Safety in China
Expats concerned about their safety in China should focus less on "traditional" dangers, like pickpocketing, and focus more on seemingly innocuous areas like food safety and driving safety.
Serious and violent crime is infrequent, 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 commonplace.
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, unregulated additives in 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 emerging more often, and while you shouldn't allow this to discourage you from trying everything from dim sum to thousand year eggs, you should exercise caution. Approach only street vendors that seem to be doing brisk trade, avoid the charming, but clearly 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 be 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 fast, safe and very economical. Don't be afraid to walk: China can be surprisingly pedestrian-friendly, although you should be aware of the unpredictable movements 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 at first.
Serious and violent crime is infrequent, 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 commonplace.
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, unregulated additives in 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 emerging more often, and while you shouldn't allow this to discourage you from trying everything from dim sum to thousand year eggs, you should exercise caution. Approach only street vendors that seem to be doing brisk trade, avoid the charming, but clearly 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 be 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 fast, safe and very economical. Don't be afraid to walk: China can be surprisingly pedestrian-friendly, although you should be aware of the unpredictable movements 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 at first.
