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

4.4 /5

based on 36 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.5/5

Safety

4.5/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

3.6/5

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Josh

Josh

Germany

Shanghai, Solo travel

Its pretty safe traveling in Shanghai, or most big cities in China. In Shanghai, i went to see a football game, went to Disneyland, went to see an opera, and taste some traditional food, beer and coffee. They are all recommended. Shanghai is also known as coffee city in China, if you are interested in Coffee, you should definitely try some. I spent 1k CNY for the flights, 300 for 1 night hotel, the rest of nights I was couch surfing, 500 for Disney land, 300 for opera tickets, 200 for football ticket. 1k for eating and drinking. I get around mostly by shared bike. It’s really convenient, for most spots we can ride in several minutes.

Posted: November 15, 2024
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Patience

Patience

Ghana

Chengdu, Group travel

In September 2015, I went to Chengdu for a maternal health care workshop. The food was incredible! I loved the spicy hotpot and dumplings, they were some of the best I’ve ever had. I felt safe the entire time, and the locals were really friendly. Overall, it was a great experience with amazing food and a welcoming vibe.

Posted: October 24, 2024Experienced: September, 2015
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China, Solo travel

The first stop was SEG Plaza, and I saw a waterfall inside a mall for the first time, which felt quite novel. After browsing around, I headed straight to Chahua Nong. Although I've had it many times, I still wanted to have it once in Xi'an. There are really Chahua Nong stores everywhere, but having "West Lake Scenery in March" in Xi'an was quite wonderful, haha. The second stop was the Shaanxi History Museum. After trying to book for two days in the dorm, I finally got a reservation. I was really happy ^_^. I downloaded an explanation video from Bilibili in advance and listened to it while walking around. I learned a lot, found it very interesting, and highly recommend it. The third stop was the Great Tang All Day Mall. There were so many people, and everywhere there were young ladies dressed in Hanfu. Good good good.

Posted: October 17, 2024
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Marieke

Marieke

Belgium

Beijing, Solo travel

I loved Beijing. I only had time to spend two days there which was a pity. I felt very safe. I did not so much like the Dinghe hostel, which had no atmosphere. I did really like my visit to the Great Wall of China at Jinshanling. And I can also recommend the three stone kite shop, where you can buy crazy beautiful hand made kites! Besides that I took a lot of metro’s, enjoyed the 798 art scene and wandered the streets.

Posted: October 5, 2024
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Is China safe for women?

Safety index

4.7 /5

Based on 42 local experiences

Crime index

1.9 /5

Based on 42 local experiences

Danni

Danni

Shanghai

Shanghai is a very safe city. I’ve lived here for over 20 years. And I’m a jazz music fan, I would very often go jazz bar and go back home in midnight. I’m very sure that it’s very safe for a woman walking in midnight.

Posted: February 7, 2025
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China

China is a well-developed and safe country for women. Wandering in China is simple. Women's lives in China are safe and sound. Daytime and midnight share the same safety level here. Life here is less complicated and safer.

Posted: February 5, 2025
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Meet locals in China

Xiao

Xiao

About Me

I really like to make friends around the world and I love to travel a lot.

Speaking

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Viktoriya

Viktoriya

About Me

just a usual girl, travelling, studying, living life😌

Speaking

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Stay with locals in China

Xiao

Xiao

Hangzhou

Can host for:

5 days

About me

I really like to make friends around the world and I love to travel a lot.

Speaking

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Amy

Amy

Xiamen City

Can host for:

3 days

About me

I am a Chinese lady, like traveling, have visited 42 countries, Enjoy communicating with people, experience different cultures, try all kinds of food,love walking,do yoga,play badminton. I am not good at making joke, but easygoing, open-minded, like hanging out with friends.

Speaking

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Upcoming visitors to China

Pui

Pui

About Me

I am 27 years old and I live in Rotterdam. I like having deep conversations and find it very important to have a good time. If I had more time and more money, than I would have traveled a lot more to see new places.

Speaking

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Safety in China