Go with a plan.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about China
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go with a plan.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Taxi price and transfer scam
Drivers agree on a price for a ride, then stop early and force payment while a group surrounds the vehicle. Victims are then transferred to a shared bus. Call the taxi company number or 962288 for assistance.
Tea house and art gallery scam
Friendly strangers, often posing as students, invite tourists to tea shops, art galleries, or karaoke bars. Victims are then left to pay an inflated bill. Call 110 if targeted; police are generally helpful.
Luohu touts selling fakes
Individuals tout massage services, watches, or shoes in the Luohu area. They sell below-standard counterfeit goods at inflated prices.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Drug offenses
Drug trafficking is a serious offense that can result in the death penalty for foreigners. Consumption leads to fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
Exit bans
Chinese dual citizens or those with Chinese heritage may be subject to exit bans. This keeps them in China for years to compel cooperation with investigations or pressure relatives.
Political and sensitive activity
Engaging in political activity or bypassing the internet firewall can lead to government scrutiny. Punishments for violating restricted freedoms can be heavy, including extrajudicial detention.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Measles, Rabies, Tick-borne Encephalitis, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
The visa policy of mainland China sets out the conditions that a foreign citizen must satisfy in order to travel to, enter, and remain in the mainland of the People's Republic of China. Several categories of visas are available, depending on the purpose and length of stay. Chinese visas are issued outside China by the Chinese diplomatic missions and in China by the exit and entry administrations (EEAs) of the county-level public security bureaus (PSBs) under the guidance of the National Immigrat
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in China cannot be ruled out. Although foreigners have not been specifically targeted, attacks may happen in places visited by foreigners. Take particular care during national holidays and at public transport hubs, and always follow the advice of the local authorities.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex relationships are legal in China, but public attitudes are less tolerant than in the UK. Showing affection in public may receive negative attention. There’s no Chinese law guaranteeing freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •While China is generally safe for visitors, the government has some authoritarian aspects, and the topic of human rights in China is highly contested.
- •As long as you behave and do not get involved in drugs or political activity, you shouldn't have any problems.
- •Police: The main law enforcement agency you will encounter is the public security police (公安, gōng'ān; 警察, jǐngchá), or civilian police (民警, mínjǐng).
- •The People's Armed Police (PAP) (武警, wǔjǐng), is a branch of the Chinese military with law enforcement responsibilities.…
Staying healthy
- •Personal hygiene: Outside major cities, public washrooms range from mildly unpleasant to utterly repulsive.
- •The sit-down toilet familiar to Westerners is rare in China in public areas.
- •Carry your own tissue paper (卫生纸 wèishēngzhǐ, or 面纸 miànzhǐ) as it is rarely provided.
- •The Chinese tend to distrust the cleanliness of bathtubs, and while in China, you should too.
- •Wash your hands often with soap if you can find any, carry some disposable disinfectant tissues (found in almost any department or cosmetics store), or use alcohol gel.
- •Food: Each major city has an inspection regime that requires each establishment to prominently display the result (good, average or poor).
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers report that China is exceptionally safe regarding violent crime and street theft. You can walk alone at night, carry your phone in your hand, or leave bags unattended on trains without significant risk. The primary safety concerns involve minor financial discrepancies with ride-hailing apps like Didi, where drivers may add unauthorized toll or parking fees, and the presence of aggressive touts at train stations. Always carry your passport, as security checks are frequent at tourist sites and transport hubs. While the country is safe, be prepared for intense crowds, variable toilet hygiene, and strict security protocols at airports and train stations that require arriving well in advance.
“It was a joy to be able to carry the phone on your hands when walking without the fear of getting that snatched off your hand. Or carrying the backpack facing away from your chest or even having the wallet on your hip pocket.
— r/travel
“Only once I felt I was cheated. On the way to terracotta army, I noted that Didi said there would be additional toll. On arrival I saw the driver had added 26 RMB as toll and also 15 RMB as car park fee. I was surprised as I did not see him entering any car park and I had not checked the receipts for the toll.
— r/travel
“The touts will approach you at stations for taxi, just ignore and go to the official point where someone will help you. Make sure the driver flips the meter when he/she starts the journey.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / I · 220V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 110 / ambulance: 120 / fire: 119
Tipping
As a general rule, tipping is not practised in China. When leaving a tip on your table, it is common to see a waiter chase after you to return the money you "forgot" to take.
SIM / Data
Mobile phones offer good service in China, with strong 4G and 5G networks. International roaming is expensive (¥12–35/min), but roaming data is uncensored. Check rates with your provider or consider a prepaid Chinese SIM card if staying for more than a few days. SIM cards usually require a passport and registration at the provider's main office.
Cash vs. Card
Outside of star-rated or chain hotels, major supermarkets, and high-class restaurants, foreign credit/debit cards like Visa and MasterCard are generally not accepted and most transactions will require cash or mobile payments. Many department stores and large grocery stores have point-of-sale terminals for Chinese bank cards, but most foreign cards are not supported.
Zoom in
4 China cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09