Is it safe to walk around at night?

In major cities, yes: streets stay busy and well lit, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Apply normal big-city precautions — avoid unlit side streets when alone, use the ride-hailing app after midnight, and keep your phone out of sight in crowds.

Do I really need to carry my passport?

Yes. Police conduct random checks and printed copies or phone photos are not accepted. Failure to produce ID can lead to a fine or detention. Leave a copy in your hotel safe but carry the original.

Is China safe for solo female travellers?

Most women report few problems, but drink-spiking and harassment do occur. Do not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers, and be more careful in bar districts late at night. The UK FCDO flags women travelling alone or with female friends as potentially at higher risk.

Which number do I call in an emergency?

110 for police, 120 for an ambulance, 119 for fire, 122 for traffic police, 12395 for maritime search and rescue. Dispatchers may not speak English — speak slowly or hand the phone to a local.

Are demonstrations a risk?

Avoid them. Chinese authorities enforce public order strictly and foreigners can face arrest, detention and deportation. Political statements — including ones posted online — can be treated as illegal.

Is China safe for tourists? What actually goes wrong

Short answer

For most visitors China is a low-crime, low-hassle destination. Serious crime against foreign nationals is relatively rare, and the risks that do materialise are petty: the “tea tasting” or “massage” scam in tourist areas, unlicensed taxis, and pickpocketing at crowded sites. The rule visitors break most often is procedural rather than dangerous — you must carry your passport at all times, because police conduct random checks and printed copies are not accepted. Emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119, traffic police 122.

The honest summary

Serious crime against foreign nationals is relatively rare, but incidents do happen (UK FCDO travel advice).
Watch your belongings at major tourist sites and other busy places, particularly where foreign visitors gather.
Isolated violent attacks — knife attacks, vehicles used as weapons — have occurred in public places including schools, supermarkets and hospitals. Rare, but real.
Penalties for fighting range from fines to detention regardless of who started it, and compensation claims are commonplace. Walk away from a shoving match over a queue or a fare.

The scams that actually target visitors

The “tea tasting” / “massage” scam: a friendly stranger invites you for tea, a drink or a massage, and the venue then demands an enormous bill — sometimes followed by threats or card fraud.
QR-code phishing: QR codes are used for everything here, so never scan one handed to you by a stranger offering a deal. Pay through the merchant's own screen or your wallet app.
Unmarked or unmetered taxis: robbery and assault against foreign nationals have been reported. Use the ride-hailing app or a marked taxi, insist on the meter, and keep the receipt — it carries the taxi number.
Fare and queue disputes escalate fast. Do not put your hands on anyone: in China, a physical altercation can end in detention for both parties.

Carry your passport — the rule visitors get wrong

Always carry your passport. Police carry out random checks, especially during heightened security and major events.
Printed copies and phone photos are not accepted as ID (UK FCDO).
Failure to produce ID can lead to a fine or detention.
Your hotel registers your stay by law. Keep the registration slip, and carry a hotel card with the address in Chinese to show a driver.
Leave a photocopy in the hotel safe — useful if the original is lost, never a substitute for carrying it.

Solo women, nights out and drinks

Personal attacks and sexual assaults are rare, but they happen — including through drinks being spiked. Women travelling alone or with female friends may be at higher risk (UK FCDO).
Do not leave drinks unattended and do not accept drinks from strangers, including in hotel bars and clubs.
Major-city streets are busy and well lit late into the evening. Use the same precautions you would in any large city: avoid unlit side streets, use ride-hailing after midnight, share your live location with someone.
Bar streets (Sanlitun, the Bund side streets, bar districts in Chengdu) are the places where drink-spiking is most often reported.

Emergency numbers and what to do first

Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Traffic police 122 · Maritime search and rescue 12395 (UK FCDO).
110 dispatchers may not speak English. Say your location slowly and clearly, or hand the phone to hotel staff or a passer-by.
Lost or stolen passport: report it at the nearest police station or Public Security Bureau and get a written report before contacting your embassy or consulate.
Keep your embassy number and insurance hotline saved offline. In an emergency you may have no mobile data.
For anything non-urgent, 12345 is the city services hotline in most cities, with some English support in the largest ones.

Laws that surprise visitors

Drug offences carry zero tolerance: heavy fines, long prison sentences or the death penalty — including for cannabis and including for personal use.
The authorities can randomly test foreign nationals, including on entry, and can test everyone present when a bar or club is raided.
Drones and drone components are strictly regulated. Contact the Civil Aviation Administration of China before bringing one.
National security laws are broad and can apply to activity that happened outside mainland China, including online. Avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, and do not photograph military or restricted areas (UK FCDO).
Exit bans exist: in civil or commercial disputes you can be barred from leaving, sometimes without knowing until you try to depart.
Same-sex relationships are legal; public attitudes are less tolerant than in Western Europe or North America.

Internet and connectivity

Google, Facebook, YouTube and X are permanently blocked. Access can be restricted further around political events (UK FCDO).
Chinese cybersecurity law requires VPN products and services to be licensed by the government (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology).
International roaming and travel eSIMs route your traffic through your home carrier's network, which is why many visitors find their usual apps work on a roaming connection. See the VPN page for the practical picture.

Related guides

Official sources

Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.