My phone died at a checkpoint near Khunjerab with no signal and a warning light on the dash. The one number I had saved, 12122, is the reason I am writing this.
Xinjiang’s distances are vast and some corridors are empty for hours. Before you roll, program the right emergency numbers, know the roadside-assistance channel, and understand consular help. This is the no-drama safety net every self-driver should set up in ten minutes.
The numbers to save first
Memorise and save a short list. 12122 is the national highway rescue line, the one to call for a breakdown or a tow on the expressway. 110 is police, 120 is medical emergency, 122 is for traffic accidents, and 119 is fire. I keep them in my phone as ‘ER highway’, ‘ER police’, and so on, plus a paper copy in the glovebox in case the phone dies at a checkpoint with no signal. Signal vanishes on the Pamir and in the Taklamakan edge, so the paper copy is not silly, it is the backup.
- 12122 highway rescue / tow
- 110 police, 120 medical, 122 accident, 119 fire
- Paper copy in the glovebox; signal drops
Roadside help and your rental
If you are in a car rental, the agency’s 24-hour line is your fastest help; they dispatch or advise and handle the warranty side. For a private car or a rental that cannot send help, 12122 arranges a tow to the nearest service point. Save both before you leave the city. I learned the hard way that a dead phone at a checkpoint is exactly when you need the number most, so I now screenshot the contacts and the policy onto the lock screen. The rental desk should also know your route in case they need to reach you.
- Rental 24h line is fastest help
- 12122 for tow if no agency help
- Screenshot contacts onto the lock screen
Signal, maps and power
Download offline maps for your whole route before you leave coverage; the far corridors have no data for hours. A power bank in your packing list keeps the phone alive to make the one call that matters, and a car charger tops it between towns. At a checkpoint or a breakdown, conserve battery for the call. I carry a small solar or a big bank on desert legs. The rule is simple: the phone’s only job when things go wrong is to reach 12122, so protect its charge like fuel.
- Download offline maps before leaving coverage
- Power bank + car charger keep the call alive
- Conserve battery for the one call
Consulates and foreigners
There are no foreign consulates in Xinjiang; the nearest embassies are in Beijing, with a few in other big cities. For a serious incident involving a foreigner, the local police (110) coordinate, and your home embassy can be reached through the usual channels but will not arrive on scene. Travel insurance with a 24-hour assistance line is the practical cover; save that number alongside the local ones. First aid knowledge and a basic kit bridge the gap until help arrives, especially on remote passes.
- No consulates in Xinjiang; embassies in Beijing
- Police 110 coordinate; embassy is distant
- Travel insurance 24h line is the real cover
At a checkpoint, stay calm
A checkpoint stop is routine, not a problem, if your papers are ready. Have passport and driving license to hand, follow the officer’s gestures, and do not photograph the post. The same calm applies to a breakdown: pull fully off the carriageway, set the hazard lights, place a triangle if you have one, and call 12122. A checkpoint is also where signal may vanish, so make the call before you reach it if you sense trouble. Most stops are a quick document glance and a wave through.
- Have passport and licence ready
- No photos of the post; follow gestures
- Breakdown: pull off, hazards, call 12122
Make a one-page sheet
Before departure, print a single sheet: the emergency numbers, your rental agency line, your insurance assistance number, your blood type, and an emergency contact at home. Laminate it or tape it inside the sun visor. In the stress of a real incident, you will not remember a number you only half-knew; the sheet removes that failure. I also photograph it and set it as the phone’s lock screen behind the contacts screenshot. Ten minutes of prep, a lifetime of peace of mind.
- Print numbers, rental line, insurance, blood type
- Tape inside the sun visor
- Photo it as the lock screen too
| Number | Service | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 12122 | Highway rescue / tow | Breakdown or stuck on the expressway |
| 110 | Police | Any emergency needing officers |
| 120 | Medical | Injury or sudden illness |
| 122 | Traffic accident | Crash or road incident |
| 119 | Fire | Fire, vehicle or wildland |
Practical takeaways
- Save 12122, 110, 120, 122, 119 before you leave.
- Screenshot contacts and policy on the lock screen.
- Carry a paper list; signal fails on remote corridors.
- Print one sheet; tape it inside the sun visor.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the single most important number?
- 12122, the national highway rescue line, for a breakdown or a tow on the expressway.
- Will my embassy come to a Xinjiang accident?
- No, the nearest embassies are in Beijing; local police (110) coordinate and your insurance assistance line is the practical help.
- What if I have no signal at a checkpoint?
- Signal drops on the Pamir and desert edge; keep a paper contact list in the glovebox and call 12122 before you lose coverage.
- Does travel insurance actually help?
- A 24-hour assistance line is the real cover for a foreigner; save it next to the local numbers and carry the policy number.