How Safe is China for Solo Travellers, Females, Families in 2025?
I’ve been in China on-and-off since birth and permanently since 2022. It is by far the safest place I’ve ever visited, having travelled to 20 countries across Europe and Asia. Not just me, I’ve had this discussion with various European friends. All of them say that China feels far safer than their home countries.
There is peace of mind for me here - I don’t have to worry about my personal safety. Violent crime is extremely low in China - not just because the statistics say so. This is a list of personal examples in China that I did not dare to do in my country of birth:
📍 Real-life examples
Walking home alone at 2am from the cinema.
Regularly cycling across town at night.
Going to any park in the evening and seeing ladies chatting, children playing, and elderly people dancing.
Travelling to over 25 cities as a solo traveller and never experiencing or seeing any physical violence myself.
Not having to be on alert and wonder whether that guy walking straight towards me is gonna do something aggressive.
👜 Is petty crime common?
I don’t worry about my phone, laptop, or bags getting stolen or snatched.
I often leave my iPad unattended at the coffee shop while I pop to the toilet or go buy some food. I see some laptops unattended for many hours. Many people do the same.
Since China mostly uses digital payments, I don’t carry much cash either and sometimes none. I have never seen any thieves or pickpockets, but I have seen them in other countries even though I was only there for 3 days.
🚇 What about public transport?
It’s the same with public transport. I often take the last train home. I often see more girls than guys on the metro late at night.
All metro and railway stations have metal detectors and X-ray scanners for bags, so no one can take weapons onto the train. That makes it a lot safer. Sometimes, you might see train guards patrol the carriages, who greatly increase the sense of security. So, if you’re in China, feel free to stay out until the early hours.
Taking DiDi is also very safe, but remember to use your common sense. Most cars have cameras recording the journey and the app has an emergency button. So the drivers are accountable to the platform. Unlicensed off-platform drivers are slightly riskier, but that’s up to you.
🙋🏻♂️ What does it feel like?
Some first time visitors to China have never experienced how liberating it is to be feel very safe in public places, not needing to worry about your belongings, and stay out as late as you want. That applies to all ages, gender, sexual orientation.
The female friends and family friends I have asked tell me they feel the same. Except my mother (haha). Because she worries about belongings being stolen no matter where we are in the world. But it’s never happened in China. I suppose in most societies, we have been conditioned to look out for our stuff. However, the level of safety in China means that many Chinese tourists mistakenly aren’t on alert when they go on vacation abroad.
Yes, it’s true that cameras are everywhere, but guess what. If you ask people, the vast majority of citizens would tell you they want the cameras everywhere. Like most people, I feel safer because I know that criminals will be caught on camera in the majority of situations, and there is visual evidence if something does happen. So, many would-be criminals decide it’s not worth the punishment. Like they say, only the criminals don’t want the cameras.
The thing is that in China, practically all criminals are caught and punished harshly. Violent crimes have strict punishment, so it really does deter a lot of bad people knowing they have to face accountability. Remember - China has capital punishment for the most serious crimes and I know that makes a big difference. China also doesn’t do guns or drugs, so that massively enhances public safety compared to other countries.
This combination of strong enforcement, harsh punishment, and culture in Chinese society means that it’s extremely safe for anyone to visit China. Not to mention, China uses some of the most technologically advanced technology to tackle crime.
✅ The reality
Look, you may have heard a lot of negative things from media in your country. Most of what you see on news websites back home is total lies and BS. If you’re reading this article, you probably already suspected it. I encourage you to come and experience it yourself.
I’m not saying there is zero crime in China (does any place exist?). Scams are rarer nowadays, but foreigners are still targeted sometimes. As a visible foreigner, you may find strangers approaching you or staring at you. In most situations, they are probably just curious about you and might even want a photo. However, a few might look to sell you something and even overcharge you for it.
Also, watch out for any drivers who are offering you a ride without you asking. You should pay a little more attention in the countryside, since there are less cameras and people around.
If you are meeting anyone from online apps, be on your guard because they could either have a fake profile or they want to take you to a bar (someone tried that on me under the pretence of a coffee meetup once, but tried me to take me to a bar - I refused to go and left immediately). You should be on alert.
Not saying all of them are scammers, most people are genuine. But you should be aware of them. Use your common sense and say no, if you’re suspicious. Don’t do anything which sounds too good to be true.
So, if you are a solo traveller, a female, or travelling with kids, you really don’t have much to worry about, because China is one of the safest countries in the world. If you’ve travelled to any other countries outside of East Asia, you’ll feel a freedom of safety here. It’s the road safety that you should pay more attention to. Read my article, 6 Traffic Rules You Need to Know as a Tourist in China.
Read this Reddit thread Safety for women. Take a look at some of the China videos from female or family China YouTubers, if you’re still hesitant.
⚠️ My Top Tips For You -> Pay More Attention to:
Road Safety = always be aware of your surroundings and look in all directions
Crowded Spaces = you can’t really avoid them but finding less crowded spots would be more pleasant for you.
Weather = there are occasional typhoons and heavy rainstorms in some parts of the country so just be aware of any alerts, especially during the summer season.
