Is It Safe to Travel to China?

For many people looking to take a trip for business or pleasure, one of the concerns about possible destination countries often revolves around safety.  People are generally used to the rules, laws, police forces, and levels of crime in their own native country, and do not always have a clear picture of how safe or unsafe it might be in another country, particularly if their exposure to that other country is largely through news stories and television/movies. This is often the case even with advanced, developed countries, such as China.  But travelers need not fear – China is very safe, and a welcoming place for travelers.

In this article we’ll briefly discuss some statistics, information, and advice related to safety for travelers in China, touching on both the pros and cons and trying to paint a vivid, realistic picture of what the level of public and personal safety is for visitors to China.

Crime Statistics

To start, let’s look at recent crime statistics from China, as compared to other major developed nations.  This data is from the latest cross-comparative study by the United Nations, and therefore may be several years old in order to have comparable data from every country analyzed.  Figures represent intentional homicide rate per 100,000 citizens.

Country	Rate per 100,000	%	Year
South Africa	31	0.0310	2012
Brazil	25.2	0.0252	2012
Mexico	21.5	0.0215	2012
Russia	9.2	0.0092	2012
United States	4.7	0.0047	2012
India	3.5	0.0035	2012
Canada	1.6	0.0016	2012
Australia	1.1	0.0011	2012
UK	1.0	0.0010	2011
France	1.0	0.0010	2012
China	1.0	0.0010	2010
Germany	0.8	0.0008	2011
Japan	0.3	0.0003	2011

China’s homicide rate is comparable (or lower than) most European countries, and significantly below the United States on a percentage basis.  While not the only measure of crime, by any means, this data provides an excellent foundation for our assertion that travel to and within China is certainly no more perilous than European countries or even the US.

Information and Corrected Misconceptions

Often, travelers who have never been to China get the impression (mostly from television and movies) that there is a lot of organized crime.  While this may be true to some extent, it can be compared to organized crime in other countries – the US, Russia, Japan, etc.  In all three countries, it is very clear that organized crime has very little to do with tourists and tourism – their domain largely is that of locals, industry, and business.  China is no different.  Most visitors will never have the slightest inkling or dealings with organized crime in any of these countries.

Another common misconception is that China is dangerous because of its traffic and the sheer amount of people.  While China is the most populous country on Earth (1.4 billion population), that population is spread out over a wide area.  Major cities are comparable to traffic and congestion seen in places such as New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, etc.  The majority of the rest of the country is much less densely populated.  Further, car ownership is not as common in China as Europe or America, and there are also excellent and affordable public transportation options available.

• See more on: Urban Transportation in China

An additional concern some people may have is the safety of traveling when the language is very foreign to them.  This is made more prevalent in Asian countries than, say, European countries, largely because the script of the language is not Latin-based, and therefore not something foreigners can “sort of” make out when they only speak and read English, for example. However, many Chinese in major cities – and especially in the Hong Kong area – are multi-lingual, and there are many millions who work with American counterparts remotely in factories and businesses around the country.  Therefore, there’s usually someone in an area who can speak English if you get truly stuck.  Coupled with dictionaries, apps, and the fact that many tourist areas carry signs in languages Westerners can understand, this should not be a concern.

• See more on: The Best Apps Available for Travelling China

Last but certainly not least, some people worry about the air quality and pollution.  While it is true that certain dense areas of China, such as Beijing, have significant air quality and smog issues, this becomes more of a problem over the long-term than a short-term visit.  Unless you suffer from asthma or other respiratory deficiencies, it should not pose any kind of safety or health issue to visitors.  And much of the country (especially the more scenic, inland areas) is quite beautiful with great air, blue skies, and amazing scenery.

Advice for Travelers 

In general, following the below tips can help improve the safety of a trip, to China or anywhere else around the globe.

• Learn about local laws and customs prior to a trip, to ensure you don’t unnecessarily put yourself in danger.
• Know where the local embassy is in case of unforeseen events.
• Try to bring resources with you to allow for deciphering the local languages if you get lost, stuck, confused, or otherwise need to communicate.
• Make and stick to plans for your visit, and inform friends/family of your itinerary.
• Do not bring unnecessary valuables or more cash or other negotiable funds than necessary, and do not flaunt them or lose track of them, tempting pickpockets or thieves.
• The Internet is your friend! When in doubt, research costs, rates, and similar for items and services, so you don’t get taken advantage of!
• If recommended by your country’s state department or foreign ministry, inform local officials of your travel plans/file paperwork with the local embassy.
• Always have your passport, visas, and other paperwork with you.
• You may want to ensure your smartphone contains, or a piece of paper in your wallet or purse contains, basic medical information and emergency contact(s) in clear, printed English, in case of emergency.
• Respect the locals and the local government – you are a guest in their country, and should always keep that in mind, much as you would hope guests in your own country would.

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