Safety & Health

The numbers that matter

Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119, traffic accident 122, foreign-affairs hotline 12308. Operators in major cities handle English; if not, hand the phone to any nearby local — help is seconds away. Save 12308 (consular protection) for serious issues.

Your country's embassy in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Wuhan are reachable around the clock via their emergency lines.

• 110 — police
• 120 — ambulance
• 119 — fire
• 122 — traffic accidents
• 12308 — consular assistance & protection hotline
• Your embassy's 24h emergency line — save it before you fly

Staying findable

Share your itinerary with someone at home and check in every few days. Screenshot your hotel address in Chinese. If you're hiking or heading to remote areas, tell your hotel where you're going — staff are genuinely helpful and will raise the alarm if you don't return.

A cheap local SIM with data is your best safety device: maps, translation and calls all ride on it.

If you need a doctor

Chinese hospitals are excellent and inexpensive by western standards. For foreigners, international clinics and hospital 'international departments' (in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) offer English-speaking doctors at higher fees. A standard city hospital consultation costs ¥50-200; emergency care is walk-in, no appointment.

Bring your passport to registration. Payment by card or Alipay works. Pharmacies (yàofáng) dispense many medications over the counter that need prescriptions at home — staff can advise in English in city centres.

• City hospitals: walk-in, no appointment, ¥50-200 per visit
• International departments: English-speaking, higher cost, book ahead
• Pharmacies sell many OTC meds without prescription
• Pack your regular medications with prescriptions/boxes — customs checks apply to controlled items

The health prep that pays off

Travel insurance is essential — not because China is risky (it's very safe) but because an unexpected hospital bill or a cancelled trek can be costly. Check your policy covers China, includes hospitalisation and evacuation, and buy one that pays direct.

Vaccinations: standard travel shots suffice for most visitors (check hepatitis A/B and tetanus). Altitude: Lhasa (3,650m), Shangri-La (3,300m) and Jiuzhaigou (3,100m) need acclimatisation days. Air quality in winter Beijing can be poor — carry N95 masks if sensitive.

Food and water discipline

Drink bottled water (cheap, everywhere). Street food is safe when it's cooked fresh and busy; take a probiotic daily and pack rehydration salts for the classic 'new country tummy'. Pepto-Bismol and Imodium are available locally in pharmacies.

If symptoms persist beyond 48 hours, see a doctor — Chinese hospitals handle this routinely.

The 'tea house' invitation

A friendly local (often a student) invites you for tea or to an 'art exhibition'. You end up in a tea house where a 'hostess' pours expensive tea and presents a ¥2,000-10,000 bill. The defence: never follow a stranger to an unplanned venue, no matter how friendly. This is the oldest and rarest scam in China — and the only one you need to remember.

If it happens, pay the minimum to leave safely and report to police at 110. Don't escalate physically.

Taxi meter tricks

A taxi driver 'forgets' the meter or claims it's broken, then quotes a flat 'tourist price' 2-3x the real fare. The defence: insist on the meter, or book via DiDi where the price is fixed in-app. Major airports and train stations have official taxi queues with no haggling.

Screenshotted routes in DiDi show the fair price — useful evidence if challenged.

The 'closed today' redirect

A tout tells you the attraction is closed and offers to take you to another — usually a commission-paying shop or show. The defence: attractions in China are almost never spontaneously closed; verify with the official booking app or the venue's own page. Say 'no thanks' firmly and walk on.

Touts cluster at tourist spots; a confident 'bù yào, xièxie' (no, thanks) ends it instantly.

What's actually risky in China

Not crime — traffic. Scooters ignore red lights, cars cut across lanes, and crossings are advisory. Look both ways twice, don't trust the green man, and walk defensively. Also real: altitude in the west, winter cold in the north, summer heat and humidity in the south, and steep mountain paths at attractions.

Street crime is remarkably rare; petty theft in crowded markets is the main threat — phone in a zipped pocket, bag worn across the front.

Solo and night travel

China is safe for solo travellers of all genders, including at night in well-lit cities. Standard sense applies: avoid unlit back streets late, use DiDi rather than hailing at 2am, and tell your hotel your plan. Night markets and riverside promenades are lively and safe until late.

Women travelling solo report high comfort levels; the main annoyances are stares in rural areas — harmless, occasionally uncomfortable, best met with a smile and a brisk walk.

Staying legally sound

Three rules keep you fully legal: (1) always carry your passport — police checks do happen, especially near borders and in Xinjiang/Tibet; (2) don't overstay your visa-free/transit window — extensions require a visit to the Exit-Entry Bureau before expiry; (3) avoid drones near airports, military zones and crowded areas without permits.

Marijuana is illegal in China, even in small amounts and even for medical use — this is the one thing that can end a trip badly. Don't bring it, don't buy it.