Exercise caution — there are real risks that travellers should plan around. Civil liberties are tightly restricted and political expression can carry risk.
Regional breakdown
Most visitors head to the big east-coast hubs. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen stay calm day to day. Petty theft, taxi scams and tea-house cons are the main hassles. Crowds at major sights, train stations and night markets pull in pickpockets, so keep bags zipped and phones close. The far west looks very different. The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region runs under heavy policing, with checkpoints, ID scans and constant camera coverage. Roads can shut without warning and foreign reporters have been turned back. The Tibet Autonomous Region and the Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in Sichuan, Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan need a special permit. And tours can be paused at short notice. Plan extra days in case routes close. The southern and eastern coasts get hit by typhoons from May to November. Hong Kong, Hainan, Fujian and the Pearl River Delta see flight cancellations, ferry stoppages and flooding. Inland, the Yangtze basin floods in summer, and parts of Yunnan and Sichuan sit on active fault lines. Build slack into any multi-city itinerary.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last refreshed its China page on 6 March 2026. It still tells travellers to read the full advice before booking. The latest tweak updated the crime and scams section, pointing to rising card-skimming and fake-police approaches in tourist zones. The official advisory guidance also flags the typhoon window and reminds visitors that local laws can be enforced in ways that surprise foreigners. The official advisory guidance keeps China at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, last reissued on 27 November 2024. The main worry is the arbitrary use of local laws, including exit bans that stop people leaving, even when no charges are filed. Business disputes, academic work and anything touching national security can trigger detention without quick consular access. Xinjiang, Tibet and the Tibetan prefectures carry extra warnings about surveillance and sudden curfews. Neither government has ordered departures, and embassies in Beijing and consulates in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenyang and Wuhan remain open.
What travellers should know
Sort the visa early. Most advisory passport holders need one before arrival, though several cities now offer short visa-free transit. Carry your passport at all times, since hotels, trains and some museums scan it on entry. Keep a photo backup on your phone and a paper copy in your bag. Digital life works differently here. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and most western news sites are blocked. Download a reputable VPN before you fly, since app stores inside China will not stock them. WeChat and Alipay run almost everything, including taxis, metro tickets and small shops, so link a card before you land if you can. Cash is still accepted but increasingly awkward. Health cover matters. Private hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai are good but expensive, and rural clinics may ask for upfront payment. Take comprehensive insurance that covers medical evacuation. Air quality can spike in winter, so pack a mask if you have asthma. Finally, avoid photographing police, military sites or protests, and think twice before posting political comments online while inside the country.