Is China safe for tourists?
Yes, in the sense that violent crime against visitors is rare, but that is not the same as no risk. The realistic dangers are petty scams such as inflated tea-house or bar bills and unlicensed taxis, road traffic, and terrain on the Great Wall and mountain routes. Take the same basic precautions you would anywhere and carry your passport.
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Street crime is uncommon and the things most likely to cost you money are confidence tricks rather than muggings. The patterns worth knowing are the friendly stranger who leads you to an overpriced tea ceremony, black taxis quoting several times the correct fare, counterfeit notes given as change, payment QR codes that have been swapped, and coach tours that are mostly commission shopping stops.
Traffic is the most likely cause of a genuine injury. Look both ways even on one-way streets, expect scooters on pavements and riding against the flow, and use licensed taxis or a ride-hailing app rather than an unlicensed car.
Two further points that catch visitors out are altitude on plateau itineraries such as Lhasa and Shangri-La, where the right response to worsening symptoms is to descend rather than continue, and air quality in northern cities in winter. Our health and safety guide covers emergency numbers, hospitals, insurance and lost passports.