Safety Tips for Travelers

Most travelers find China one of the safer places they've visited. Violent crime is rare, public spaces are heavily monitored, and walking around a city at night usually feels relaxed even for solo travelers. China's Ministry of Public Security reported that criminal cases fell by more than a quarter year-on-year in its most recent annual figures, and the U.S. State Department's own assessment notes that most visitors consider China a safe destination with a relatively low rate of violent crime.

That doesn't mean you can switch your brain off. The real risks for tourists aren't muggings — they're petty theft in crowds, a handful of well-rehearsed scams, traffic, and a few legal gray areas worth understanding before you go. This guide walks through all of it, plus the emergency numbers you should save before your flight.

The honest answer: how safe is China for tourists?

For everyday street safety, China rates well. The most common crime affecting visitors is pickpocketing, not assault. According to the U.S. State Department's OSAC country security report, petty theft tends to cluster around airports, train and bus stations, shopping centers, and crowded public transport, with phones, cameras, jewelry, cash, and cards being the usual targets.

Third-party indexes line up with that picture. Numbeo's crime index for China sits in the "low crime" range, and China's homicide rate is among the lowest in the world. Solo travelers — including many solo women — consistently report feeling comfortable, with brightly lit commercial streets at night and strict security screening on the metro.

Government travel advisories are more nuanced, and it's worth reading them honestly. The U.S. State Department and Australia's Smartraveller both flag legal and political risks — not street crime — as the main reason for caution. We'll cover those below so you know where the actual lines are.

Save these emergency numbers before you go

Program these into your phone now. All of them are free and answered 24 hours.

A few things foreign visitors don't always know. In Shanghai, the 110 police line offers service in eight foreign languages including English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic. Beijing's 110 also provides multilingual support through a tie-up with Beijing Foreign Studies University — the operator handles basic English first, then brings in a translator on a three-way call. Outside the biggest cities, English support is hit or miss, so having your situation written in Chinese (a translation app works) helps a lot.

Note that the old nationwide tourism hotline 12301 was retired and folded into the local 12345 government service lines. If you need to file a tourism-related complaint, that's the number now.

Scams that actually target foreigners

Most scams in China aren't aggressive — they rely on friendliness and a moment of trust. These are the ones worth recognizing on sight.

The tea house (and "art student") scam

This is the classic, and it's been running in tourist areas of Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an for years. The setup, as described by the U.S. Embassy in China: a friendly young person — often presenting as an English student practicing their language — strikes up a conversation, offers to show you around, then suggests popping into a nearby tea house, bar, or restaurant. You drink, you chat. When the bill comes, your new friend has vanished and the staff (often a large man) blocks the door until you pay.

The bills are deliberately outrageous. Victims commonly report charges around 1,000 RMB (roughly US$150), and some have been pushed to 3,000 RMB or more. The UK's FCDO describes the same scam, sometimes packaged as a "massage" invitation, and warns it can come with threats, intimidation, or credit card fraud.

Taxi tricks

Licensed, metered taxis are generally fine. The problems come from unlicensed cars and a couple of sleight-of-hand moves:

• Refusing the meter. Insist on the meter (打表, dǎ biǎo) and ask for a receipt. The U.S. State Department recommends writing your destination in Chinese and keeping the receipt, which has the cab's number on it.
• The fake-bill swap. You pay with a real note; the driver palms it, produces a counterfeit, and claims you gave them fake money so you'll pay again. Use mobile payment or small notes, and keep an eye on the cash in your hand.
• Unmarked cars. Avoid taxis with no markings or no working meter. The FCDO notes there have been assaults and robberies involving unmarked cabs targeting foreigners. In Beijing, legitimate taxis carry plates starting with 京B (Jīng B) — a car without that plate offering you a ride is one to refuse.

Honestly, the easiest fix is to skip street taxis altogether and use a ride-hailing app, where the route, price, and driver are all logged. See our guide to taxis and ride-hailing in China and the Didi guide for setup.

QR code and payment scams

Because China runs on mobile payments, scammers have followed. The FCDO specifically warns about QR code phishing — a sticker slapped over a legitimate payment code, or a code handed to you that routes money or harvests your details. Only scan codes from staff at the point of sale, and double-check the payee name before confirming any transfer.

Petty theft and crowds

Pickpocketing is the one street crime you should actively guard against, especially in the high-traffic spots OSAC flags: airports, train and bus stations, malls, and packed metro cars. Standard precautions cover most of it:

• Keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or a zipped bag worn across the body, not a back pocket.
• Be extra aware when boarding crowded trains and buses — the jostle is cover for a quick hand.
• Don't flash large amounts of cash. With mobile payment everywhere, you rarely need to.
• Keep a digital photo of your passport and visa page separate from the document itself.

Personal safety, drinks, and solo travel

Personal attacks and sexual assault are rare in China, but the FCDO notes they do happen, including cases involving spiked drinks — and that women travelling alone or only with other women may be at higher risk. The advice is the same as anywhere: don't leave your drink unattended, don't accept drinks from strangers, and trust your gut if a situation feels off.

That caveat aside, China is one of the more reassuring places for solo travel. Many solo female travelers describe feeling safe walking at night, with well-lit streets and a strong, visible security presence. The metro's strict screening (more on that below) and ubiquitous cameras are part of why. If you're planning a trip on your own, our solo travel in China guide and the dedicated female solo travel guide go deeper into practical routines.

Legal risks worth understanding

This is the part that doesn't show up on a crime index but matters most for how government advisories rate China. It's not about street danger — it's about laws that are broader and vaguer than you may expect.

The U.S. State Department warns that China's revised counter-espionage law expanded the definition of spying, and that terms like "endangering national security" and "state secrets" are loosely defined — information that's openly available elsewhere can be treated as a state secret in China. Australia's Smartraveller flags the risk of arbitrary detention and exit bans on national-security grounds. Both advise avoiding protests and demonstrations entirely.

Getting around safely: metro, traffic, and flights

Metro security screening

Every metro system in China screens passengers before you reach the platform. According to the Beijing municipal government, bags go through an X-ray machine and passengers may be checked with a metal-detector wand; refuse the screening and staff can refuse you entry. As of late 2022, more than 50 mainland cities had routine screening at metro entrances. Beijing also caps carried items at 30 kg and 1.8 m in length, and children under 1.3 m must be accompanied by an adult. Budget a few extra minutes at busy stations, and don't carry anything that would slow you down at the scanner.

For navigating the systems themselves, see our metro systems guide.

Traffic and crossing the road

Traffic is one of the more real day-to-day hazards. Cars, scooters, and silent electric bikes can come from directions you don't expect, and a green pedestrian light doesn't guarantee a clear crossing. The simplest defense: cross with a crowd rather than sprinting across alone, look in every direction, and don't assume a turning vehicle will stop. Jaywalking against the light can also draw a fine.

Domestic flights

Air travel within China is safe and well-run, but the screening rules differ from many countries: liquids are banned from carry-on bags on domestic flights and must go in checked luggage, with only small single-item cosmetics under 100 ml allowed and inspected separately. Pack accordingly. Our luggage rules in China guide has the full breakdown.

Health and water

Tap water in China is generally not recommended for drinking — older pipes and contaminants mean you should stick to bottled or boiled water. Many hotels supply a free kettle and bottled water for exactly this reason. In areas where the tap water isn't safe, skip ice too. Beyond water, make sure your travel insurance covers medical care and evacuation, since international credit cards and foreign insurance aren't always accepted directly at Chinese hospitals.

We'd genuinely recommend not skipping coverage here. Plans like SafetyWing are built for travelers and can be bought after you've already left home, which is useful if you booked in a hurry. For more on staying healthy and finding care, see our health and medical care and food safety guides.

A quick pre-trip safety checklist

• Save 110, 120, 119, and 12345 in your phone.
• Save your embassy's phone number and address.
• Set up a mobile payment app so you rarely handle cash — see how to use Alipay with foreign cards.
• Photograph your passport and visa; keep copies in the cloud.
• Read your government's current travel advisory.
• Buy travel insurance with medical and evacuation cover.
• Install a ride-hailing app instead of relying on street taxis.

Frequently asked questions

Is China safe for tourists right now?

For ordinary tourism, yes. Violent crime is rare, cities are heavily monitored, and most visitors report feeling safe day and night. The realistic risks are petty theft, a few well-known scams, and traffic — plus legal gray areas around national security that a normal traveler is unlikely to run into if they avoid protests and sensitive photography. Always check your own country's latest advisory before traveling.

Is China safe for solo female travelers?

Many solo women report it being one of the more comfortable countries they've traveled in, with safe nighttime streets and a visible security presence. Take the same precautions you would anywhere — watch your drink, avoid unmarked taxis, and stay aware in crowds.

What's the biggest scam to watch out for?

The tea house scam, where a friendly "student" lures you to a venue and you're hit with a huge bill. If a stranger you just met insists on a specific tea house, bar, or massage place, walk away.

Can I drink the tap water?

No — drink bottled or boiled water, which most hotels provide for free. Avoid ice where tap water isn't safe.

What number do I call in an emergency?

110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire. In Shanghai and Beijing the 110 line offers foreign-language support; elsewhere, having your problem written in Chinese helps.

The bottom line

China is a fundamentally safe place to travel, and the things that go wrong for tourists are mostly preventable. Keep your valuables secure in crowds, recognize the tea house and taxi scams before they start, respect the metro screening and traffic, drink bottled water, and understand the legal lines around national security and protests. Do that, and the most stressful part of your trip will be deciding what to eat next.

Your next steps: save the emergency numbers and your embassy's details now, set up mobile payment and a ride-hailing app before you arrive, and sort out travel insurance. Then enjoy the trip — it's safer than the headlines suggest.

Last updated: June 2026