any dangerous places in china?

[civic94]

I want to travel to china in a few years, in america, pretty much all cities have bad areas where there are gangs and drug dealing. some cities like Detroit are pretty much very dangerous.

how about in china? my parents told me during their time, if a person had money, they will get robbed, but that was a long time ago, as they have been in the states for a while. From what I watch on youtube, people in china seems to show off their wealth now, instead of hiding it.

[T-revor]

Criminals will always be looking for opportunities. You just have to be aware and thoughtful enough not to give them one. I once made the mistake getting into an unmarked taxi. I was with some friends in a very small city about an hour outside of Shanghai and there weren't regular taxis. We hadn't planned well for how to get back to Shanghai. Anyway, after about an hour of driving away from Shanghai, our driver took us to a field in the middle of nowhere and took what we had on us -- a couple hundred dollars probably.

Never would have happened if we had planned a little better and had been a little smarter.

[anonymoose]

Petty theft is very common in China. In terms of violent robbery, I don't have any statistics, but I feel it's probably safer in　Ｃｈｉｎａ　ｔｈａｎ　ｍａｎｙ　ｐｌａｃｅｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ＵＳＡ．

[civic94]

petty theft as in pick pocketing or ripping people off? I have been robbed a few times in the states, so I want to be prepared so I dont pocket too much cash.

I guess what im trying to ask is, is there like really bad neighborhoods there in china? like for example, many cities in America have their ghettos, hoods, etc. where there are drug dealers and people are armed to the teeth, and you will get in the crossfire if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[anonymoose]

Well, I'm sure there are better and worse areas in any city, but I have never seen anything like ghettos in the many cities I have visited in China. It is usually recommended that one be particularly vigilant at transport hubs, but personally I've witnessed pick pocketing on the most inconspicuous streets.

If you pay attention, it is not that difficult to spot suspicious people. Often they are scruffy looking, stand around doing not much except looking around rather shiftily, and start following when they spot a potential victim. Of course, that doesn't exclude the possibility of other thieves who are less obvious.

Anyway, just be careful to have all your valuables well hidden in any pockets that are only accessible by yourself. From what I've seen, wallets, mobile phones and the like are usually just lifted out of loose jacket pockets or bags hung over the shoulder.

I've heard of countless people having lost things like this. In terms of being threatened with violence, it seems to happen much less frequently, or maybe my friends and I have just been lucky.

[WestTexas]

but I have never seen anything like ghettos in the many cities I have visited in China.

What do you mean by 'ghettos'? There are plenty of very poor, sketchy places in Chinese cities.

[anonymoose]

What do you mean by 'ghettos'?

ghettos, hoods, etc. where there are drug dealers and people are armed to the teeth, and you will get in the crossfire if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[icebear]

There are many outskirt areas in even tier-1 cities in China that will make ghettos of the US look relatively tame from a poverty point of view. In general, though, I think you'll find that you feel much safer in China. Violent crime against foreigners is very rare by my estimation.

I'm using the more standard definition of ghetto - a very poor part of a city, typically populated by some disenfranchised group (e.g. 外地人, illegal immigrants in the US, blacks).

[thechamp]

'hoods, etc. where there are drug dealers and people are armed to the teeth, and you will get in the crossfire if you are at the wrong place at the wrong time'

I think you might be confusing China and Compton

I have never even heard a gunshot in China

[civic94]

I think you might be confusing China and Compton

I have never even heard a gunshot in China

Thats why i am here to ask.. is it that bad, since I have never been to china since I was 10.

also, are there gang problems? I remember living in the states, there was a huge gang problem in chinatowns in the 80's and also in hong kong.

[icebear]

There are places with a distinct feel for organized crime, but its unlikely you'd stumble into them.

I've been strongly recommended not to patronize some bars and restaurants by taxi drivers in Bao'an (Shenzhen) before because of violence related to organized crime that had occurred there recently. I've also been to several underground casinos in Beijing, some which had a very uncomfortable feel to them (others very professional). So yes, there are places where organized crime exists and is a problem. For some sensational accounts read up on the Chongqing cleanup/roundup over the last few years under Bo Xilai, there are probably a few juicy stories out there regarding the crimes those 1000+ detainees committed.

Again, I think foreigners are largely excluded from risk of violence because of likely stricter/harsher punishment afterwards - beating up or stabbing foreigners is bad for business, even black-society business. Petty crime still happens - stay aware.

[civic94]

Again, I think foreigners are largely excluded from risk of violence because of likely stricter/harsher punishment afterwards - beating up or stabbing foreigners is bad for business, even black-society business. Petty crime still happens - stay aware.

but the problem is that I am an American Born Chinese, I still look 100% Chinese

[imron]

Assuming you are just going about your daily business and not getting involved in anything sketchy/dodgy, you are extremely unlikely to encounter any situation involving guns, drugs, shootouts or any sort of violent crime either in major or minor cities regardless of where you go, and regardless of whether you look 100% Chinese or not. You may encounter petty crime if you are not careful.

It's not really something you should worry about.

[icebear]

Agreed with Imron - I didn't intend for my post to imply that only foreigners were exempt from the risk of violence - in general violence is very rare in Chinese cities. A young foreigner's most likely way to encounter violence would be getting too drunk at a bar and hitting on the wrong girl, drawing the wrath of inebriated nationalists. Given that you look Chinese this also seems pretty unlikely. Besides that, the chances are extremely low compared to essentially anywhere in the West (in my opinion).

[civic94]

Agreed with Imron - I didn't intend for my post to imply that only foreigners were exempt from the risk of violence - in general violence is very rare in Chinese cities. A young foreigner's most likely way to encounter violence would be getting too drunk at a bar and hitting on the wrong girl, drawing the wrath of inebriated nationalists. Given that you look Chinese this also seems pretty unlikely. Besides that, the chances are extremely low compared to essentially anywhere in the West (in my opinion).

Yea I had a friend at my university that was from the mainland, and his family is pretty rich there. He came here and acted hardcore, and thought cops would take bribes and poor people would kiss his behind if he flashes money. I told him there are places that you really should not go, and if you mess with the wrong person you will get shot. I told him that gangs have guns, and some people in society do carry guns legally to protect themselves.

[yialanliu]

Agreed, only place I have seen violence is when its related to entertainment and booze. No drive by shootings or anything like that you would find in America. Now pickpocketers are everyone including blatant taking cell phone while you text.

[shinewind]

I would say, frequent theft, potential risk of robbery and almost drug free (have never seen one). But I do know that there are certain places where violence & drug problems are worse. Also, I have the record of losing two purses within 2 days in Chongqing (a southwest city) and my lesson is “don’t use anything pretty or attractive out there cause the moment you put them on you turn yourself into a target…”

[civic94]

I have the record of losing two purses within 2 days in Chongqing

did someone snatch it from you or did you put it on a dining table for a second and then its gone?

[skylee]

Now pickpocketers are everyone including blatant taking cell phone while you text.

Something similar happened to me when I was in Portugal. A thief snatched my PDA from me when I was reading an ebook on a train. I don't look anything like a Portuguese so it seems that unlike Chinese thieves Portuguese thieves liked to rob foreign tourists.

[shinewind]

@18:

Some one picked it from my backpack. I wouldn't consider it a easy job - the backpack has double lock and a friend of mine was walking right behind me. How he/she did it was beyond me.