Is China Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

China is generally considered a safe country for solo female travelers. Cities are often busy, significantly reducing risks of getting attacked or harassed, and public transportation is reliable and widely used. Chinese people are generally friendly and helpful to foreigners. However, like anywhere else, it's important to take normal precautions, such as avoiding walking alone at night in secluded places and being aware of scams targeted at tourists.

Safety rating

Make friends while traveling solo

Get the Travel Ladies app to meet other women, find travel buddies and stay with locals for free through hospitality exchange.
Download from App StoreDownload from Google Play
Get the Travel Ladies App

How safe is China?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

China is relatively safe at night, especially in the major cities, where streets are well-lit and often bustling with people. Public safety officers patrol frequently, and CCTV cameras are common. It's advisable for solo female travelers to always be cautious and retain common sense such safety measures like keeping personal belongings close, avoiding alleys or dim-lit areas, and not accepting unsolicited offers from strangers. However, overall, many solo female travelers report feeling safe walking around Chinese cities at night.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in China is generally safe and efficient. With an extensive network of buses, subways, and taxis, one can travel through the cities with relative ease. As a solo female traveler, normal precautions still apply. Watch out for pickpockets in crowded subway cars, avoid traveling alone during late night hours and always keep a close eye on your belongings. Though instances of harassment are relatively low, it's still advisable to always be attentive about one's surroundings.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

China generally has a safe environment for female solo travellers. Street harassment is relatively low, although it can vary based on cities or regions. Most locals are respectful and helpful to foreigners. However, staring or curiosity might be mistaken as harassment, but it's usually due to the language barrier or cultural differences. Stricter laws are also in place to protect women's rights. Therefore, one can feel relatively safe while journeying through this culturally rich country.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Petty crimes like pickpocketing, bag snatching or smartphone theft do occur in China, mainly in crowded tourist areas or public transportation. However, the overall incidence is relatively low compared to other countries. As with any travel, individual vigilance and keeping your belongings secure can usually deter such incidents. The Chinese authorities also maintain a strong law enforcement presence, which further dissuades petty criminals.

Is China worth visiting?

Overall rating

4.4 /5

based on 39 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4.4/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

3.6/5
Anna

Anna

Switzerland

Asia, Solo travel

I travelled for a year in asia(japan korea vietnam laos and thailand) it was such an amazing adventure the Food of the food!!! Sooo so good the people were just amazing I’m asian but grew up in europe so connecting with my roots felt so special and for a year i spent about 7000chf (about twenty francs a day) I learned to drive motorcycles I hiked swam partied honestly I wish everyone could experience feeling so free and adventurous Totally recommend if u can explore aeound the culture is so rich and the people full of warm welcoming vibes~

Posted: April 24, 2025Experienced: April, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

China, Solo travel

china is fun and not too expensive, the payment system is great just like in jakarta. y’all can use alipay! the food is good, and i have many fun activities in china the transportation (you can use didi ride) is cheap!! definitely will come back to china again this year

Posted: April 16, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0
Giulia

Giulia

Italy

Guilin, Solo travel

Going around in China is extremely safe, it is mandatory to always bring with yourself your passport with visa as a foreigner but apart from that you are totally free to go around also by night alone as no one with harass you.

Posted: April 13, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0
Iana

Iana

Russia

Beijing, Group travel

I was in Beijing with my friend and her husband during 144-hour transit, we were able to shop and visit Universal, Great Wall of China. I haven't tried Chinese cuisine before this trip, so I suffered a bit but the overall experience was okay. Food was quite cheap especially domestic ones. Housing was on the expensive side, of our budget. The Beijing metropolitan was really nice and comfy. As we were in transit we were not allowed to go outside Hebei district. But it was quite okay.

Posted: March 10, 2025Experienced: March, 2024
favorite_border 1
mode_comment 0

Beijing, Solo travel

Being able to speak Mandarin would reallyyyy help. But if not, i have seen folks survive on Google Translate and VPN. Use Alipay and WeChat Pay for public transport, texi, food, everything really. I use Trip.com for hotels and high speed trains.

Posted: January 31, 2025Experienced: September, 2024
favorite_border 1
mode_comment 0

China, Solo travel

Travelled 4 times to china, total spending 3 months in different province and cities. I would rate it as the safest country in the world. Welcoming and Friendly towards foreigners. Food is cheap, delicious and lots of variety.

Posted: January 28, 2025Experienced: November, 2023
favorite_border 1
mode_comment 4

Shanghai, Solo travel

Shanghai is overall safe. the night life is so fun and interesting. can’t recommend a hotel or restaurant, mostly stayed with a local friends. worth to visit just to meet new people and get the vibe of the city

Posted: January 24, 2025
favorite_border 1
mode_comment 0
Michelle

Michelle

Singapore

Hangzhou, Family travel

The overall food is yummy. The food is really fresh there. I stayed in my aunt's house. But do take note of the sound proofing of the house because it isn't that soundproof. You can hear everything that is happening outside. Even if you're living on a higher level of the building, you still can hear people talking, and the vehicle sounds. I usually walk to places we have to go. But of course there are times where I took the bus/car and some sort of car booking apps when the places are far. The car is driven by my uncle. The bus if you're not above 60 you pay $1 yuan. But if you're over 60 you pay only 0.50 yuan for the whole ride

Posted: January 5, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

China, Couple travel

I only visited Shanghai. The prices weren’t too bad and the city was definitely fun to explore. There are security cameras everywhere, so I felt pretty safe until I had got harassed on the street. It was around midnight and a guy cornered me and kept telling me how he loves me, then he started following me. Luckily there are restaurants that are open 24/7 everywhere in Shanghai so I hid in one and waited until he was gone.

Posted: January 3, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Beijing, Solo travel

Fantastic city, great food, easy to get around, but most of the attractions were very crowded (e.g. Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Summer Palace). It's very safe, with cameras literally everywhere.

Posted: November 19, 2024Experienced: September, 2024
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Is China safe for women?

Safety index

4.8 /5

Based on 49 local experiences

Crime index

2 /5

Based on 49 local experiences

Shanghai

Part of China (a very controlled country), Shanghai is the safest city I have ever visited, especially as a woman. You will never feel in danger, unsafe or even uncomfortable. The risk of being assaulted, robbed etc is extremely low (even late at night) due to the control of the government (lots of cameras) but mostly due to Chinese people's behaviour (extremely safe!!!).

Posted: May 4, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

China

China is one of the safest place for everyone, cameras are everywhere. But anyway, of course, be careful. Check about the place before you go, specially if this is a small village. In big cities (almost every city in China is big lol) you can put even your phone on the table in street and go, no one will grab it. Even (0000.1%) if this happened, ( I’m sure it’s will be foreigners, not chinees), police will find your things for 1 second, because cameras everywhere lol

Posted: May 4, 2025
favorite_border 0
mode_comment 0

Safety in China