Is Zhangjiajie safe?
Safe in terms of crime. Stairs, cable-car queues and ticketing scams are the main issues.
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 Zhangjiajie at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Petty theft in crowds and on park buses; occasional overcharging. Violent crime against visitors is rare. |
| At night | Wulingyuan is quiet after dark; stick to the town's main streets and lit routes. |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone; harassment is uncommon. Use hotel-arranged rides late and avoid empty trails near dusk. |
| Other risks | Slippery steps and cliff edges in fog; Overcrowded cable cars in holidays; Wild monkeys snatching food |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Drivers outside the airport or station quoting inflated fares for the park
- Guides pushing overpriced tickets or fake discount packages
- Photographers on trails charging after taking pictures
Take care
- Park stairs and edges in fog or rain: slippery, steep drops
- Monkeys in the park snatch food and bags
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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone; harassment is uncommon. Use hotel-arranged rides late and avoid empty trails near dusk.
Is Zhangjiajie safe at night?
Wulingyuan is quiet after dark; stick to the town's main streets and lit routes.
What is the crime rate in Zhangjiajie?
Petty theft in crowds and on park buses; occasional 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 Zhangjiajie?
Police 110 · Ambulance 120 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 12301.
More about Zhangjiajie
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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.