Is Nanjing safe?
Very safe with low street crime. Heat, winter haze and e-bikes are the main nuisances; tourist-area overcharging is the usual scam.
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 Nanjing at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing at crowded sights and stations is uncommon but occurs. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | City center is lively and safe. Use DiDi after the metro closes around 10:30–11 pm. |
| Solo women | Safe and comfortable for solo women. Harassment is rare, including late at night. |
| Other risks | Extreme summer heat above 38°C; Winter haze and damp cold; E-bikes on pavements |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake art-student invitations to tea or galleries, then a huge bill
- Unlicensed cars at the station and airport quoting high fares
- Tourist-street restaurants adding unlisted fees
Take care
- Confucius Temple on holidays: crowds and pickpockets
- Crossing roads: e-bikes ignore signals
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 Nanjing 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 Nanjing safe for solo female travelers?
Safe and comfortable for solo women. Harassment is rare, including late at night.
Is Nanjing safe at night?
City center is lively and safe. Use DiDi after the metro closes around 10:30–11 pm.
What is the crime rate in Nanjing?
Pickpocketing at crowded sights and stations is uncommon but occurs. 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 Nanjing?
Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 12301.
More about Nanjing
Going to Nanjing solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- China Railway 12306
- National Immigration Administration
- 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.