🇨🇳Travelling safely in China

The picture today

China is one of the safest large countries in the world by general crime measures. The U.S. State Department, UK FCDO, Smartraveller, travel.gc.ca, the German Auswärtiges Amt, and France Diplomatie all set mainland China at their default tier of caution (with U.S. and UK advisories adding specific cautions about wrongful detention risk and exit-ban exposure for U.S. and Canadian citizens of Chinese descent). None advise against travel to the standard tourist regions (Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Yunnan’s Lijiang and Dali, the Three Gorges Yangtze cruise route).

Five structural considerations shape the practical picture. First, the Great Firewall and payment ecosystem. Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), and most Western news sites are blocked; visitors need a VPN installed before arrival (most VPN provider sites are also blocked, so installation must happen pre-flight). The Chinese payments ecosystem (Alipay and WeChat Pay) has displaced cash almost entirely; both apps now offer tourist modes that work with international cards.

Second, the visa policy revolution since late 2023. The 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy for 54 nationalities at most major arrival ports has reopened the country to short tourism after the long pandemic closure. Full visa-free entry has been granted to several EU countries (France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland), several Asia-Pacific countries (Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand from late 2024), and others; verify the live list before booking.

Third, Tibet, Xinjiang, and the political-sensitivity geography. Tibet requires an additional Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) issued through a Chinese tour agency; visitors must travel with a guided tour. Xinjiang is open but has a heavy security presence and consular access can be restricted. The Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions are operationally separate jurisdictions with different visa rules.

Fourth, natural hazards. Sichuan, Yunnan, and Tibet sit on the Indo-Eurasian plate-collision zone; the 2008 Sichuan earthquake (M7.9, around 87,000 dead), 2010 Yushu earthquake, 2013 Lushan earthquake, 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquake, and 2023 Gansu earthquake (around 150 dead) are reference events. Typhoons hit the southern coast and Hong Kong June through October.

Fifth, drug penalties. China carries the death penalty for drug trafficking and has executed foreigners. Possession even of small amounts produces multi-year prison sentences. Cannabis is illegal regardless of legality in your home country.

For the live picture, the Safe Trip Score for China is on the country page; the Field Manual’s earthquake guide covers the Drop-Cover-Hold-On rules that apply across Sichuan and Yunnan.

Getting in

China’s entry policy went through a major liberalisation between late 2023 and 2025. As of 2026 the picture is:

• Full visa-free entry (up to 30 days) for citizens of around 30 countries including France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Hungary, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Croatia, Malta, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand. Verify the live list on the National Immigration Administration site before booking.
• 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit for 54 nationalities including the U.S., Canada, UK, and most EU and Latin American countries arriving with onward travel to a third country (not back to the same country) at one of around 60 designated ports of entry. Multiple cities can be visited within the 240-hour window in cross-province itineraries.
• Standard L tourist visa for nationalities not covered by the above. Apply at a Chinese consulate before travel; processing usually 4 to 8 working days. Cost varies by nationality.

Tibet requires the Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), issued through a Chinese tour agency licensed for Tibet tours. Independent travel in Tibet is not permitted for foreigners; you must travel with a guide. Xinjiang is open without special permit but visitors should expect security checks (passport and bag scans at every train station, hotel, mall entrance) more frequently than elsewhere in China.

Hong Kong and Macau are separate jurisdictions with their own visa rules; most Western nationalities enter visa-free for 90 days (HK) or 30 days (Macau). Travel between Hong Kong/Macau and mainland China crosses an international-style border with full passport control.

No vaccinations are required from any starting country. WHO and CDC recommend confirming hepatitis A and typhoid coverage; Japanese encephalitis for prolonged rural stays. Rabies is endemic in some rural areas.

Customs: cash above USD 5,000 equivalent declared on entry. RMB cash (cash above CNY 20,000) declared. Drones need pre-registration and are often confiscated at customs in unclear cases. Strict pornography rules at customs (laptops not routinely scanned but can be). Religious materials and materials critical of the Chinese government can be confiscated.

Regional risk map

Beijing

The capital. Statistically very safe; the dominant risks are scams in tourist clusters and seasonal air pollution. Three patterns:

• Tea-house and art-gallery scams around Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing, and the 798 Art District. A friendly English-speaking “student” or “tour guide” invites you to a tea ceremony or art exhibition; the bill arrives at 1,000 to 5,000 CNY. Refuse all unsolicited “practice English” invitations near tourist sites.
• Forbidden City and Great Wall fake-ticket touts. Buy through official channels (Forbidden City via the official WeChat Mini Program; Great Wall via the relevant section’s official ticket office at Mutianyu, Badaling, Jinshanling).
• Air pollution in winter (November to March). PM2.5 routinely exceeds 150 (WHO 24-hour guideline 15) on bad days. Improvement since the 2013 baseline has been substantial but the seasonal calendar still applies. The MEE publishes hourly readings.

Beijing neighbourhoods for visitor exposure: Wangfujing, Sanlitun, Houhai, Dongcheng (Forbidden City and surrounding hutongs), Chaoyang business district are uniformly safe. The whole central city is statistically very safe by global big-city measures.

Shanghai

Statistically among the safest large cities in the world. The dominant risks are tourist scams (the same tea-house pattern operates around the Bund, Nanjing Road, and Yu Garden), traffic, and air pollution in winter (less severe than Beijing but still a consideration). Pudong and Puxi business and tourist districts are uniformly safe day and night.

Xi’an

Home of the Terracotta Warriors. Generally safe; the main risk is the standard tourist scam pattern at the Terracotta Warriors site (fake-ticket touts, commission-paying restaurants). The site is well-managed by the Shaanxi provincial authority.

Chengdu, Chongqing, and Sichuan

Sichuan tourism (Chengdu, the Giant Panda Research Base, Jiuzhaigou, Mount Emei, Leshan Buddha) is well-developed and generally safe. The dominant risks are environmental: earthquake exposure (the 2008 Wenchuan, 2013 Lushan, 2017 Jiuzhaigou earthquakes were all in Sichuan), Tibet-edge altitude on Sichuan-Tibet routes, and humid summer heat. Standard earthquake protocol applies.

Yunnan (Kunming, Lijiang, Dali, Shangri-La)

Among the most-visited domestic-tourism regions and increasingly popular with foreigners. Generally very safe; Lijiang and Dali are calm and well-organised. Shangri-La (Zhongdian) is at 3,200 m altitude; acclimatise. Tiger Leaping Gorge trekking is a classic but the trail has produced rescue cases each year.

Guilin, Yangshuo, and the Li River

Iconic karst landscape tourism. Very safe; the Li River cruise (Guilin to Yangshuo) is well-organised. Cycling and bamboo-rafting in Yangshuo are routine.

Hangzhou and Suzhou

High-speed rail accessible from Shanghai. Calm, well-organised, broadly safer than the major megacities. West Lake (Hangzhou) and the classical gardens (Suzhou) are pillars of any south-east China itinerary.

Tibet (Lhasa, Shigatse, Mount Kailash region)

Tibet Travel Permit and guided-tour requirement (covered above). Generally safe in the operational sense but politically sensitive: military and police presence is heavy in Lhasa, photography around military or government installations is prohibited, and certain locations (border areas, certain monasteries on sensitive dates) are off-limits to foreigners. Altitude is the major environmental risk: Lhasa at 3,650 m, the route to Everest Base Camp and Mount Kailash exceeds 5,000 m. Acute mountain sickness and high-altitude pulmonary oedema are documented tourist hazards; acclimatise progressively, drink water aggressively, consider Diamox prophylaxis.

Xinjiang (Urumqi, Kashgar, Turpan)

Open to foreign tourism with no special permit but heavy security presence. Frequent ID and bag checks at train stations, hotel entrances, mall entrances. Hotel registration with local police is required (handled by the hotel). Photography of mosques, government buildings, and security installations is restricted. Access to Kashgar and the Karakoram Highway is generally available; verify the current advisory before booking.

Hong Kong

One of the safest large cities in the world by every general crime measure; statistical violent-crime rate among the lowest globally. The post-2020 National Security Law has reshaped the political environment; tourist exposure is operationally unaffected but visitors should be aware that public political speech, certain demonstrations, and references to specific historical events carry legal risks that did not exist before. The Field Manual’s general city safety guide applies.

Macau

The Special Administrative Region known for casinos and Portuguese-colonial heritage. Very safe; the casino industry is professionally regulated and the UNESCO historic centre is well-managed.

Transport

High-speed rail

China operates the world’s largest high-speed rail network (around 45,000 km as of 2024) and the system is the operational backbone of any cross-country itinerary. G-class trains (gao tie, 350 km/h) connect all major cities; D-class trains (dong che, 250 km/h) cover secondary routes. Beijing to Shanghai in 4.5 hours. Beijing to Xi’an in 4.5 hours. Shanghai to Hong Kong overnight or via Hong Kong’s West Kowloon HSR terminus. Book on the official 12306 platform (now in English) or via Trip.com. Passport required at booking and at the gate.

Domestic flights

Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines (the “Big Four”) plus Xiamen Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines. All have broadly strong safety records. For most major-city connections, high-speed rail is faster and more pleasant; flights make sense for the long routes (Beijing or Shanghai to Kunming, Chengdu, Lhasa, Urumqi).

Metros and city transport

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, and 50+ other Chinese cities operate modern metro systems. All take Alipay, WeChat Pay, and (in most) contactless international cards (Visa/Mastercard) at the gate. Cheap (typically CNY 3 to 8 per journey), clean, and statistically very safe.

Driving

Self-drive in China is essentially impossible for foreign tourists: an International Driving Permit is not recognised, and obtaining a temporary Chinese licence requires significant bureaucracy. Hire a car with driver where needed.

Taxis and ride-share

Didi (the Chinese Uber) dominates ride-share. Now offers an English-language version that works with international payment cards. Reliable, cheap, and far easier than negotiating with street taxis (drivers rarely speak English, meters can be rigged in tourist zones). Street taxis are still functional; insist on the meter (jia biao).

Money & scams

China uses the Chinese yuan / renminbi (CNY/RMB). The country has gone almost completely cashless. The dominant payment systems are Alipay and WeChat Pay; both apps now offer Tour Card (TourCard) modes for foreign visitors that link to international Visa, Mastercard, and (in WeChat’s case) several other cards. Set up before travel for the smoothest experience.

ATMs are widespread; Bank of China, ICBC, China Construction Bank, and Agricultural Bank of China ATMs accept international cards reliably. Cash withdrawal limits per transaction are usually CNY 2,500 (around USD 350). Pure cash payment is increasingly rare; some smaller restaurants and street vendors no longer accept it. Tipping is not customary in mainland China; rounded service charges sometimes added at hotels and tourist restaurants.

The recurring scams travellers actually meet, in order:

1. Tea-house scam. Already covered. A friendly English-speaker near Tiananmen, Wangfujing, the Bund, or Yu Garden invites you for tea or art; the bill is enormous. Decline all unsolicited approaches.
2. Fake taxis at airports and train stations. Use the official taxi rank or Didi pickup point.
3. Forbidden City and Great Wall fake-ticket touts. Buy through official channels.
4. The “art student” gallery scam. Approach claiming to be an art student inviting you to a graduation exhibition; pressured sales of overpriced “original” artwork. Decline.
5. Counterfeit currency at exchange counters and small shops.Less common than it used to be (because cash is much rarer) but still possible. Use bank ATMs or major hotel exchange counters.
6. Massage and karaoke pricing scams in tourist areas. Agree price in writing before service; the “additional fees” pattern is a documented complaint.
7. SMS smishing impersonating Chinese banks, China Post, or government services. Most are in Chinese; foreigners who do not read Chinese are mostly safe by accident.

Healthcare

China has a tiered public healthcare system and a strong private hospital sector in the major cities. Public hospitals (especially the “3A” top-tier) provide good care but English fluency is limited and the patient experience is crowded. Private and international clinics in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong provide international-standard care.

• Private travel insurance with at least USD 250,000 medical cover and medical evacuation is the practical baseline. Air ambulance from Tibet or remote western China to a major city or to Hong Kong runs into mid-five-figures USD.
• Beijing international clinics: Beijing United Family Hospital (Lido, Shunyi), International SOS Beijing Clinic, Vista Medical Centre. All English-fluent and accept direct billing.
• Shanghai international hospitals: Shanghai United Family Hospital (Pudong, Puxi), Parkway Health, International SOS Shanghai Clinic, Jiahui International Hospital.
• Hong Kong: Matilda International Hospital, Hong Kong Adventist, Queen Mary Hospital(public). Hong Kong is the regional medical-evacuation hub for serious cases from southern and western China.
• Pharmacies (yaodian) are widespread but limited Western drug coverage; bring a sufficient supply of any prescription medication. Brand-name imports available in international clinics at premium.
• Travellers’ diarrhoea rates are moderate (around 20 to 30 percent of first-time visitors per CDC). Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in China; use bottled (Nongfu Spring, Wahaha, Master Kong are reliable brands), no ice unless from a major hotel filter, no raw salads in budget restaurants, hot-cooked food.
• Air pollution in winter in north and central China is a genuine respiratory hazard. PM2.5 readings of 100 to 200 are common in Beijing, Tianjin, Xi’an, Chengdu, and the Sichuan basin; consider N95 masks for sensitive groups. Air-quality apps (China AQI app, IQAir) work in China.
• Altitude is the major environmental risk in Tibet (3,650 m+) and Yunnan’s Shangri-La (3,200 m). Acclimatise progressively; consider Diamox prophylaxis for Tibet.
• Rabies is endemic in rural China; any animal bite or scratch requires immediate medical attention.
• Emergency numbers: 110 (police), 119 (fire), 120 (ambulance), 122 (traffic accidents). 112 reaches a general emergency line in some areas.

Solo female travel

China is genuinely safe for solo female travel by general crime measures, far safer than Western media coverage often implies. Standard sensible big-city common sense applies; the country’s heavy public CCTV presence and low violent-crime baseline produce one of the most-favourable solo-female-travel operational environments anywhere.

• Catcalling is rare. Verbal harassment is materially less than in most of the world. Photography by curious locals (more common in smaller cities and rural areas where foreigners are uncommon) is generally polite-curious rather than aggressive.
• Late-night safety in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and the tier-1 cities is generally fine. Use Didi rather than walking long distances late.
• Drink-spiking incidents are very rare in the standard Western-tourist nightlife districts (Sanlitun, Jing’an, Lan Kwai Fong) but standard discipline still applies.
• Dress code is relaxed in the major cities and tourist areas. Modest dress at temples and in conservative regions (Xinjiang).
• Trains and metros are statistically very safe. Long-distance trains (G-class HSR) have private compartments in business class; sleeper carriages on overnight trains have lockable doors.

Family travel

China is excellent for family travel when the operational complexity is managed. Children are universally welcomed, infrastructure is among the best in the world for tourism (HSR, modern metros, family-friendly attractions), and the cultural and natural content is rich. Practical specifics:

• Pre-arrival setup. Install a VPN, set up Alipay TourCard or WeChat Pay tourist mode, download offline maps (Google Maps does not work well; Maps.me or Apple Maps with downloaded regions). Bring a translation app that works offline.
• HSR is ideal for families: comfortable seats, pleasant travel, no airport security queues, scenery. Beijing to Shanghai or Xi’an in one daytime journey is pleasant for children of any age.
• Stomach discipline. Bottled water rigorously; no tap or ice; peeled fruit; hot-cooked food. Pack rehydration sachets.
• Air pollution November to March in north and central China. Consider Yunnan or Hong Kong/Hainan for winter family travel.
• Stroller logistics. Major cities have generally good stroller-accessibility; metro stations have lifts; the Forbidden City has accessible routes; the Great Wall is stroller-hostile (steps).
• Pandas at Chengdu Research Base is the headline family experience; well-organised and child-friendly.

Season by season

April to early June (recommended)

The best window. Pleasant temperatures across most of the country, spring blossoms in Hangzhou and the south, dry weather in Beijing and the north. Crowds moderate; air quality at the year’s best.

Late June to August (summer)

Hot and humid across most of the country; Shanghai and the Yangtze valley consistently above 35 °C with very high humidity. Tibet is at peak (one of the few accessible windows). Typhoon season for the southern coast and Hong Kong; flight and ferry disruption common. Domestic-tourism crowds peak in late July to mid-August (school holidays).

September to October (recommended)

Excellent shoulder. Cooler weather, autumn colours in the north and the mountains, harvest season. The 1 to 7 October Golden Week (national holiday) produces extreme domestic-tourism crowding at major sites; avoid travel during this week.

November to March (winter)

Cold and dry in the north (Beijing -5 to 5 °C with clear skies on good days); Harbin Ice Festival in late January and February is spectacular. Air quality in Beijing and the north is at its worst in winter; consider south China (Yunnan, Guangdong, Hainan), Hong Kong, or Macau for milder weather. Lunar New Year (Spring Festival, dates vary, usually late January or February) produces the largest annual human migration in the world; transport saturated for two weeks around the holiday.

Emergency contacts

• Police: 110.
• Fire: 119.
• Ambulance: 120.
• Traffic accidents: 122.
• General emergency: 112 (coverage varies).
• Embassies in Beijing. US: +86 10 8531 4000, UK: +86 10 5192 4000, Canada: +86 10 5139 4000, Australia: +86 10 5140 4111, Germany: +86 10 8532 9000, France: +86 10 8531 2000. Consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenyang, Wuhan, Hong Kong. After-hours consular numbers on each embassy site.

One more time

China is one of the safest large countries in the world by general crime measures and operates among the most-developed traveller infrastructures on the planet. The country’s reopening to mainstream tourism since the late-2023 visa reforms has been substantial; visitors are returning. The risks are operational rather than criminal: arrange the VPN before flight, set up Alipay TourCard or WeChat Pay tourist mode, plan the Tibet permit logistics months ahead if Tibet is on the itinerary, respect political-photography restrictions in Tibet and Xinjiang, refuse all unsolicited tea-house and art-gallery invitations near tourist sites, and apply sensible food and water discipline. The Field Manual’s earthquake guide and city safety guide cover the seismic and urban habits in detail. The live picture is on the China country page.