China Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in China.
Public hospitals deliver the bulk of care. Major cities also host joint-venture foreign clinics that accept international insurance.
In Beijing head for Peking Union Medical College or Beijing United Family. In Shanghai choose Huashan or Shanghai United Family. All keep English-speaking staff and direct-pay contracts with insurers.
Green-cross 'Pharmacy' (药店) outlets sell common medicines over the counter. Bring the generic name of any prescription because brand names differ. No pseudoephedrine products. Pack your own decongestant if you need it.
Not legally required to enter. But hospitals insist on payment up-front; complete travel insurance is therefore essential.
- ✓ Register your blood type and drug allergies in English and Mandarin on a wallet card.
- ✓ Download the hospital's WeChat mini-app before arrival. Most appointments and payments run through the app.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pickpocket teams work crowded subway cars and tourist shopping streets.
Drivers yield unpredictably. Electric bikes often ride against traffic on sidewalks.
PM2.5 can exceed WHO limits in northern winter.
Tibet and parts of Yunnan sit above 3,000 m.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Friendly students invite you to a traditional tea ceremony then disappear, leaving an inflated bill.
Unlicensed cabs at airport arrivals quote cheap fare, then demand ten times more on the highway.
Costumed petitioner asks for donation and hands you a 'temple' amulet.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Photograph passport data page and Chinese visa. Store in phone and cloud.
- • Payment apps dominate. Carry some cash for small stalls and keep an emergency card separate from wallet.
- • High-speed rail requires real-name ticket. Arrive 30 min early and keep ticket for exit gate.
- • City metros scan all bags; pocket-knives over 7 cm will be confiscated.
- • Tap water is chlorinated but not potable. Use hotel kettle or bottled.
- • Hot-pot oils can be extremely spicy; request 'wei la' (mild) if you have stomach issues.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Solo female travel is common and generally safe. Local women move alone at night in central districts.
- → Choose women-only subway carriages during peak if you prefer space.
- → In remote areas carry a card with hotel address in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers.
Same-sex relations legal since 1997; no civil partnership or marriage.
- → Gay venues exist in Beijing (Gongti area) and Shanghai (French Concession); use trusted apps rather than street introductions.
- → Hotel booking in one name is accepted. Twin beds presented as standard unless you request double.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Medical facilities expect cash or guarantee before treatment. Evacuation from western regions is expensive.
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