City in Jiangsu, China
Is Suzhou LGBTQ+ friendly?
3/5Tolerant, but be discreet
Is Suzhou LGBTQ+ friendly?
Legal but discreet; marriage is unrecognised. No visible scene, though attitudes among younger residents are relaxed.
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 Suzhou safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Legal but discreet; marriage is unrecognised. No visible scene, though attitudes among younger residents are relaxed.
Is same-sex marriage legal in China?
No.
More about Suzhou
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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.