Is China Safe? The Short Answer — Yes.
China is generally very safe for tourists. Violent crime against foreigners is rare. The main concerns are petty crime (pickpocketing), tourist-area scams, and the general challenges of navigating a country where you don't speak the language. With basic precautions, your trip will be safe and smooth.
⚠️ The #1 Rule: Save These Numbers NOW
Before you leave for China, save these numbers in your phone — or write them down and keep them in your wallet.
🚨 Emergency Numbers in China
🚔 110
Police Emergency
Languages: Chinese (limited English in major cities)
🏥 120
Medical Emergency
Tip: In major cities, ambulances can be slow — consider taking a taxi to the hospital if the condition is not life-threatening
🔥 119
Fire Emergency
🚗 122
Traffic Accident
💡 How to Call Emergency Numbers as a Foreigner
- From a Chinese phone: Dial 110/120/119/122 directly (free calls)
- From a foreign phone: Dial +86-10-110 (Beijing) or +86-[city code]-110 for police. For ambulance: +86-120
- For non-emergency police matters: Go directly to the nearest police station (派出所). English support is better at tourist-area police stations in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an
🏛️ Your Consulate — Your Most Important Resource in a Crisis
If you're arrested, robbed of all documents, or facing a serious emergency, your consulate is your most important point of contact. They can help with:
- Emergency passport issuance
- Contacting family or friends back home
- Connecting you with local lawyers
- Assistance during medical emergencies
- Advice and support if you've been a crime victim
Major Consulates in Beijing & Major Cities
| Country | Beijing Embassy | Emergency Phone |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | +86-10-8531-4000 | +86-10-8531-4000 (24h) |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | +86-10-8529-6600 | +86-10-8529-6600 (24h) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | +86-10-5139-4400 | +86-10-5139-4400 (24h) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | +86-10-5140-1100 | +86-10-5140-1100 (24h) |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | +86-10-8532-7000 | +86-10-8532-7000 |
| 🇪🇺 EU (main switchboard) | +86-10-8454-8200 | Varies by country |
For the most up-to-date consulate information, visit your country's official foreign affairs ministry website before traveling.
⚠️ Common Scams & How to Avoid Them
China's tourist scam ecosystem has evolved — most are financially motivated but not violent. Awareness is your best defense.
🍵 The "Tea House" Scam (Most Common)
How it works: A friendly local (often young woman or "art student") approaches you in a tourist area (Wangfujing in Beijing, Xi'an Muslim Quarter, etc.), speaks excellent English, and invites you to a "traditional tea ceremony" at a nearby tea house. You agree. The bill arrives: ¥2,000–¥5,000 for mediocre tea.
How to avoid:
- If someone approaches you unsolicited and speaks English enthusiastically, be wary — polite but firm refusal is fine
- Ask for a menu with prices BEFORE ordering anything
- If you've been scammed, call 110. Police in tourist areas take tea scam reports seriously
🚕 "Wrong Car" / Fake Taxi Scam
How it works: A taxi driver claims the meter is broken and demands a fixed (inflated) price — or you get into an unmarked "taxi" and the driver takes a much longer route.
How to avoid:
- Only use Didi (滴滴出行) app or official taxi stands — not street-corner hails
- Check that the taxi displays its license number and has a functioning meter
- If overcharged, say "Wei zhe tai gui le" (太贵了, "too expensive") and get out
🎭 "Photo with Costumes" Scam
How it works: At popular photo spots, people in traditional costumes approach you offering photos — then demand ¥50-200 after you've taken the picture.
How to avoid: Politely decline any unsolicited photo offers at tourist sites
🏪 Fake / Inflated Price Shops
How it works: Some shops in tourist areas charge 3-10x the normal price to foreign tourists, especially for jade, silk, or herbal products.
How to avoid:
- Only buy from reputable stores or chain stores with price tags
- Never buy expensive items (jade, pearls) from street vendors
- If it seems too cheap or too expensive — walk away
💊 "Fake Medicine / Herbal Products" Scam
How it works: A "doctor" or "herbalist" in a tourist area recommends expensive products with unverified health claims.
How to avoid: Never buy medicine or health products from street vendors. Purchase from reputable pharmacies (like Guoda Yiyao / 国大药房, Renhe / 仁和药房).
🏥 Health & Medical Guide
Medical Care for Tourists in China
Finding a hospital: Major cities have "Foreign-Related Medical Centers" (外宾医疗中心) at their top hospitals — these have English-speaking doctors and accept international insurance.
- Beijing: Peking Union Medical College Hospital (协和医院) — international clinic; Beijing United Family Hospital
- Shanghai: Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital
- Xi'an: First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University
- Chengdu: West China Hospital (华西医院)
Tip: Carry a phrase in your phone or on paper: "我需要去医院" (wǒ xūyào qù yīyuàn — "I need to go to the hospital")
Pharmacies & Common Medications
Chinese pharmacies (药店) are common and sell many Western medications (ibuprofen, antihistamines, antacids). Bring a supply of any prescription medications you need, plus a copy of your prescription with the generic name (Chinese doctors can read English prescriptions better than brand names).
💊 Prescription Medications
- Carry all prescription medications in your original labeled containers
- Carry a doctor's letter with your medication list
- Note: Some Western medications (e.g., ADHD medications, certain opioids) are controlled substances in China — check before traveling
- Carry basic medications: anti-diarrhea (洛哌丁胺/imodium), antihistamines, ibuprofen, bandages
🔒 General Safety Tips
- Pickpocketing: Most common in crowded areas — subway rush hour, tourist sites, night markets. Use a hidden money belt for valuables; keep your phone in a zipped front pocket, not back pocket or loose hand
- ATM/card skimming: Use ATMs inside bank branches (not standalone street ATMs), and cover the keypad when entering your PIN
- Traffic: China drives on the right — but pedestrians should look BOTH ways. Jaywalking enforcement is inconsistent; don't rely on cars stopping
- Food safety: China's food safety has improved dramatically. Street food is generally safe — just use common sense (clean stalls, cooked-to-order). Tap water is not potable — drink bottled or filtered water
- VPN: If you need access to foreign websites or communication apps, download and configure a VPN before arriving — see our VPN guide →
📋 Emergency Preparedness Checklist
- ✅ Save emergency numbers in your phone (110, 120, +86-10-12308 [foreign affairs hotline])
- ✅ Save your consulate's 24-hour emergency number
- ✅ Keep a photocopy of your passport in cloud storage (Google Drive, etc.) AND a physical copy in your hotel safe
- ✅ Register with your home country's travel notification program (e.g., US: STEP; UK: FCDO travel registration)
- ✅ Share your itinerary with a family member or friend back home
- ✅ Download offline maps of China (Baidu Maps or maps.me) before arriving
- ✅ Carry ¥200-500 cash in a separate location from your wallet
- ✅ Download a translation app (Google Translate or Pleco) with offline Chinese language packs
- ✅ Get travel insurance that covers medical evacuation — China's public hospitals require upfront payment; international insurance will reimburse you later
中国安全吗？答案是——总体安全！
中国总体而言对游客非常安全。针对外国人的暴力犯罪极为罕见。主要隐患是轻微盗窃（扒窃）、旅游区欺诈，以及语言不通带来的日常挑战。做好基本防护，您的旅程将安全顺畅。
⚠️ 第一准则：现在就把这些号码存好！
出发前，将以下号码存入手机——或写在纸上随身携带。
🚨 中国紧急电话
🚔 110
报警
语言：中文（主要城市有有限英文）
🏥 120
急救
提示：主要城市急救车可能较慢——如非危及生命的情况，可考虑打车前往医院
🔥 119
火灾
🚗 122
交通事故
💡 外国人如何拨打中国紧急电话
- 用中国手机：直接拨打110/120/119/122（免费通话）
- 用外国手机：拨打+86-区号-110（如北京+86-10-110）；急救：+86-120
- 非紧急警务：直接前往就近派出所；旅游区派出所（北京、上海、西安）英文服务较好
🏛️ 领事馆——危机时刻最重要的依靠
如果被捕、所有证件被盗或面临重大紧急情况，领事馆是您最重要的联系渠道，可协助：
- 紧急护照补发
- 联系国内家人或朋友
- 对接当地律师
- 医疗紧急情况协助
- 犯罪受害援助与建议
主要城市领事馆联系方式
| 国家 | 北京大使馆 | 紧急电话 |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 美国 | +86-10-8531-4000 | +86-10-8531-4000（24小时） |
| 🇬🇧 英国 | +86-10-8529-6600 | +86-10-8529-6600（24小时） |
| 🇨🇦 加拿大 | +86-10-5139-4400 | +86-10-5139-4400（24小时） |
| 🇦🇺 澳大利亚 | +86-10-5140-1100 | +86-10-5140-1100（24小时） |
| 🇳🇿 新西兰 | +86-10-8532-7000 | +86-10-8532-7000 |
⚠️ 常见欺诈与防范指南
🍵 "茶馆"欺诈（最常见）
手法：在旅游区（如北京王府井、西安回民街），一名"本地人"（通常是年轻女性或"艺术生"）用流利英文主动搭讪，邀请您参加"传统茶艺表演"——账单来了：¥2,000–¥5,000。
防范方法：
- 对主动搭讪且英文流利的陌生人保持警惕——礼貌拒绝即可
- 点任何东西前，先问清价格菜单
- 如已被骗，拨打110报警——旅游区派出所对此类案件处理认真
🚕 "假出租车/绕路"欺诈
手法：出租车司机声称计价器坏了，收取固定（虚高）价格——或者上了"黑车"绕远路。
防范方法：
- 仅使用滴滴出行App或正规出租车候车点——不要在路边拦车
- 确认出租车证照齐全、计价器正常工作
- 如被宰价，说"太贵了"然后下车
🎭 "服装拍照"欺诈
手法：在热门拍照点，有人主动提供传统服装拍照——拍完后索要¥50-200。
防范方法：对旅游区任何主动的拍照邀请礼貌说不
🏪 景区虚高标价/假冒商品
手法：部分旅游区商店对外国游客标价是正常价格的3-10倍，尤其是玉石、丝绸、保健品。
防范方法：仅在有明码标价牌的正规商店购买；不要在街边小贩处购买贵重物品
🏥 医疗健康指南
在华外籍游客就医
如何找医院：主要城市顶级医院设有"外宾医疗中心"，配有英文医生并接受国际保险。
- 北京：北京协和医院（国际医疗部）、北京和睦家医院
- 上海：瑞金医院、上海市第一妇婴保健院
- 西安：西安交通大学第一附属医院
- 成都：四川大学华西医院
小贴士：在手机或纸上保存这句话："我需要去医院"
药房与非处方药
中国药店（药店）很常见，出售多种西药（布洛芬、抗组胺药、抗酸剂）。携带您需要的处方药备用，并附上处方复印件（用通用名而非品牌名，中国医生阅读英文处方更容易）。
💊 处方药物注意事项
- 将处方药放在原包装中携带
- 随行附上医生开具的药物清单
- 注意：某些西方药物（如ADHD药物、部分阿片类药物）在中国属管制药品——出发前请核实
- 建议携带：止泻药、抗组胺药、布洛芬、创可贴
🔒 通用安全提示
- 防盗：地铁高峰、旅游景点、夜市等拥挤场所高发。将手机放在前面口袋而非后袋；使用防盗腰包存放贵重物品
- ATM防克隆：使用银行内ATM（而非路边独立ATM）；输入密码时遮挡键盘
- 交通安全：中国靠右行驶，但行人过马路需"左右看"；不要依赖车辆让行
- 饮食安全：中国食品安全状况已大幅改善。街头小吃基本安全——选择干净、看厨师现场制作的摊位即可。自来水不可直接饮用，建议饮用瓶装水
- VPN：如需访问境外网站或通讯应用，请入境前下载并配置好VPN——查看VPN指南 →
📋 紧急情况准备清单
- ✅ 在手机中保存紧急号码（110、120、外交部全球领事保护热线+86-10-12308）
- ✅ 保存本国领事馆24小时紧急联系电话
- ✅ 在云端（Google Drive等）和酒店保险箱各存一份护照复印件
- ✅ 在本国政府旅行登记系统注册（如美国STEP、英国FCDO旅行登记）
- ✅ 将行程分享给国内家人或朋友
- ✅ 入境前下载中国离线地图（百度地图英文版或maps.me）
- ✅ 在与钱包不同的地方随身携带¥200-500现金
- ✅ 下载翻译App（Google Translate或Pleco），并下载离线中文语言包
- ✅ 购买含医疗转运保障的旅行保险——中国公立医院需先付押金；国际保险可事后报销