China is generally very safe in terms of personal and physical security. You can walk through city centers at night without safety concerns.
However, there are a few common tourist traps and administrative oversights that first-time visitors should be aware of:
1. The "Tea Ceremony / English Practice" Trap
Where it occurs: Busy pedestrian shopping streets such as Beijing Road in Guangzhou, Nanjing Road in Shanghai, or Wangfujing in Beijing.
How it works: Friendly young people approach you asking to practice their English or asking for help taking a photo. After chatting, they invite you to a nearby traditional tea tasting or art show. When finished, you are presented with an inflated bill (often well over 1,000 RMB).
2. Unlicensed Airport Taxis ("Black Cabs")
When exiting the baggage claim at Baiyun Airport (CAN) or Guangzhou South Railway Station, unofficial drivers may approach you saying "Taxi, taxi?".
They often charge several times the standard meter fare. Always follow the official overhead airport signs to the Official Taxi Queue or use in-app Didi through Alipay.
3. Hotel Foreign Guest Registration
In China, all accommodations must register foreign guests with the local police within 24 hours. Some small budget inns or informal apartments lack the proper license or system to register foreign passports.
Practical advice: Before you book, check the property page for a note about foreign guests, or message the hotel to confirm it can register a foreign passport. Keep a backup hotel in mind for your first night, in case a small hotel turns you away at check-in.
4. Fake or Unofficial Ticket Sellers
Tickets for big sights like the Forbidden City are real-name tickets linked to your passport, so they can't be resold on the street. Anyone selling "tickets" or "skip-the-line passes" near an entrance is a risk. Start with the sight's official website or app. The Forbidden City has an official English booking site that takes foreign passports. Platforms such as Trip.com can be convenient, but they are resellers and usually add a markup. Also note that the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays (except public-holiday Mondays) and doesn't sell same-day tickets.
5. Strangers Who Want Your Payment Code
Never show your Alipay or WeChat payment code to a stranger, never let someone scan it "to check" it, and never share your passwords or text-message codes. Your payment code is only for a real checkout, where the cashier scans it or you scan theirs.
6. Paid "Help" With Your Entry Paperwork
Whether you need a visa depends on your passport, and the rules change often, so check with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country. Foreign visitors also fill in an arrival card. Since November 2025 you can fill it in online before you fly, for free, on the National Immigration Administration site or in its 12367 app. If you don't, you can still fill it in at the airport with a QR code, a self-service terminal, or a paper card. Some third-party sites charge a fee to do this for you. If a site asks you to pay for the arrival card, it isn't the official one. I can't give visa advice, but I'm happy to point you to the right official source.
The China Arrival Guide (PDF)
All four guides bundled in one clean PDF, so you can check instructions anytime—even offline or mid-flight.