How safe China is, which scams to avoid and what to consider about the internet and the air.

China is a very safe country for tourists: serious street crime is rare, and you can walk around cities calmly even late in the evening.

What is reassuring

  • A low level of theft and violence, and video surveillance everywhere.
  • Developed infrastructure and high-speed transport.

What to keep in mind

  • Petty scams: the classic is the “tea ceremony” or “art students” who lure you into a café or gallery with a bill of hundreds of dollars. Politely decline invitations on the street.
  • The air: in the megacities there is sometimes smog — watch the AQI index in an app.
  • Language: little English is spoken; an offline translator and your hotel address in Chinese characters are a must.
  • Get medical insurance.

A couple more nuances

  • Traffic: pedestrian priority is often ignored — cross carefully even on green.
  • Taxis: near stations and airports do not get in with touts — call DiDi or use the official queue.

Emergency numbers

110 is the police, 120 the ambulance, 119 the fire service. Keep your hotel address written in Chinese characters.