Is Lijiang safe?
Safe for travelers. Altitude sickness, touts and bar scams are more common than crime.
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 Lijiang at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Petty theft in crowded old town lanes; occasional bar and shop overcharging. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Old Town bar streets stay noisy until late; quieter lanes are fine. Taxis are easy to find on the edge of the old town. |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone; harassment is uncommon. Be wary of bar touts and unmarked cars at night. |
| Other risks | Altitude sickness at 2,400 m and above 4,000 m on the mountain; Strong sun and UV at high altitude; Cold nights Dec–Feb |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Bar touts in the old town luring travelers to pricey drinks
- Tour agents adding hidden extras to Jade Dragon trips
- Fake 'intangible heritage' shops overcharging for jewellery
Take care
- Old Town bar street at night: touts and spiked-drink stories
- Altitude trips above 3,000 m: ascend slowly
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 Lijiang 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 Lijiang safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone; harassment is uncommon. Be wary of bar touts and unmarked cars at night.
Is Lijiang safe at night?
Old Town bar streets stay noisy until late; quieter lanes are fine. Taxis are easy to find on the edge of the old town.
What is the crime rate in Lijiang?
Petty theft in crowded old town lanes; occasional bar and shop overcharging. 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 Lijiang?
Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 12301.
More about Lijiang
Going to Lijiang solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- 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.