City in Guangdong, China
Is Shenzhen LGBTQ+ friendly?
3/5Tolerant, but be discreet
Is Shenzhen LGBTQ+ friendly?
Legal but discreet; marriage is unrecognised. Nightlife in Futian and Shekou is quietly accepting, with no public Pride.
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 Shenzhen safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Legal but discreet; marriage is unrecognised. Nightlife in Futian and Shekou is quietly accepting, with no public Pride.
Is same-sex marriage legal in China?
No.
More about Shenzhen
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Sources
- ILGA World: legal frameworks
- National Immigration Administration
- NIA online arrival card
- Shenzhen Metro
- HKU-Shenzhen Hospital
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.