Is Guangzhou safe?
Safe with normal care. Pickpockets, market scams and humid heat are the usual problems.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 3: Reconsider travel (varies by region), updated 2026-09-03.
- Homicide rate in China: 0.5 per 100,000 people (2020, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in China: 17.4 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 12301.
Safety in Guangzhou at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing in markets and crowded metro; phone theft near Beijing Road; occasional trade-fair scams. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Streets, restaurants and bars stay busy late. The metro runs until about 23:00; use DiDi afterwards. |
| Solo women | Safe alone; harassment is uncommon. Use DiDi late and watch drinks in bars. |
| Other risks | Typhoons and flash floods Jul–Sep; Humid summer heat above 35°C; Mosquito-borne dengue in rare outbreaks |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Friendly strangers inviting you to a tea ceremony or bar
- Wholesale market touts pushing fake brands or inflated prices
- Unlicensed taxis at Baiyun airport quoting fixed fares
Take care
- Canton Fair and wholesale markets: fake goods and pickpockets
- Overcrowded Shangxiajiu pedestrian street on weekends
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Staying in a private home, register with local police within 24 hours; hotels do it for you.
- Drug use abroad can be prosecuted after a positive test in China.
- Don't photograph military sites or bring political or religious material to distribute.
How Guangzhou compares in China
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Beijing | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Shanghai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Xi'an | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chengdu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Guilin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chongqing | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Shenzhen | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Guangzhou | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hangzhou | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Zhangjiajie | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Yangshuo | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lijiang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Suzhou | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Harbin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sanya | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Xiamen | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dali | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Huangshan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kunming | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Qingdao | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nanjing | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Shangri-La | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jiuzhaigou | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Changsha | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pingyao | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dunhuang | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Wuhan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Tianjin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lhasa | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Kashgar | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Guangzhou safe for solo female travelers?
Safe alone; harassment is uncommon. Use DiDi late and watch drinks in bars.
Is Guangzhou safe at night?
Streets, restaurants and bars stay busy late. The metro runs until about 23:00; use DiDi afterwards.
What is the crime rate in Guangzhou?
Pickpocketing in markets and crowded metro; phone theft near Beijing Road; occasional trade-fair scams. Violent crime against visitors is rare. Nationally, China records 0.5 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2020).
What number do I call in an emergency in Guangzhou?
Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 12301.
More about Guangzhou
Going to Guangzhou solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Guangzhou meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Guangzhou Metro
- National Immigration Administration
- China Railway 12306
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.