Is Hangzhou safe?
Very safe and orderly. Tourist-area scams and crowds are the main issues; violent crime against visitors is rare.
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 Hangzhou at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing on busy buses and at West Lake; fake-tea scams around tourist tea houses. |
| At night | Lake promenades and malls stay lively and safe. The metro runs until about 22:30–23:00; use DiDi afterwards. |
| Solo women | Safe alone; harassment is uncommon. Use DiDi late. |
| Other risks | Typhoon rain Aug–Sep; Hot and humid summers; Slippery steps on hillside trails |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Tea houses in Longjing villages charging high prices for 'free' tastings
- Unlicensed boats and tuk-tuks around West Lake quoting inflated fares
- Friendly strangers inviting you to a tea ceremony or bar
Take care
- West Lake crowds on holidays: pickpockets and crush
- Unmarked cars at railway stations
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 Hangzhou 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 Hangzhou safe for solo female travelers?
Safe alone; harassment is uncommon. Use DiDi late.
Is Hangzhou safe at night?
Lake promenades and malls stay lively and safe. The metro runs until about 22:30–23:00; use DiDi afterwards.
What is the crime rate in Hangzhou?
Pickpocketing on busy buses and at West Lake; fake-tea scams around tourist tea houses. Nationally, China records 0.5 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2020).
What number do I call in an emergency in Hangzhou?
Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 12301.
More about Hangzhou
Going to Hangzhou solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Hangzhou 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.