Town in Yunnan, China
Is Lijiang LGBTQ+ friendly?
3/5Tolerant, but be discreet
Is Lijiang LGBTQ+ friendly?
Legal but discreet; marriage is unrecognised. The old town is relaxed, with no visible scene.
LGBTQ+ laws in China
Low-key tolerance in big cities, with gay bars in Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, but LGBTQ+ groups and Pride events have been shut down.
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Same-sex relationships legal | Yes |
| Same-sex marriage | No |
| Civil unions or partnerships | No |
| Legal gender change | Yes |
| Anti-discrimination law | No |
LGBTQ+ friendliness across China
| Place | Rating |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Shanghai | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Xi'an | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Chengdu | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Guilin | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Chongqing | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Shenzhen | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Guangzhou | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Hangzhou | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Zhangjiajie | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Yangshuo | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Lijiang | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Suzhou | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Harbin | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Sanya | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Xiamen | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Dali | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Huangshan | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Kunming | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Qingdao | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Nanjing | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Shangri-La | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Jiuzhaigou | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Changsha | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Pingyao | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Dunhuang | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Wuhan | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Tianjin | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Lhasa | 2/5 · Hostile |
| Kashgar | 2/5 · Hostile |
Quick answers
Is Lijiang safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Legal but discreet; marriage is unrecognised. The old town is relaxed, with no visible scene.
Is same-sex marriage legal in China?
No.
More about Lijiang
Going to Lijiang solo?
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Sources
- ILGA World: legal frameworks
- National Immigration Administration
- NIA online arrival card
- China Railway 12306
Ratings combine national law with local attitudes and the scene. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.