Safety & Etiquette Guide for Traveling in China

China is one of the safest travel destinations in the world, with excellent public security and low crime rates. That said, understanding basic safety precautions, cultural etiquette, and emergency procedures will make your trip even smoother. This guide covers personal safety, common scams, emergency contacts, social etiquette, and cultural taboos.

Overall Safety Assessment

China consistently ranks high on global safety indexes, with major cities generally safer than most Western counterparts:

• Low crime rate: Violent crime is extremely rare; walking alone at night is relatively safe
• Extensive surveillance: Public areas in cities are widely covered by security cameras, deterring crime
• Strong police presence: Officers regularly patrol major attractions and transport hubs
• Female-friendly: Solo female travelers widely report feeling safe

Personal Safety

Common Risks

While China is generally very safe, be aware of these situations:

Pickpocket Hotspots

• Train stations and metro stations
• Popular tourist sites (Forbidden City in Beijing, the Bund in Shanghai, Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an)
• Crowded shopping streets and night markets
• Public buses (especially when boarding and alighting)

Traffic Safety

• Be careful crossing streets — some drivers don't yield to pedestrians
• Electric scooters and bicycles may ride against traffic or on sidewalks
• Avoid unlicensed "black cars" (黑车, hēichē)

Prevention Tips

1. Valuables management

   • Use an anti-theft backpack or waist pouch; wear it in front
   • Store your passport and cash separately; keep a photocopy of your passport
   • Don't put your phone in your back pocket

2. Accommodation safety

   • Choose licensed hotels or qualified homestays
   • Check the door lock after entering; use the door chain
   • Store valuables in the room safe

3. Going out at night

   • Use licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps (DiDi, Amap)
   • Avoid dark, secluded alleys
   • Stay in touch with friends; share your live location

Food Safety

China's food scene is incredibly diverse, but keep hygiene in mind:

Choosing Street Food Wisely

• Follow the crowds: Long lines and local regulars mean fresh ingredients and proven taste
• Check hygiene: Look for vendors wearing gloves and using fresh ingredients
• Watch the cooking: Choose food that's freshly prepared at high temperatures
• Ease into it: Start with small portions when you first arrive to let your stomach adjust

Drinking Water Safety

• Don't drink tap water — it must be boiled first
• Buy bottled water (available at every convenience store and supermarket)
• Hotels usually provide free bottled water or an electric kettle
• Hot tea served at restaurants is generally safe

Allergies & Dietary Restrictions

• Learn some basic Chinese phrases to explain your allergies
• Peanuts, seafood, and chili are common allergens in Chinese cooking
• Vegetarians take note: many dishes use animal-based stock
• Halal restaurants are common in areas with Hui Muslim communities (look for 清真 signs or Arabic script)

For more food tips, check out our Chinese Food Guide.

Natural Disasters

China's vast territory means different regions face different natural hazards:

Main Disaster Types

Disaster	High-Risk Areas	Peak Season	Precautions
Typhoons	Southeast coast (Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong)	July–September	Monitor weather forecasts, avoid going to sea, stock supplies
Earthquakes	Sichuan, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Tibet	Year-round	Know your hotel's evacuation route, shelter under a table during quakes
Heavy rain/flooding	Yangtze River basin, South China	June–August (plum rain season)	Avoid mountain areas, stay away from rivers
Sandstorms	Northern regions (Beijing, Xi'an)	Spring (March–May)	Wear a mask, limit outdoor activities
Altitude sickness	Tibet, Qinghai (above 3,000m)	Year-round	Ascend gradually, bring medication

Emergency Measures

• Download official emergency apps like "China Earthquake Early Warning"
• Follow local meteorological bureau warnings
• Follow evacuation instructions from hotels and attractions
• Purchase travel insurance that covers natural disasters

Common Scams

Knowing these scams will help you avoid unnecessary losses:

1. Tea House / Bar Scam

How it works: Near tourist areas like Wangfujing in Beijing or Nanjing Road in Shanghai, young locals approach foreign tourists and invite them to "have tea" or "visit an art exhibition." The outing ends with an outrageous bill (thousands of yuan).

Prevention:

• Politely decline invitations from strangers
• Don't follow strangers to unfamiliar venues
• If you're already inside, insist on seeing menu prices and refuse to pay unreasonable bills
• Call the police (110) if necessary

2. Unlicensed Taxis & Fake Cabs

How it works: Outside airports and train stations, drivers actively solicit passengers, refuse to use the meter or take detours, and charge inflated fares.

Prevention:

• Use licensed taxis (with a meter and roof light)
• Prefer ride-hailing apps (DiDi, Amap) — prices are transparent
• Use official airport buses or the metro

3. Counterfeit Bills

How it works: Fake bills (usually ¥100 notes) are slipped in with your change.

Prevention:

• Learn the security features of RMB (watermark, security thread, color-shifting ink)
• Inspect large bills when receiving change
• Use mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) whenever possible

4. Shopping Traps

How it works: Tour guides take you to designated shops pushing overpriced tea, jade, silk, etc.

Prevention:

• Choose reputable travel agencies and "no-shopping" tour packages
• Ask for a fapiao (official receipt) for large purchases and keep evidence
• Buy expensive items at proper malls
• Research market prices and spend rationally

5. Fake "Monks" Soliciting Donations

How it works: Near tourist sites, people dressed as monks offer "blessed" items and then demand "incense money."

Prevention:

• Real monks at legitimate temples don't solicit money from passersby
• Refuse items offered by strangers
• If you want to donate, use the official donation box inside the temple

Emergency Contacts

Emergency Phone Numbers

Service	Number	Notes
Police	110	24 hours; some cities offer English service
Ambulance	120	Medical emergencies
Fire	119	Fires, major accidents
Traffic accidents	122	Road traffic incidents
Citizen service hotline	12345	Non-emergency complaints, inquiries (some cities offer foreign language service)

Help Channels for Foreigners

1. Embassy / Consulate

   • Contact for lost passports, legal issues, or serious incidents
   • Save your country's embassy/consulate phone number in advance
   • Major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu) host consulates from many countries

2. Foreigner assistance hotlines

   • Beijing: 12345 (press 9 for English)
   • Shanghai: 962288 (foreign language service)
   • Guangzhou: 12345

3. Medical facilities

   • International hospitals (e.g., Beijing United Family Hospital, Shanghai International Medical Center) offer English service
   • Public top-tier (三甲) hospital emergency departments are open 24 hours
   • Bring your passport and travel insurance documents

Tips for Calling the Police

• State that you're a foreign tourist and need English service
• Provide your exact location (use a map app for GPS coordinates)
• Stay calm and describe the situation clearly
• Preserve evidence (photos, videos, receipts)

Social Etiquette

Understanding Chinese social etiquette helps you connect with local culture:

Forms of Address

• Elders / strangers: Use "您" (nín) instead of "你" (nǐ) to show respect
• By profession: 师傅 (shīfu) for drivers and workers; 老师 (lǎoshī) for teachers and professionals
• By age: 大哥/大姐 (dàgē/dàjiě) for older people; 小伙子/姑娘 (xiǎohuǒzi/gūniang) for younger people
• Avoid first names: On first meeting, use surname + title (e.g., "王经理" — Manager Wang)

Gift-Giving Culture

Appropriate gifts:

• Specialties or souvenirs from your home country
• Tea, coffee, chocolate
• Fruit basket (when visiting someone who's ill)

Taboo gifts:

• Clocks (送钟, sòng zhōng sounds like 送终, "attending a funeral" — very unlucky)
• Umbrellas (伞, sǎn sounds like 散, "to separate")
• Pears (梨, lí sounds like 离, "to part" — don't give to couples)
• Green hats (implies infidelity in Chinese culture)
• White or black wrapping (associated with funerals)

Gift-giving etiquette:

• Present gifts with both hands to show respect
• The recipient may decline a few times (this is polite custom) — gently insist
• Don't open gifts in front of the giver (unless asked to)

Table Manners

1. Seating arrangement

   • The guest of honor sits to the host's right or facing the door
   • Wait for the host to signal before sitting down

2. Dining rules

   • Wait for the eldest person or host to start eating before you begin
   • Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice (resembles funeral incense — very bad luck)
   • Turn the lazy Susan clockwise; wait until it stops before taking food
   • Don't dig through a dish looking for the "best pieces"

3. Toasting culture

   • The host will toast multiple times; you can substitute tea for alcohol (just explain you don't drink)
   • When clinking glasses, hold your glass slightly lower than the other person's to show respect
   • "干杯" (gānbēi, "cheers") doesn't always mean you must drain the glass; "随意" (suíyì) means "drink as you like"

4. Serving food

   • The host will frequently place food on your plate (a sign of hospitality)
   • If you don't like something, politely say "够了，谢谢" ("That's enough, thank you")
   • Don't eat everything completely clean (leaving a little shows you're full)

Daily Interactions

• Physical contact: Handshakes are common, but hugs and cheek kisses are not typical
• Personal space: People stand closer together in public — don't take it personally
• Queuing: Big cities have strong queuing culture; smaller cities may be more chaotic
• Tipping: China has no tipping culture — no tips expected at restaurants, taxis, or anywhere else

Cultural Taboos

Religious Site Rules

Buddhist Temples:

• Remove your hat before entering the main hall; don't step on the threshold
• Don't point at Buddha statues with your finger
• Ask before taking photos (photography is prohibited in some halls)
• Keep quiet — no loud talking

Mosques:

• Women should wear a headscarf and long pants or skirt
• Remove shoes before entering
• Non-Muslims may not be allowed in the main prayer hall
• Respect prayer times and don't disturb worshippers

Taoist Temples:

• Rules are generally more relaxed, but still show respect
• Don't touch ritual objects or offerings

Photography Etiquette

• Military facilities, government buildings: Photography is prohibited (clearly signed)
• Photographing people: Especially ethnic minorities and monks — always ask permission first
• Museums: Some exhibition halls prohibit flash or all photography — follow the rules
• Commercial venues: Upscale restaurants and hotels may restrict photography

Sensitive Topics

When chatting with Chinese people, approach these topics with care:

• Political topics (Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, etc.)
• Income and wealth (considered private)
• Age and marital status (especially sensitive for women)
• Excessive criticism of China (even if the other person complains, criticism from a foreigner may cause offense)

Safe conversation topics:

• Food and travel experiences
• Your home country's culture and scenery
• Chinese history and traditional culture
• Sports, movies, music

Clothing Advice

Everyday Wear

• Big cities: Diverse fashion — casual wear is fine
• Summer: Light and breathable, but avoid overly revealing clothing (e.g., bikini tops on the street)
• Winter: Heavy down jackets needed in the north; the south lacks indoor heating, so layer up

Special Occasions

Religious sites:

• Avoid shorts, short skirts, and sleeveless tops
• Mosques have stricter requirements (women: long sleeves, long pants + headscarf)
• Temples usually have scarves available to borrow or buy

Upscale restaurants / business settings:

• Skip flip-flops and athletic wear
• Men: collared shirt and trousers; Women: dress or smart outfit

Hiking at scenic spots:

• Comfortable walking shoes (many attractions require extensive walking)
• Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
• Bring a jacket for mountain areas (large temperature swings between day and night)

Practical Tips Summary

1. Stay alert but don't be anxious: China is very safe overall, but basic awareness is still important
2. Respect local culture: When in Rome, do as the Romans do — observe and follow local customs
3. Learn basic Chinese: Simple greetings and help phrases will earn you extra goodwill
4. Save emergency contacts: Embassy phone number, hotel address (in Chinese), emergency contact person
5. Buy travel insurance: Covering medical expenses, property loss, and trip cancellation
6. Stay in touch: Check in regularly with family and friends; share your itinerary

Follow these safety and etiquette tips, and you'll be able to explore Chinese culture with confidence and ease, enjoying a safe and memorable journey. For more practical information, visit our Practical Guides section.