Is China Safe? Travel Safety in China
 

This summer I'm thinking of a trip to China, the usual route of Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong. Is it safe to go? Will I have any problems being a foreigner?

The news keeps talking about riots and outbreaks. My parents are nervous something bad will happen. Should I go or not?

China is NOT safe, not now, not ever. That's why they scheduled the Olympics there.

Actually, we ask that trolls not post on this site. Go bother other people who might take your questions seriously.

For a foreigner China is quite safe, super safe in HK and very safe in Beijing and Shanghai, provided that you do not partake of what is considered inappropriate behaviour such as supporting Tibetan independence

I think that China is pretty safe unless you critisize Chines government or Chinese people. Recent incidents around the world are showing the outburst of nationalism in China.

I don't usually hang out on the Asia forum, but since I'm in the process of planning a trip, I'm here.

The OP's question might be a bit naive, but given the news footage we've seen lately, I understand why someone might ask that question, Kathie. I wouldn't fault anyone for posing it to this board. :)

For this summer, don't pretend you're French, and avoid shopping at Carrefour. If you ARE French, say you're Dutch or something...

Don't wear orange color clothings, and don't talk about Tibet.

Everyone else has responded to this question as if it were genuine. Perhaps it is. But it smacks of a regular troll who posts only on weekends so his post stays around for a while before the moderators remove it.

Kathie, your first answer sounds like an HT answer ;)

Aloha!

HT, I thought of you when I posted it!

Treating this like a legit question cause I know lots of Americans who might ask it.
We (two old folks in 60's) just got back last week from 18 days all over China and we say GO GO GO. We are politically extremely sophisticated and saw it as an opportunity to see a nation in the middle of vast changes - but it turned out to still be standing very still in so many ways.
But, to your concern - we found it extremely safe. The Chinese appear quite afraid of their government, hence, no law breaking and regimentation is commonplace and they want very much to positively impress the wider world particularly in this year of the Olympics. (As we flew into and out of Beijing, I said to my husband we were probably on the safest airplane with the safest pilot in the safest airport in the world - they are so eager to not make mistakes). The average person on the street is remarkably friendly. They don't speak English but their eyes smile when you try a simple NeeHow (hello) or She she (thank you) And the young ones who are learning want so to talk with you eveywhere and anywhere. Try to read as much as you can about the Chinese people before you go, their amazing history, culture, beliefs and the importance of "face". It explains a lot. Don't try to argue politics (that's only polite). It's an excellent chance to observe Communism & Capitalism operating hand in hand.
By the way, we traveled from Chengdu, near Tibet to Beijing, Hong Kong, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin and never saw a demonstration. Nor any hostility. And do remember, they don't have an open press, nor the money for easy access to the Internet so they don't really always know what's going on in their own country.

I've found China safe and there is quite a lot to see there to make it worth going. The people are friendly but always seem to be busy with other things. Sure the government have control issues but if you had not already come across it in the media, as a tourist you would have known nothing about it.

I am going to China this summer for the Olympics, and I can't wait! I am really exited about going, but also a little nervous because of all of the things going on in China right now (the earthquake a month ago, health scares, politics and terrorism, etc). So I completely understand your question.

I’m keeping an eye on the U.S. Department of State’s Web site and the official Olympics Web site for anything and everything related to China. You want to make sure you get all the necessary shots. If your immunizations are up to date, you probably will only have to get vaccinated for Typhoid, Rabies and Hepatitis A and B. I’m also getting trip cancellation and travel medical insurance in case anything was to happen. There is a local out of Indiana named Seven Corners who has an Olympics travel insurance package to cover my Olympic ticket cost, plane trip and medical expenses, so I feel like I'm covered there.

Nervous or not, you should definitely go.

I think the relative absence of crime and disorder in China owes much more to Chinese traditional social mores than fear of the government. Although the consequences for law-breakers may be more severe than in western countries, the Public Security Bureau isn't generally seen as a threatening presence. Chinese core values lean much more to the collective than American-style individualism. Respect for the extended family, the clan and the state tends to determine what's considered appropriate public behaviour.

dbirdlover, I can think of few countries where terrorism and "politics" would be less of a threat than in China, and worrying about the earthquake when you're in Beijing is a bit like worrying about the San Andreas Fault in Iowa, or Hurricane Katrina in Idaho. Likewise outbreaks of discontent on the part of some ethnic minorities are sporadic and a long way from Beijing. It's a huge, diverse and fascinating country.

drbirdlover, you give a good list of routine traveller's vaccines that everyone going to CHina (or elsewhere) should have. But Rabies is not a routine vaccine, and is not necessary for the vast majority of travellers to China. Check with a travel medicine or tropical medicine clinic before you go.

Having recently returned from China, I can only say that the most dangerous aspect of the trip was getting to and from our local airport.

I disagree. I think traveling on China's expressway/freeway is the most dangerous part of traveling to/in China. It's more dangerous than I going to/from IAH, per mile/km travel.

I go for business 2-3 times a year and also lived there many years ago for a summer studying. I never felt unsafe 14 years ago and still feel safe in Shanghai and beijing now. I get taxis to functions by myself and often eat out alone. Usually my work colleague is with me and she is Chinese but even she said its very safe and she is from the country side living in Shanghai.

China in the buig cities rival New york with its buzz and metropolitan feel and then pockets of old china will seep through on side streets and restaurants. Its perfectly safe.

Whether the OP was trolling or not this is a legitimate question. My wife and I are just back from a month in China and before we went we had read reports about reactions to western media coverage of Tibet, demonstrations at Carrefour and so on. The question of how some people might treat us did cross our minds.

At no time did we encounter any issues. Chinese people we met were unfailingly polite, good-natured, good-humoured and courteous. Some of the places we went were very much off the tourist beat and in these we were the cause of great surprise to many people who obviously did not expect to see westerners walking their streets, but their surprise was apparent through dropped jaws rather than any hostility.

Many people (especially tinies) wanted to say 'hello' and a number wanted to practise their English. A few even wanted their picture taken with us.

Someone above made specific reference to the French. One thing that was obvious was that there were a lot of French tourists around, some of our guides said a lot more than usual this year. They didn't appear to encounter problems, but then I doubt if many Chinese would easily recognise the difference between French or any other European.

The only 'safety' issue that concerned us was traffic until we worked out how the locals cross the road.

Wasleys: agree with you 100% -- we were treated with great courtesy, care, and good humor everywhere we went in China, day or night, city center or hutong, by the shore or by the rice paddy.