Is Beijing Safe For Tourists? Crime Rates & Safety
The enormous number of people that congregate in this mega city makes everyone ask the inevitable question, is Beijing safe? With a safety index score of 66 out of 100, Beijing is considered one of the safest cities in China for tourists to visit.
As the capital city of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing is home to a population of more than 21 million people. It is the world’s 3rd most populous city located in Northern China. It also is one of the world’s great ancient capitals and home to many of the largest state-owned companies in China. The capital city receives 140 million national and 4.4 million international tourists annually.
Beijing Crime Rate & Safety Index
Beijing Crime Rate & Safety IndexCrime: 50.02
Safety: 66.98
Overall Safety Risk: LOW/MEDIUM
Reasons Why Beijing Is Safe
- Visitors to the city will rarely experience such unfortunate incidents as mugging and kidnapping. The crime rate is low to medium in this capital city. Female travelers are never unsafe even when traveling alone. Reports of getting robbed and attacked are next to none in this city.
- The city is almost like a fortress with cameras everywhere. It was part of the project called Skynet. Police surveillance cameras are put up everywhere in the city, and the government monitors everything.
- Subway metro and some buses have tight security. Some coaches have police personnel onboard for additional protection.
- Beijing has an extremely low threat of atrocities such as terrorist attacks targeting foreign tourists.
- Widely available public transport allows visitors to travel safely. It eliminates the threat of becoming a victim of daylight robbery.
- Apart from the occasional typhoons during the summer, Beijing is relatively safe from the threat of natural disasters.
See Also >> Book A Tour In Beijing
Safety In Beijing Useful Information
Traveling – While traveling within the city, it is important not to get into an unregistered taxi. For a new visitor, if the taxi has no meter, then it’s most likely that the driver has no license either. You will be at the risk of getting robbed or extorted, and you will only have yourself to blame.
Pickpockets – Beijing is a place where every type of person comes. Visitors and locals will come across pickpockets reasonably often. Observing specific travel rules such as not flashing your cash or valuables in public and being vigilant of your surroundings is a must. Safety precaution must be followed, whether in Beijing or somewhere else.
Road Safety – The city is a sea of cars and other modes of transport. It is wise and mandatory to cross the street with caution.
Food and water – Avoid drinking water directly from the tap; this is not your home. It is advised to always have bottled water with you while outside. Western food is not the best quality here. It could leave you with food poisoning or an empty stomach. Eating Chinese food is the best choice. It is freshly cooked, and it would not get any more authentic than eating it in Beijing.
Scams – Scamming visitors is pretty standard in Beijing. The best thing you can do is not to accept invitations from strangers. Be especially wary if you get invited to tea or drinks by an English speaking native. They are usually not from Beijing, but you wouldn’t know the difference.
Currency – Beijing, with the rest of the country, primarily use cash for payment. Do not depend on your credit card to bail you out as most establishments do not accept cards. Another serious issue is the counterfeit currency. Carefully examine the notes while accepting change.
Visa – Citizens from 51 nations can stay in Beijing for 72 hours without a visa if you’re transitioning.
Weather – The weather in Beijing is relatively unpredictable especially in summer. It can be sunny for one hour, and torrential downpour can occur in the next hour. Always carry an umbrella or other rain gear while traveling in this city.
It would be unfair to say that these petty problems are exclusive to Beijing. Much like any other big city, Beijing has minor issues with things like dishonest people and finicky weather. However, when it comes to severe problems such as crimes, the city is safe. When a place is considered safe, it is neither the technology nor the natural elements. It is the people who make visitors safe. So far, the people of Beijing have done a remarkable job of taking such good care of the visitors to the city.
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