In need of some tips

[Anto-B]

Hi, I'm traveling to China next month and I'm staying for about 2 months in Beijing and then I'm heading to Taiwan. I've been wondering some things and maybe you can help me with them~

First, I've reading the topics about crime and insecurity, and I've a female friend who is currently there and she has experienced some men following her in different occasions, is this common? I mean, is this a problem for foreign women?

And finally i was wondering if you can help me with tips to identify secure taxis~  they are painted in any specif color and stuff?   

 

Thanks in advance 

[Demonic_Duck]

I'm living in Beijing.

 

I think the crime here's not bad at all, certainly not compared to many other big cities. As a foreign woman, you might find yourself get stared at in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable if you're blonde (so I've heard from my blonde female friend, anyway), but I've personally never heard about girls being followed as such. As for official taxis, they're blue, green or red, with a yellow stripe running horizontally around the midsection - google image search "Beijing taxis". Anything that doesn't look like this is a "黑车" (black cab), and best avoided unless you're desparate and have friends with you.

 

I can't help you with Taiwan, and I guess may also depend on the city to some extent, though I don't think there are many places in Taiwan that are known for having high crime rates.

[abcdefg]

First, I've reading the topics about crime and insecurity, and I've a female friend who is currently there and she has experienced some men following her in different occasions, is this common? I mean, is this a problem for foreign women?

 

This is a frequently asked question on travel forums such as Tripadvisor and Thorntree. (You might want to look there as well as asking here.) The answer is always not to worry excessively, but maintain a basic level of situational awareness and not do things that would be ill advised anywhere in the world.

 

Don't run around drunk and half naked at two a.m. on a poorly lit back street. Don't leave your purse on a park bench while you go to a nearby store to buy a soda. Don't follow strangers you just met to some unknown location to see a tea ceremony or an art show.

 

Scams and petty theft are more frequently encountered in tourist cities here than actual assault with intentional infliction of bodily harm. Mainland China is generally quite safe, though every city has certain bad areas. I cannot speak to Taiwan.

[ChTTay]

I've never heard of any of my female friends being followed. I know that some men will stare quite a bit but even then, it depends where in Beijing. Mostly it is people who live in an area with little to no foreigners who do the 'hard stares'. My old room mate complained that she would get a lot of stares when she went swimming. Then I found out she was wearing a ...err... bikini? a two piece? so, for China, she was showing a lot of skin. Most people wear one piece / speedo / professional type stuff when swimming. The fact she was blonde probably contributed.

As per the above advice, just be sensible as you would be in any city. Don't walk home alone at night down dimly lit streets, don't go anywhere with strangers or people you just met etc etc Don't take unregistered/black cabs.

Petty scams and thefts are probably more common but more so in tourist areas. That doesn't mean you just stop being vigilant but no more than any other big city I would say.

Overall, I feel safer in Beijing than perhaps any other city I've been to or lived in. I don't put myself in situations that lead to trouble though either.

[roddy]

On taxis - there's really only one rule, and it's a pretty simple one. Avoid any taxis which are waiting in areas where they know they'll get tourists or drunks. If you come out of the Summer Palace and there are three cabs waiting - ignore them, and jump in a cab that's just pulled up to drop someone off, or walk down the road and flag one down. Same rule for when you come out of bars and train stations. 

 

The airports are a special case as you can't just wander down the expressway waving down cabs. Find the proper taxi rank, be clear on where you're going and roughly what it should cost.

[Lu]

Take official taxis, have them use the meter, always take the receipt (发票); and if you're worried, have a friend write down the license plate as you get in and text said friend once you get home safe. Try not to get so drunk that you don't know where you're going, or if you do, bring a trusted friend who is not as drunk. Dodgy taxi drivers happen occasionally, but I've never personally had any trouble.

Roddy's advice on not taking the first taxi you see is good in theory, but unless the taxi situation has improved massively, in Beijing at least it's not practical and you'll end up walking home. Just make sure they use the meter and get the fapiao.

Read the topic on the Beijing Tea Scam so you know what scams not to fall for. In general, China is a very safe place for women, and the biggest dangers are being cheated or being pickpocketed.

Taiwan is even safer. Taking very long midnight walks through Taipei was one of the great pleasures of living there. I would advise you to not show off body parts that local women don't show off: sleeveless tops seem to be seen as rather revealing, while short pants are fine. Taxi trouble I have encountered was the driver being drunk, or somewhat crazy, or telling me I was beautiful, but that's about the extent of it. If you're worried, here, too, you can ask a friend to write down the license plate.

Have fun!

[Ruben von Zwack]

I did get followed once (I'm a woman and blonde), it scared the living daylights out of me - I wrote about it in an older post here: http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/41660-travelling-in-china-as-a-woman-experiences-and-tips-also-for-daily-girly-stuff/?p=317276

 

But overall I had a very safe feeling in China. Certainly safer than, say, walking around in Manchester or Paris.

 

I didn't have the feeling generally that I was stared at, on the opposite sometimes I thought people tried so hard not to stare that it was almost cute.

 

I got to admit, I had to take an illegal taxi once. Don't miss the last subway or express bus to the airport. Never. EVER 

 

Knowing what it is that you are looking out for - for example, the exact number and colour of that shuttle bus that will take you to some empereror's grave - certainly helps.

I always talked to fellow travellers and staff from my hostels to double check if my information was correct, and when that was impossible, I rather postponed until I had more information. Often that meant postponing things to the next day, and I hated to do that - because you think I'm only here for this limited time and want to make the most of it - but looking back it was worth it.

So I never walked to a train station like "oh let's see how I can get to the terracotta army", I made sure I knew all that beforehand and didn't even get into any discussion with all the - I don't know what they are, touts?

Don't get me wrong, I don't think people would rob and kill you, but you might end up paying twice as much as you should (or even six times, like this Filipino couple who told me they paid 600 to get from Beijing airport to town), or you may just get stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere or late in the evening, and need a super expensive ride or taxi - if you can find one in the first place.

[Anto-B]

Thanks everybody for the answers~ they are really useful ^^ Now I get to know a little more of taxis and daily life in China

 

I am also wondering, do any of you have a recommendation for a good hostel in Beijing? Now I'm trying to find one to book beforehand~ 

[ChTTay]

There are so many hostels... And the the quality / service seems to fluctuate quite a bit. One year "x"" hostel is amazing and the next not so much,

I usually just look at the top rated hostels on "hostel bookers" or "hostel world" then check the location fits my plans and the recent comments.

[Lu]

I've stayed in the Happy Dragon Hostel in 2010, good location, not expensive, clean enough. But as ChTTay says, you're best of going to hostelworld.com and reading the reviews there. You can then either book through the site or google the website of the hostel itself and contact them directly.