Safety Tips in China

Watch out!

If you meet in a center of Beijing nice young Chinese people speaking good English and inviting you for tea or something - be careful, don't accept the invitation! They may take you to the tearoom, you will have your time drinking and talking with them and in the end you will receive a high bill to pay (100-200 USD!). You won't have a chance to prove your right. Those people cooperate with the restaurant staff.

In some hostels you will find a warning against this danger.

Be careful when crossing the street! Unlike many Western nations, where the pedestrians' right of way in crosswalks is generally respected, that is NOT the case in China. Cars and other motorized vehicles are king in CHinese crosswalks. You are supposed to cross at the crosswalks, but only do so when the road is clear and you are not going to get run over. DO NOT assume that a CHinese driver will automatically let you cross in front of them - it may be your last decision.

When crossing the street in China, watch how the locals do it and follow their lead. Go to the crosswalk, look both ways (scooters sometimes travel in the wrong direction on streets), step out into the street when it is clear, and walk at a steady pace (so you don't confuse approaching drivers). Many times you will need to stop in the center of the street to let cars pass before continuing to the other side.

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China with its vastly numerous population is such a wonderful place to visit but is not without its everyday dangers. Unfortuneatly The tourist or travellers really "stick out" in the crowd here making them a popular target for theives and pickpockets. Although I heard of people being "ripped off", I had no such problem while travelling anywhere in China.
This is mainly down to common sense and ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings..
Usually people are targetted in crowds ..well this is the place for crowds..always be very carefull when in close contact in crowds!!
Don't keep all your money in one place...have a seperate stash somewhere on your body.
People that are ripped off" are usually concentrating on something else when it happens..
Keep your bag in front of you ..and around your neck...not ,over your shoulder..
Always be careful in crowded railway stations, bus stations, and especially market places.
REMEMBER THESE THEIVES ARE GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO!!!..THEY DO IT FOR A LIVING.

The number one complaint among Chinese city dwellers is the traffic congestion that plague the streets of China's cities.

Because of the economic boom fueled by increased foreign investment, privately owned cars are becoming more accessible to the local people. Just a few years ago, most Chinese got around the cities by bicycle. Nowadays, bicycles are becoming increasingly rare as people are buying more cars. Car ownership has increased 67 percent in the last few years, and China is now the world's third-largest consumer of private automobiles. As a result, traffic jams are unfortunately becoming the norm in the large cities.

In some of the larger urban areas, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, traffic jams can last for hours, and in some instances have even lasted all day. The average rush-hour speed in China's cities is only three miles (five kilometers) per hour. Factors contributing to such severe traffic problems include poor driving skills among car owners, no enforcement of the traffic laws, bad road design, and almost constant road construction and repairs taking place in the cities.

The government is engaged in a feverish road-building scheme, constructing new roads and highways in an attempt to alleviate the country's traffic problems. However, the new construction cannot keep up with the increase in the number of cars on the roads.

Traffic accidents in China occur at a significantly higher rate than in most countries of the world. It has been estimated that there are about 250,000 traffic-related deaths per year in the country. Pedestrians should be especially cautious when crossing a street, as they do not have the right-of-way as they do in most Western countries. Drivers tend to be aggressive and almost never yield to people in the street. Many of the Chinese cities are therefore constructing pedestrian walkways above some of the busiest streets.

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.Travelling here in this huge amazing country is of course not without its dangers. Always when travelling especially in Asia make sure that you have the neccesary Travel insurance for your needs. We all like to do different things when travelling and some can be dangerous. Hospital stays are extremely expensive along with doctors or surgeons costs . This misfortune can devistate your best laid plans and leave you destitute. This really was bought to my attention recently in my Asian travels as I saw travellers having numerous motor cycle accidents with really bad consequenses. When preparing for your travel journey, check out the different travel Insurance schemes and pick the one that you feel suits you best , and importantly where you are going.!!
I always make sure that my travel Insurance covers accident, medical and hospital costs, theft, and the most important ,repatriation in case of the worst scenario, that we avoid thinking about. Of course the more cover you get the more it will cost ALSO where you are going will also add to the cost if it is a "known" dangerous area. Travel with peace of mind is important..
as the say: DONT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT

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When travelling in this part of the world and especially here in China I always carry my own fresh bottled water. This can be purchased best and cheapest at supermarkets. I usually buy 2 bottles for every day that I am staying and/or when I am leaving I stock up and as I always (when possible) travel by train. The hotel /hostel where you are staying will usually have a refrigerator that you can put your bottles in .This way everyday before going "out and about" you will have a cold bottle to take with you..Remember when out and about and bottled water is purchased at street traders or small shops make sure to check the "seal " on the cap of the bottle to see that it is NOT broken as you may have a "refill" from local tap water. This is a common scam..

When charging items to your credit cards, particularly larger items such as hotels or air/train tickets, try your best to kindly remind the vendor to have all major expenses in China charged to local (RMB) currency.

Some more reputable establishments will ask for your preference while most will not. Many will use their “internal” exchange rates at substantially lower exchanges than the official ones IF you remain silent. The difference could be substantial (~5%).

The Chinese are amazingly equitable. Essentially they want virtually everyone in the world to buy a visa if you want to come here. The only passport holders in the world who get in for free – for 15 days – are lucky people form Singapore, Brunei and Japan. The other 5 Billion of you must pay.

Oddly I found it easy to get one. They just want the money that’s all.