Home : China Tour Tips when travelling China :

Safety and Security in China

On the whole, China is a safe country. However, China is not a country we could claim as totally safe. Petty thefts and scams targeting at foreign tourists are on the rise. Thus, gainning a basic knowledge of some potential risks will make your trip more secure and safe.


1. Following are some useful tips for travelling safely in China.
-You may not invite visitors to your hotel room. Meet them at the hotel lobby.

-Make sure the door and window of your hotel room is locked at all times, especially when you are staying at a hotel with poor security system. Lock your money and all valuables in the hotel safe while you are away.

-Keep a low profile or you may make yourself a target to the pickpockets.

-Losing your wallet to a pick pocket may spoil your vacation. So be on the alert while you are in a crowded and chaotic place such as subway, train station, elevator, market and etc. To be more secured, you may wear a money belt around your waist. Items kept in back pockets, back packs, or bags/purses swung over a shoulder are most likely to be stolen.

-To avoid carrying large amounts of cash, change your traveler checks only when you need currency. Deal only with authorized agents such as Bank of China when exchange money. Do NOT exchange money on the black market, because you will make yourself in trouble as it's illegal and sometimes you might be ripped off.

-Keep some small changes(RMB10, 20 or 50RMB) with you. It will save you from getting counterfeit bill. There are increasing reports of counterfeit currency in circulation.

-Keep an extra eye out while you are crossing the street. Some drivers may not have a high sense of safe driving. So be sure to look both ways for cars and even bicycles. Also, have a check before getting out of vehicles.

-Respect local laws and customs.

2. Common Scams
-If somebody approaches to change a dollar bill, just walk away. This is a common scam to get the chance to rob you of your purse.

-Be alert if someone offer to show you around or invite you for a tea at a nearby restaurant to ' practice English. You may be left with the bill. In fact, most of people in China do genuinely want to help. So if you are encountered with such offer, you may recommend going to Starbucks, KFC or other big chain.

-Reports of ATM scams are on the rise, including the use of fake AMTs that take the user's card or money in the card. We suggest using ATMs while you are accompanied and during daytime.

-Begging is quite common in train stations, long-term bus stations or other crowded place around the country. Sometimes, even for a local people, it's difficult to tell if the beggar is telling the truth or not. So, please be aware of your surroundings if you do feel appropriate to offer some money. If the place is crowded with a lot of children beggars, we may suggest to ignore them, as when you offered one money, the others will ask for it too. And scams like this do exit.

-Sometimes, we were told by our clients that they were asked by an itinerant Buddhist monks for alms. And most of the time, they feel so pressured that they donated some money. Watch out for the situation. Even for us, it's hard to tell if the monks are genuine or not.




3.How to distinguish fake Chinese RMB? There are some tips for you to follow.
-Ruffle the bill in your hands. The sound should be clear and distinct. If not, it may be counterfeit. Sometimes, it's really difficult to tell the difference by this way if the bills are very old and worn.

-Check the green 100 sign(golden 50 sign in a 50 bill) below the serial number. Observing the sign from different angles, you will see color change. The 100 sign will change from green to blue while 50 sign change from golden to green. If there is no such color change, it's a counterfeit.

-Hold the bill up to check the white space in the light, you will see a clear picture of Chairman Mao's face. If it's a fake, the outline is blurred. And if you check the white space to the right of the green 100 sign, you will see a water mark '100 or 50' on the bill if it's a real bill.

-Rub your thumb gently again the collar or hair on the big picture of Chairman Mao, you will feel resistance. The picture is intaglio print. If the texture is smooth, it's a fake one.

-Check the coin sign between the white space and big 100 sign on the front. If the note is real, you will see the coin sign join perfectly with the one on the back of the note. If this two can NOT be coincide with each other, it's a fake one.