possible you may find yourself in an emergency situation during your stay in Shanghai and so with this in mind, it is advisable to register at your country’s consulate as soon as you settle in the city. Informing it of your existence is important in the event of any major disturbances or health threats, such as the 2003 Sars outbreak, as the embassy will keep you updated of the genuine situation as it develops and might organise any necessary evacuations. If you are a new resident, make sure to register with your local Public Security Bureau (see table), for should you become involved in a police situation and they discover that you have not done so, you could face hefty fines as well as uncooperative behaviour. You should register in person, taking along a copy of your passport and the address of where you are living so that you can be issued with a pink temporary residents’ certificate. Hotels automatically process the registration for visitors.

For emergency police assistance, call 110. English-speaking operators are available. For non-urgent matters go to your local police station but be prepared for lengthy questioning as Shanghai police can be suspicious of foreigners.

For ambulance service, call 120 but be aware that it is generally not particularly quick or reliable, and that it is preferable to make your own way to the hospital by taxi or private car. If you need emergency medical assistance you can either visit a local hospital with a dedicated foreigners’ clinic, such as Huadong, or you can go to one of the western medical clinics such as ParkwayHealth or International SOS which have 24 hour emergency services and western or western-trained staff. These international clinics offer high levels of service but come at a price, so bring along your credit card.
Few places allow direct billing to the insurance company so make sure to keep your receipts safe.