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10 Tips to Make your Travels in China Safer

Unless a tidal wave washes you away or an earthquake swallows you up, your country’s embassy or consul in China is about as useful as an expired passport in an emergency. If you get into any trouble that is even remotely your fault while traveling in China, do not expect your friendly neighborhood embassy to provide you with much assistance. As in most government agencies, compassion is often  lacking within the strong walls of embassies. There are just too many travelers in China with too many problems. Should you still let your embassy know that you are going abroad as they suggest on their websites? Of course you should. Your embassy might not care about you very much if you make a request but if you happen to go missing, you can be sure that your embassy will take action; especially when your friends and family call to find out what happened to you. What is the point of all of this? Quite simply, when you are traveling in China, or in any foreign country, you are pretty much on your own. Securing your safety and taking measures to make sure that you are ready for an emergency falls completely on your shoulders.

Throughout all of my travels in China, whether by train, boat, motorcycle or airplane, I have never encountered any serious problems. Even in Tibet, where I was traveling without a permit, I managed to ‘fly under the radar’ and in many cases the local police were more than willing to assist me. While there have been times when I was completely lost or ’stranded’ in a city for a few days, I have never felt panicked. I have lost cell phones and money while traveling but never my wallet or my passport. Why has my traveling experience in China been largely smooth and problem free? Has it just been luck? A little, I suppose. But more importantly, I have tried to develop some good traveling habits which have helped me to feel more secure and worry-free. Here are 10 tips that can help make your traveling in China safer.

1. Guarding Your Passport in China – My passport is my most important possession when I travel; this little book is ‘the apple of my eye.’ Wherever I go, it goes. When I am in a bus or on a train, I always make sure that my passport stays in one of my pockets where I can feel it. When I cross a border or go through a checkpoint, I allow officials to examine my passport but I never allow it to leave my site. I rarely take my passport out to look at it; I never set it down somewhere unless I am in a hotel. Even in an hotel, I always know where my passport is in case I need to ‘grab it and run.’ My passport must stay with me at all times.
2. Managing your Money in China – I always make sure that I have multiple ways to withdraw money in China should an emergency arise during my travels. I carry cash with me of course, which I divide between my wallet and my bag, but I also always carry a Chinese and American ATM card as well as an international credit card. My hope is that I will not have use my American ATM or Credit cards as the international fees can be quite steep. But at least I know that they are available should I need them in an emergency.
3. Carrying a Cell Phone in China – I always carry a cell phone with me while traveling which I believe is an important part of protecting myself. I try to use my cell phone as little as possible to avoid the outrageous roaming surcharges that often apply from China Mobile. However, there have been times, such as when I was stranded at Mount Everest Base Camp a few years ago, when I have been extremely thankful to have a cell phone with me; no matter that it was costing me 10 RMB per minute to use the service. An cell phone can also ‘double’ as an alarm clock, ensuring that you are up in time to catch that bus or train that will take you to your next destination.
4. Carrying Contact Information in China – Carrying important phone numbers with you on paper is also a good idea. You never know when you may need to contact one of your Chinese friends to help you translate something. It also may be a good idea to carry the phone numbers of your banks with you in case any of your cards are stolen. I always make sure that I carry a small book with me that contains my most important phone numbers. (It is not a good idea to write any pin numbers or other sensitive information in these books)
5. Using a Chinese-English Dictionary in China – There is nothing more frustrating than finding yourself in a ’sticky’ situation and not being able to communicate a certain word that could easily explain your problem. Carrying some form of a Chinese-English dictionary is a must for foreign travelers. Even if you are unable to speak in Chinese, you can at least show the words to someone and save yourself a lot of trouble. I always carry a thin electronic dictionary with me which has the ability to speak. I simply type the word in and press enter; the translated word comes up on the screen in Chinese characters and Pinyin. If I do not feel confident about pronouncing the word, I can hit a button and the dictionary talks.
6. Using Common Sense in China – Using common sense while traveling is the best away to avoid getting yourself into hopeless situations. While it may seem adventurous and exciting to roam around a city in the wee hours of the morning, it is simply not a good idea. I like to go out a little bit and experience the ‘nightlife’ in China, but I usually try to be back into my hotel room by 11:00; especially on weekdays when city streets can empty in a hurry. Do not think that just because you are a foreigner, no one will touch you; you may very well be a target.
7. Obeying Chinese Law — It is also important to stay within the confines of the law while you are in China. Do not think that you can get away with anything in this country. Carrying drugs on your person, exchanging money on the black market, or involving yourself in other shady’ activities can get you imprisoned and even killed in some extreme instances. I cannot count the number of times that I have encountered a foreigner who was loudly bragging about how he managed to bring drugs into the country by hiding them in his shoes (or other less undesirable places).  If you are detained for breaking the law in China, forget about contacting your embassy because they will NOT help you.
8. Keeping Up Appearances in China – Do not act like a foreign tourist when you travel in China. Walking around with a map in front of your nose or looking confused and lost is a perfect way to attract unwanted attention. Even if you have absolutely no idea where you are or what you are doing, always look confident. I have  been lost a number of times throughout my journeys but I always keep walking and I always try to avoid looking or acting panicked even if I feel that way sometimes.
9. Carrying a GPS in China – Having (and knowing how to use) a GPS is never a bad idea. Check out this article that I wrote a few months ago on why travelers should take advantage of these great little navigation instruments.You do not need anything fancy. You can get a GPS on EBay for under 100 USD.
10. Being Flexible in China – Do not ‘flip out’ if your plans go awry. Always stay calm and realize that ‘changes in plans’ are an inevitable part of traveling in China. Yelling at Chinese people or having a tantrum is not a way to solve problems. You will only look foolish and people will be less willing to help you. And remember, always look for positives during times when your plans are interrupted. A few years ago, I was very frustrated because I was stuck in a little town for two days. While I was waiting to get out, I climbed a hill and ended up spending hours with two young Buddhist monks who were able to give me the ‘inside scoop’ on their religion. It was one of the most unique experiences that I have ever had. If you cannot take changes to your plans in stride then you may need to consider that traveling is not a good activity for you.

Traveling in China is both exhilarating and frustrating at the same time. Some days you will feel euphoric and others day you will feel tired, hungry, and generally overwhelmed. The highs and lows of traveling can be exhausting but if you can push through them, you will take memories with you that will last a lifetime. Enjoy your travels in China; it truly is a beautiful country.

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