Safety in China
Expats concerned about their safety in China should focus less on "traditional" dangers, like pickpocketing, and focus more on slightly irreverent points of worry, like food safety and driving safety.
Serious and violent crime is kept to a minimum, and though petty theft, especially in tourist hotspots and crowded marketplaces, will be the most common crime expats fall victim to, it's still not terribly ordinary.
Little extra precaution needs to be taken when it comes to securing housing; locking the doors, keeping valuables out of sight and avoiding first-floor apartments if you're a woman will be appropriate safety measures.
In the larger cities, expats should take the usual routine precautions: pay attention to your surroundings, be mindful of your belongings in public places, and stay away from poorly lit areas at night, especially if travelling alone.
Terrorism is rare, and the few incidents that stand the chance of being grouped in this category are largely the result of disputes that do not normally affect expats, like land seizures and social status issues.
On the other hand, expats should be wary of the high levels of pollution, finnicky food and reckless Chinese drivers.
At face-value there seems to be little that can be done to avoid these unfortunate realities, but as is the case with normal crime, adopting certain defensive behaviours is easy and beneficial.
In urban centres where smog and grime are overbearing, make an effort to exercise regularly and employ the use of an air-purifier at night. Though particulates can cause sinus congestion, itchy eyes and a runny nose, most healthy individuals will not suffer long-term effects.
As China's population continues to mushroom, so do the number of local food producers attempting to cut costs by using illegal additives and unsafe food practice. 'Food scandals' are on the rise, and while expats shouldn't allow this to discourage them from trying everything from dim sum to Thousand year eggs, it should encourage them to exercise caution. Approach only popular-seeming street vendors, avoid the potentially-charming, but obviously dirty hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and only purchase raw food that looks fresh and appealing.
Driving defensively in China is an art, and when everyone else on the road seems to be openly breaking laws and violating principles of etiquette, it can feel easy to get frustrated. Avoid losing your cool, and allow yourself some time to adapt to the Chinese rhythm of driving.
Where public transportation is available, use it - it is generally swift, safe and super-economical. Furthermore, don't be afraid to walk, China can be surprisingly pedestrian-friendly; though, it's necessary to be mindful of the chaos of the vehicles around you. For those expats who insist on using a vehicle to get from point A to point B, it may be worth hiring a driver, initially.
Serious and violent crime is kept to a minimum, and though petty theft, especially in tourist hotspots and crowded marketplaces, will be the most common crime expats fall victim to, it's still not terribly ordinary.
Little extra precaution needs to be taken when it comes to securing housing; locking the doors, keeping valuables out of sight and avoiding first-floor apartments if you're a woman will be appropriate safety measures.In the larger cities, expats should take the usual routine precautions: pay attention to your surroundings, be mindful of your belongings in public places, and stay away from poorly lit areas at night, especially if travelling alone.
Terrorism is rare, and the few incidents that stand the chance of being grouped in this category are largely the result of disputes that do not normally affect expats, like land seizures and social status issues.
On the other hand, expats should be wary of the high levels of pollution, finnicky food and reckless Chinese drivers.
At face-value there seems to be little that can be done to avoid these unfortunate realities, but as is the case with normal crime, adopting certain defensive behaviours is easy and beneficial.
In urban centres where smog and grime are overbearing, make an effort to exercise regularly and employ the use of an air-purifier at night. Though particulates can cause sinus congestion, itchy eyes and a runny nose, most healthy individuals will not suffer long-term effects.
As China's population continues to mushroom, so do the number of local food producers attempting to cut costs by using illegal additives and unsafe food practice. 'Food scandals' are on the rise, and while expats shouldn't allow this to discourage them from trying everything from dim sum to Thousand year eggs, it should encourage them to exercise caution. Approach only popular-seeming street vendors, avoid the potentially-charming, but obviously dirty hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and only purchase raw food that looks fresh and appealing.
Driving defensively in China is an art, and when everyone else on the road seems to be openly breaking laws and violating principles of etiquette, it can feel easy to get frustrated. Avoid losing your cool, and allow yourself some time to adapt to the Chinese rhythm of driving.
Where public transportation is available, use it - it is generally swift, safe and super-economical. Furthermore, don't be afraid to walk, China can be surprisingly pedestrian-friendly; though, it's necessary to be mindful of the chaos of the vehicles around you. For those expats who insist on using a vehicle to get from point A to point B, it may be worth hiring a driver, initially.
