Is Shenzhen safe?
Safe and heavily monitored. Pickpocketing in busy areas, phone theft and electronics-market scams are the main risks.
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 Shenzhen at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Phone theft in crowds and metro at Luohu border, plus fake-goods scams in electronics malls. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Streets near malls 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. |
| Other risks | Typhoons Jul–Sep; Summer heat and humidity; Heavy rain flooding in low streets |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fake or refurbished electronics sold as new in Huaqiangbei
- Currency exchange touts near Luohu offering poor rates
- Unlicensed taxis at border crossings quoting fixed fares
Take care
- Luohu border crowds on weekends: pickpockets
- Huaqiangbei: check goods and keep receipts
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 Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen safe for solo female travelers?
Safe alone; harassment is uncommon. Use DiDi late.
Is Shenzhen safe at night?
Streets near malls and bars stay busy late; the metro runs until about 23:00. Use DiDi afterwards.
What is the crime rate in Shenzhen?
Phone theft in crowds and metro at Luohu border, plus fake-goods scams in electronics malls. 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 Shenzhen?
Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 12301.
More about Shenzhen
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Shenzhen Metro
- National Immigration Administration
- HKU-Shenzhen Hospital
- 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.