The Essential Guide To Emergency Rooms In The City

Just in case you really need to visit one of them.
2019-08-11 12:00:00

Things can go wrong—even during the Chinese Spring Festival when many hospitals are closed for regular services. But rest assured, emergency rooms (ERs) remain open to handle urgent medical needs. Shanghai's healthcare system is among the best in the country, with an extensive network of emergency care facilities. We've curated a list of eight top hospitals known for their excellence and English-speaking staff in the ER, as well as four local public hospitals for those fluent in Chinese who are comfortable communicating with local medical staff.

Remember, "emergency room" in Chinese is jizhen (急诊)—a crucial term to get you to the right place.

Browse SmartShanghai's full directory of Emergency Rooms here (map view)

How do I get there?

If the emergency doesn't involve a lot of bodily fluids — a broken bone or a small cut, say — then a taxi or a Didi will be faster. Just don't go ruining some poor driver's backseat. Otherwise, call an ambulance (救护车, jiu hu che) by dialing 120. They speak enough English to ask if you need an ambulance.

All ambulances are run by the government's Emergency Medical Response Center and cost 30rmb within 3km and then 7rmb for each kilometer after that. Anything above just driving you to a hospital (for example if you need oxygen) will cost you extra. Payment has to be made when you're dropped off (they accept cash, WeChat or Alipay). They require that someone — anyone, a roommate, a friend, the janitor — travel with you, so if you lose consciousness or can't pay in the moment, that person can spot you. You'll have to arrange repayment yourself.

If you don't specify a hospital (like one of these on this list), you'll be taken to the closest ER.

The English-Speaking Private Hospitals

This is where you go if your insurance will cover it and have the time for a thirty-minute cab ride. The private hospitals usually look way nicer, have English-speaking staff and foreign doctors, and provide fawning levels of attention compared to the public hospitals. Their only downside is that most are located a little further from downtown.

SinoUnited Hospital (Jiangxi Road)

24-hourEmergency Hotline: 4001862116
Shanghai SinoUnited Hospital offers 24-hour emergency and urgent care services in the heart of the Bund area. With a highly experienced team, the hospital provides comprehensive medical assistance for both internal and surgical emergencies, supported by advanced imaging and lab facilities. The emergency team is equipped to handle a range of urgent conditions, from chest pain and fractures to pediatric and gynecological issues. The hospital also offers a private, secure consultation environment and follow-up care for patients, ensuring long-term health management.

Jiahui International Hospital

24-hourEmergency Hotline:

Jiahui International Hospital's Department of Emergency Medicine offers world-class care through an internationally trained team of certified physicians and nurses, providing 24/7 access to advanced diagnostic tools like CT, MRI, and ultrasound. With 17 private treatment rooms, 2 resuscitation rooms, and a licensed 24-hour Rabies Prevention Clinic, the department specializes in treating a wide range of conditions, including acute medical and surgical emergencies, pediatric care, obstetric issues, and critical cases like strokes and heart attacks. Leveraging a "green channel" for rapid hospital transfers and seamless coordination of specialist consultations, surgeries, and admissions, Jiahui ensures comprehensive, efficient care for patients in Shanghai. You never want to end up in the emergency room but if you do, and your insurance covers it, this 24/7 English-speaking ER is among the best in Shanghai.

Shanghai DeltaHealth Hospital

24-hourEmergency Hotline: 021-6700-7783
DeltaHealth Shanghai's Emergency Department features a highly skilled team experienced in managing critical and acute conditions, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, acute chest pain, cardiovascular diseases, severe infections, and various types of shock. Equipped with comprehensive facilities such as triage, resuscitation, observation, and treatment rooms, the department provides services like observation care, intravenous infusion, and emergency admissions. With 6 observation beds and 2 resuscitation beds, DeltaHealth ensures efficient and professional emergency care.

Raffles Hospital Shanghai

24-hour Emergency Hotline: 021 - 6129 3000
Raffles Hospital Shanghai provides 24/7 emergency services for adults and children, addressing acute medical and surgical conditions, trauma, sports injuries, industrial accidents, poisoning, and pediatric emergencies. The hospital is supported by a multidisciplinary team offering diagnostic services such as laboratory tests and radiological assessments. As part of the Raffles Medical Group, it facilitates access to overseas specialists when necessary. Located in Pudong near Taikoo Li, the hospital also accommodates direct insurance billing to streamline the care process.

Shanghai United Family Hospital

24-hourEmergency Hotline:
Changning: 021-22163999
Pudong: 021-38862999
Jing'an: 021-32113088

United Family Healthcare offers comprehensive 24/7 emergency services at its Pudong and Changning locations, while the Jing'an hospital focuses exclusively on pediatric and obstetrics/gynecology emergencies. The hospital provides immediate care for a wide range of urgent medical situations, including foreign body ingestion, trauma, animal bites, urinary stone removal, and more, with a multidisciplinary team available around the clock. Specialized services include rabies prevention, HIV exposure prophylaxis, and advanced diagnostic tools such as imaging and lab testing. With expert care in a comfortable, private environment, United Family ensures that your family receives timely, high-quality treatment when it matters most.

Pediatric Emergency

All the private hospitals mentioned above are available for pediatric emergency care. The following five hospitals are specialty hospitals focused on children's care. For English-speaking pediatric emergency care in Shanghai, Shanghai United Family Hospital (Jing'an) and Shanghai Pubin Children's Hospital are available. The other three hospitals—Children's Hospital of Shanghai (Putuo), Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and Shanghai Children's Medical Center—provide services in Chinese only, but they are among the best pediatric hospitals in Shanghai.

Shanghai United Family Hospital (Jing'an)

24-hourEmergency Hotline: Jing'an: 021-32113099

Shanghai United Family Hospital Jing'an provides 24/7 pediatric emergency services, ensuring comprehensive care for young patients. The hospital offers specialized support with dedicated green channels for emergencies, round-the-clock imaging, pharmacy, and laboratory services for accurate diagnoses and treatment. Pediatric conditions managed include febrile seizures, asthma attacks, diabetic ketoacidosis, acute allergies, and other urgent medical needs, supported by an on-site operating room and anesthesiology team for emergency surgeries.

Shanghai Pubin Children's Hospital

24-hour Emergency Hotline: 400-892-0288

Shanghai Pubin Children's Hospital is a pediatric healthcare facility in Shanghai that provides a range of medical services to children. The hospital offers specialized care in various pediatric fields and is equipped with a dedicated emergency department. This department is designed to handle urgent cases, providing timely medical treatment for children experiencing critical illnesses or injuries.

Children's Hospital of Shanghai (Putuo)

24-hour Emergency Hotline:5297 6133

Children's Hospital of Shanghai (Putuo) is a leading pediatric healthcare facility offering comprehensive medical services for children. Its 24/7 emergency room provides critical care and is supported by advanced specialties, including neonatology, nephrology, hematology, gastroenterology, cardiology, neurology, endocrinology, general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, orthopedics, and urology. The hospital also features clinical departments such as dermatology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, stomatology, rehabilitation for adults and children, and traditional Chinese medicine, ensuring holistic care for young patients.

Children's Hospital of Fudan University

24-hour Emergency Hotline: 6493 1029

Children's Hospital of Fudan University, is a pediatric medical institution affiliated with Fudan University. It offers a range of healthcare services for children, including specialized care across various pediatric fields. The hospital's emergency department is designed to provide care for critically ill or injured children, with facilities aimed at delivering prompt medical attention in urgent situations.

Shanghai Children's Medical Center

24-hour Emergency Hotline: 021 - 38626161 86007(extend)

Shanghai Children's Medical Center (SCMC) is a pediatric hospital that provides a wide range of medical services for children. Its 24-hour emergency room remains operational throughout the Spring Festival holiday, offering care in areas such as pediatrics, neonatology, hematology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, and dermatology. The hospital offers both outpatient and inpatient services, supported by specialized departments and medical facilities to address various healthcare needs.

The Big Four Chinese Public Hospitals

There are three reasons you'd pick a public hospital. First is price: unless you have insurance, private hospitals cost a pretty penny. Second, the big Chinese public hospitals are clustered downtown, while the international clinics are mostly (though not all) further afield. Third is specialization. Ruijin Hospital, for example, has an excellent burn unit.

The doctors at Chinese public hospitals have a wealth of experience but due to the high volume of patients, probably won't give you as much personal care and attention as private hospitals. Still, if you don't have insurance, or if you need to get somewhere real quick, these are excellent options.

Huashan Hospital

Huashan Hospital (华山医院, huashan yiyuan) is one of China's most well-known hospitals and is mobbed during the day for its outpatient services and specialist doctors. It has an English-speaking international division on the 8th floor but that's only open from 8am-5pm. However, the local emergency room is open 24/7 and specializes in neurological conditions. That said, it handles all kinds of cases, and is smack in the middle of downtown on the corner of Wulumuqi Lu and Huashan Lu, two blocks up from the Anfu Lu strip. The entrance to the ER is on Huashan Lu a little bit west of Wulumuqi. No pediatric or OB/GYN services.

Ruijin Hospital

A few blocks away from Sinan Mansions, Ruijin Hospital (瑞金医院, ruijin yiyuan) is open 24/7 and has a full ER and ICU. In addition to standard inpatient and outpatient care, they specialize in trauma, cardiac emergencies, burns and acute intoxication. The emergency room has English-speaking staff.

Huadong Hospital

Huadong Hospital (华东医院, huadong yiyuan) is right around the corner from Huashan Hospital and is nearly as well-known. It's still one of the biggest hospitals in Shanghai, with 44 specialized departments, a 24/7 emergency room and full ICU. No English in the ER though. Enter from Yan'an Xi Lu.

Zhongshan Hospital

Zhongshan Hospital (中山医院, zhongshan yiyuan) has a 24/7 ER for acute trauma and other urgent medical needs, but they don't promise any English. The 96-bed facility has an ICU broken into four rooms: two comprehensive intensive care units and two with specializations, dealing with liver trauma and cardiac surgery.

And A Note On Mental Health Emergencies

Mental health resources in Shanghai are shit and stress is high. People break. When they do, these are your options.

If it's 10pm and someone is having a mental health crisis or is suicidal, you can take them to the Shanghai Mental Health Hospital (精神卫生中心, jingshen weisheng zhongxin). It's mostly for Chinese, so it's coin toss on if there will be English-speaking staff on hand, but they will be able to stabilize patients and keep them from harm while some sort of exterior treatment or counseling can be arranged.

You can also try Shanghai United Family if you don't have someone who can translate for you. They're the best equipped of the international hospitals for mental health emergencies, though they do not have a dedicated psychiatric bed.

You can try calling Lifeline for more advice (daily, 10am-10pm), or Community Center Shanghai (Mon-Fri between 9am-5pm).

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