You want to come live in China…but is it safe?
If you have never lived in China before or know relatively little about it, you are probably worried about how might safe it will be to live there. The good thing to know is that Beijing is safe.
It was recently rated a Level 2 on the United States State Department website, which is comparable to the United Kingdom and Germany (see China Travel Advisory). Just make sure you follow a travelers rule of thumb and you will be okay. Trip Advisor has said that, “In terms of crim, Beijing is probably one of the safest cities of comparable size anywhere in the world” (emphasis added). This said, as long as you try to keep yourself safe as you would anywhere else in the world, you will be fine in China.
General rule of thumb:
- Do not accept anyone trying to bring you somewhere else to get the “Chinese experience”. Most common scams in China:
- tea parlor
- student art show
- massage
- For more information, read up: From China Highlights or Travel China Cheaper blogs
- Watch your belongings, keep them in sight, and make sure you don’t leave anything behind. Even then, some things will still be there.
- Don’t go into isolated areas alone. Especially at night.
- Don’t drink water from the faucet. This is easy to avoid because you can buy water from any convenience store for a good price.
- If you aren’t serious about buying something when you are walking through a market, then don’t ask how much things are and say “no.”
- Carry your passport on you.
- Have a place to hide your cash and other ID.
Car Safety:
Accidents happen in Beijing like other parts of the world. Driving here is not as organized as the United States, London, or Germany, but drivers usually go at low speeds and are usually aware of their surroundings. As a pedestrian you should always be aware of where you are walking, because the cars and the bikes will not give you the right of way. Emergency response is not also as highly developed as the US or Canada, so be cautious.
Taxis:
Watch out for fake taxis. You can figure them out because they look like a normal car with a taxi light in their windshield. Real taxis are commonly yellow and blue in Beijing (other cities in China can be different colors). Also make sure you take the taxi receipt every time you leave, as that will increase your chances of retrieving something if you’ve accidentally left it in the taxi if that ever happens.
A good idea would be to carry the name of your hotel or your apartment (in Chinese characters) around with you so you can show it to a taxi driver if you need to. Carrying the address in Chinese is very useful and the driver will know exactly where you’re going so there is no confusion.
Don’t take the small pedicab, sanlunchu, tuktuks, or rickshaws (different words for the same thing). If you speak Chinese and can negotiate a cheaper price, it might be worth it. If you are going a far distance it will be expensive.
Bathrooms:
Bring your own toilet or tissue paper, since not all public bathrooms have them available. There may be some bathrooms that have a Western toilet where you can sit on it, but squatter toilets are more common. They might be a better place to go to the bathroom since toilets you sit on may be dirtier.
Germs:
Bring hand sanitizer or baby wipes. Some bathrooms might not have soap, so it’s nice to have a back-up. People also tend to spit, cough openly, and touch everything, so it’s a good idea to carry one around just for your inner germaphobe.
Personal Space:
It’s nonexistent in China. If you are on a subway during rush hour or in a popular tourist destination, you will be shoved and hit by people trying to get to their respective places. Always make sure your pockets are closed if you are scared of pickpocketers.
Photos:
If you don’t look like you are from China, people will probably want pictures of you. This mostly happens in tourist destinations where people from outside of Beijing have come on their own personal vacation. However, if you walk around Beijing doing your own business, people will probably not care since foreigners are becoming more and more common in Beijing. If you do not want people to take pictures of you, tell them no. They usually will comply.
Language:
Download a translation app before you come. Though a lot of Chinese people are learning English, it is always a good idea to either learn some Chinese or get an app that speaks Chinese for you. Pleco is a translation app that doesn’t require internet service.
References:
Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g294212-s206/Beijing:China:Health.And.Safety.html
China Highlights: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/guidebook/safety-security.htm
Safe Around: https://safearound.com/asia/china/beijing/
USA Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html
Safe Around: https://safearound.com/asia/china/beijing/
USA Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/china-travel-advisory.html