China Travel 2025: Essential Safety Tips for Tourists Navigating Entry Restrictions, Legal Risks, and Health Precautions

Listeners considering travel to China in July 2025 are advised to exercise caution and be well-prepared as they plan their visit. While China has significantly eased entry requirements and expanded its visa-free policy to citizens from 75 countries to boost inbound tourism, important safety and legal considerations remain. According to Time magazine, visa-free travel and relaxed restrictions have led to a surge in foreign visitors, with Shanghai alone recording millions of overseas entries in the first half of the year. The country’s reopening, following several years of pandemic controls, is fueling renewed interest from global tourists.

Despite these positive developments, multiple international sources, including the U.S. State Department and the Canadian government, continue to urge travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This is primarily due to the risk of arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including exit bans. Foreign citizens—especially businesspeople, academics, journalists, and individuals with legal or political ties to China—have sometimes been detained, interrogated, or barred from leaving the country without transparent legal procedures. The State Department’s advisory emphasizes that anyone could potentially face detention or exit restrictions without fair process, and the ability of foreign embassies to provide emergency assistance may be limited, particularly in Macau.

Health and safety protocols are also recommended. Yoho Mobile and China Highlights both stress the importance of routine vaccinations, carrying prescription medications with proper documentation, purchasing robust travel insurance, and registering your trip with your home country's embassy. Travelers should be mindful of health issues such as air pollution, especially in major cities, and altitude sickness in regions like Tibet, Qinghai, and western Sichuan due to high elevations. Food and water safety, as well as protection against common infections, are highlighted.

Traffic safety is another major concern. Chinese roads can be chaotic, and traffic rules are frequently disregarded. Pedestrians lack right of way, and accidents involving vehicles, motorcycles, and bicycles are common and sometimes fatal. Using reputable taxis—preferably booked through hotels or official taxi stands—is advised; travelers should avoid unlicensed vehicles and ensure their destination is written in Chinese.

Digital restrictions remain in place, with many western websites and apps blocked. It is essential to download any necessary VPN software, translation apps, and offline maps before arrival, as VPNs cannot be downloaded once inside China.

Petty crime such as pickpocketing can occur in busy urban areas and tourist hotspots, so vigilance with personal belongings is key. Precautions such as avoiding displaying valuables, watching for scams, and being cautious at night are recommended.

Travel within China is fully open, with no domestic restrictions. However, ferry travel and some tourist activities carry risks—always use safety equipment and verify the condition of the vessel or facility before boarding or participating.

In summary, while China is welcoming travelers as never before, the current landscape requires that listeners take health, safety, and legal risks seriously and remain informed about the latest travel advisories before and during their journey.