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

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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

4.5 /5

based on 44 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4.4/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

3.5/5

Pudong, Solo travel

Shanghai was amazing! I stayed for 5 days but wish I stayed longer. Everything was so cheap and the transport system (metro) made it so that you could anywhere very quickly since there's metros stops everywhere connected in a grid. The food is very cheap too but lots of overpriced tourist traps. Overall I felt safe but being a non-aisan women will definitely get you a lot of looks from men. People also spat on the street which was very shocking. The people are very friendly, especially students. Customer service is strange, not that friendly but still helpful.

Posted: July 2, 2025Experienced: May, 2025
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Anastasiia

Anastasiia

Russia

Qingdao, Solo travel

Qingdao Travel Recap 🇨🇳 Safety: Felt very safe—clean, relaxed vibe, even at night. Must-Do: • Zhanqiao Pier for iconic views • Badaguan for colonial architecture • Laoshan Mountain for hiking • Tsingtao Beer Museum for fun and beer tasting • May Fourth Square for city photos Skip: • Crowded beaches in peak summer • Overpriced seafood at tourist traps Food Recs: • Jiaozhou Bay Seafood Street – fresh local dishes • YiQingLou Dumplings – great local dumplings • Try Tsingtao beer fresh from the source! Budget: ~$50–$80/day including food, attractions & transit. Stay: Le Meridien Qingdao – modern, central. Also try guesthouses in Badaguan for charm. Getting Around: Easy—buses, metro, and Didi (China’s Uber) all work well. Metro signs are in English.

Posted: June 11, 2025
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Ivanira

Ivanira

Portugal

China, Family travel

Growing up and studying in China was one of the most eye-opening and unforgettable adventures of my life. From navigating bustling markets and constantly sipping hot drinks, to eating 麻辣香锅 and everything else until I had enough (just kidding 😅 — I could never get enough of Chinese food), it was a sensory feast from day one. I slowly but surely began to master Mandarin (still a work in progress!) and used it to connect with the curious and friendly locals. Whether wandering ancient temples or weaving through lively city streets, state-of-the-art malls, I was forever enamored. Immersing myself in such a rich, vibrant culture taught me adaptability, curiosity, and the art of making anywhere feel like home. 我爱🇨🇳

Posted: May 31, 2025
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Guilin, Group travel

I spent 4–5 days traveling through Guilin and Yangshuo with my a friend, and it was stunning although super hot. We definitely felt safe the entire time, though we didn’t stay out too late in the evenings—our days were full enough without needing to. One of the highlights was the boat ride in Yangshuo. The scenery was unreal—limestone peaks rising out of the water, soft mist in the air—it felt like stepping into a painting. Another unforgettable part of the trip was our visit to Longsheng. The rice terraces were stunning, especially from higher up. Photos really don’t do it justice. We also met so many warm and welcoming people. Whether it was in small shops, local restaurants, or on the road, people were kind and open. The food was amazing—fresh, flavorful.

Posted: May 29, 2025
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Nicoleta

Nicoleta

Italy

Chongqing, Group travel

I totally recommend this city, called also the cyber city. It’s full of life and I felt totally safe, I was with a girl friend and a boy, and we had so much fun, the only difficulty is that maybe if you are not well organized it’s difficult to get into the attractions because of the language barrier

Posted: May 10, 2025
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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
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Is China safe for women?

Safety index

4.8 /5

Based on 53 local experiences

Crime index

2 /5

Based on 53 local experiences

Lilou

Lilou

Beijing

Beijing and China in general is a very safe place for women and for everyone. There are cameras everywhere on the streets and people don't really go out at night, when I go outside at night I know noone will get on my way. I always feel safe and can let my purse out of sight for a few minutes (if I go to the toilet for example) and I know everything will still be in place when I come back. I give 2 stars about the fact that you can get "physically attacked" because strangers can actually come to you and start touching your hair or your bracelet (one day I was wearing a bracelet with spikes and a man came and said "oh this is pretty" touched it) or your skin if you are brown or black. But I want to say that these people are not actually willing to hurt you, it's because China is not really a diverse country and they are just curious and might not have the same private space boundaries as I have (in France). You can always feel that people's intentions are not mean so you still feel secure, but if you don't like physical touch or strangers talking to you, I just want to let you know. I recommend this country for its safety.

Posted: July 1, 2025
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Muyi

Muyi

Xi'an

Xi’an is my hometown,which is a secondary and historical city in China.u don’t have to worry about robbing and safety.most people are nice and friendly.But maybe if u dress so bold which will receive some male gaze.and as a foreigner woman,probably will get a lot of stares ,but mostly are out of curiosity.

Posted: June 28, 2025
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Safety in China