China

Recommended Vaccinations For China

For Most Travellers

Hepatitis A Vaccine

There is a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis A for this country, therefore, the vaccination is recommended. Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against the disease.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Due to a significant risk of exposure to hepatitis B, vaccination is recommended.

For Some Travellers

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine

Vaccination is recommended for all unvaccinated adults, children under 16 years of age, staying for more than 3 months in the country. A tuberculin skin test is required prior to administering vaccination for all children from 6 years of age.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine

Vaccination is recommended for all travelers to high risk areas. There is also a high risk of exposure to those engaging in forestry, woodcutting, farming and the military, such as campers, hikers, hunters and individuals who undertake fieldwork.

Yellow Fever Vaccine

This country requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for all persons 9 months of age or older if travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, including transit in an airport located in a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. This requirement does not apply to travellers whose itineraries are limited to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macao SAR.

Rabies Vaccine

Vaccination against rabies is recommended for travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) who may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk and should be vaccinated.

Typhoid Fever Vaccine

Unvaccinated travellers are at risk of exposure to typhoid fever in this country through consumption of unsafe food and water. Since exposure to unsafe sources is variable within this country, the vaccination against typhoid fever is generally recommended, especially when visiting smaller cities, rural areas, or staying with friends and family.

Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine

This vaccination is recommended for people who plan extensive outdoor activities while visiting rural or farming areas during the months of May to October. It is not recommended for itineraries that are limited to Beijing or other major cities.

Recommended Medications For China

There are no recommendations for China at this time.

Diseases To Be Aware of for China

For Most Travellers

Chikungunya Fever

Chikungunya fever has occurred in this country.

Hepatitis B

There is a risk of acquiring Hepatitis B in China.

Hepatitis A

There is a significant risk for hepatitis A virus exposure in China through contaminated food or water. Infection can still occur at tourist destinations and resorts.

Dengue Fever

Dengue fever outbreaks have occurred in China, particularly in the southeastern more tropical area. According to NaTHNaC, high risk areas include Fujian Sheng, Guangdong Sheng, Guangxi Zhuangzu Zizhiqu, Hainan Sheng, Yunnan Sheng, Zhejiang Sheng.

For Some Travellers

Scrub Typhus

Scrub typhus, also known as Tsutsugamushi fever, has occurred in some areas of China.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis

Transmission season varies from early spring to late autumn. High risk areas include Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Hebei, Jilin, Heilongjang and Yunnan. Also including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Guizhou.

Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever outbreaks have occurred in western China.

Typhoid Fever

Unvaccinated people can become infected through contaminated food and water in China, especially when visiting smaller cities, villages, or rural areas and staying with friends or relatives.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis occurs in China. Travellers to this country are at risk for tuberculosis if visiting sick friends or family, working in the health care field, or having close prolonged contact with the general population.

Leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis occurs most commonly in rural areas in China. The risk of acquiring leishmaniasis is increased in travellers who spend time outdoors in rural areas and at night, when sand flies typically feed.

Schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis has occurred in China. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that is acquired through contact with fresh water, such as swimming, bathing, or rafting. Well-chlorinated swimming pools and contact with saltwater in oceans or seas will not put travellers at risk for schistosomiasis.

Japanese encephalitis

Japanese encephalitis usually occurs in rural farming areas in China. Outbreaks have been recorded in all provinces except Xizang (Tibet), Xinjiang, and Qinghai. The risk for travellers of contracting Japanese encephalitis is low, but visiting areas where the virus is active and extensive outdoor activity in rural areas will increase this risk.

Yellow Fever

There is no risk of yellow fever transmission. However, this country requires a yellow fever vaccination certificate for all persons 9 months of age or older if travelling from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission, including transit in an airport located in a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. This requirement does not apply to travellers whose itineraries are limited to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and Macao SAR.

Rabies

Rabies occurs in China. Travellers involved in outdoor activities (e.g., campers, hikers, bikers, adventure travellers, and cavers) may have direct contact with rabid dogs, bats, and other mammals. Those with occupational risks (such as veterinarians, wildlife professionals, researchers) and long-term travellers and expatriates are at higher risk.

Safety & Security in China

Personal Safety

China ranks as one of the world’s safer countries for tourists. Violent crime remains rare, and most major cities report low rates of street crime. Your main concerns center on petty theft in crowded areas like train stations, markets, and tourist attractions. Pickpockets often work in teams targeting distracted visitors, particularly foreigners. Scams pose a more frequent issue than physical threats. Common schemes include strangers inviting you to tea houses or massage parlors that then demand exorbitant fees, sometimes backed by threats or credit card fraud. This happens most often around Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and Shanghai’s Bund area. You need to understand that arbitrary enforcement of local laws presents a unique risk in China. Foreign nationals have faced detention or exit bans related to business disputes, investigations into employers or family members, or activities authorities deem sensitive. You might not know you’re under an exit ban until you try to leave the country. These situations can last months or years. Personal attacks and sexual assaults occur rarely, though drink spiking has been reported. Women traveling alone or in groups face slightly elevated risk. The extensive surveillance network and heavy police presence create a secure environment for most routine activities, though this same system enables strict government control that affects foreigners differently than in Western countries.

Extreme Violence

China experienced an unusual spike in mass attacks during 2024. A vehicle ramming in Zhuhai killed 35 people and wounded 43 in November 2024, marking the deadliest single incident in a decade. Similar attacks throughout 2024 included stabbings at schools and public spaces. Police recorded 19 pedestrian or stranger attacks in 2024, a sharp increase from just three to five annually between 2019 and 2023. Fatalities rose from 16 in 2023 to 63 in 2024. Chinese officials report no violent terror incidents have occurred for seven consecutive years as of 2024. The government’s strict security measures in Xinjiang and intensive counterterrorism efforts have suppressed organized terrorist activity. Past terrorism concerns centered on separatist movements in Xinjiang and Tibet, but these have not resulted in attacks targeting foreign tourists in recent years. The 2024 attacks appear driven by personal grievances rather than organized terrorism. Perpetrators cited divorce disputes, academic failures, unpaid wages, and economic frustrations. Analysts link this pattern to China’s economic slowdown, rising unemployment, and limited mental health support systems. You face minimal risk from these random violence incidents given their rarity relative to China’s population of 1.4 billion. However, the unpredictable nature of such attacks means you should maintain awareness in crowded public spaces, transportation hubs, and popular gathering areas.

Political Unrest

Political demonstrations require prior government approval in China. Unauthorized protests face immediate suppression, and participants risk detention under national security laws. You should avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings. Photographing protests, police, or security installations can lead to arrest. Labor protests surged dramatically in 2023 and continue rising through 2025. Workers demonstrated over unpaid wages, factory closures, and layoffs driven by economic pressures. The China Dissent Monitor recorded 777 labor protests between September and December 2023, up from 245 in the same period of 2022. Housing sector protests also doubled, with homeowners confronting property management companies and developers over stalled construction projects. These protests typically remain localized and directed at companies or local officials rather than central government. Most occur without foreign tourist involvement or awareness. The government maintains tight control through extensive surveillance, rapid police response, and strict media censorship. The 2022 COVID-19 protests represented rare nationwide demonstrations, quickly suppressed with arrests and detention of participants. Hong Kong experienced massive demonstrations in 2019 and 2020 before the implementation of national security legislation dramatically restricted civil liberties and protest activity. Tibet and Xinjiang face heightened political tensions with heavy security presence. Authorities may impose curfews and movement restrictions without notice in these regions. Avoid areas with ethnic minority populations if political anniversaries or sensitive dates approach. Your participation in or witnessing of any protest activity could result in detention, deportation, or denial of future entry to China. The security situation around gatherings can change rapidly.

Areas To Avoid

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region presents the highest restrictions for travelers. Heavy security measures include airport-style checkpoints at shopping centers, markets, and parks. You must carry your passport at all times and submit to frequent security checks, phone number registration, and photographs explaining your travel purpose. Foreign nationals with family ties to Xinjiang face elevated detention risk. The region experienced violent unrest historically, though recent years show no terrorist incidents affecting tourists. Travel remains possible but requires awareness of pervasive surveillance and security protocols. Tibet Autonomous Region requires special permits that differ from your China visa. You can only visit as part of an organized tour arranged through authorized Chinese travel agencies. Authorities sometimes suspend permit issuance without notice or restrict access to Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures in neighboring provinces even with valid permits. Political and ethnic tensions have generated violent protests historically. Carrying letters or packages from Tibetan nationals to mail abroad draws negative official attention. The British, American, Canadian, and Australian governments report limited ability to assist their citizens in both Xinjiang and Tibet. Remote border regions near Laos, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Russia, and Mongolia experience higher crime rates than urban centers. Armed attacks pose risks in these areas, though tourists rarely visit these zones. The southern and eastern coasts face typhoon risks between May and November. Typhoons can change direction and intensity with little warning. Major cities remain safe for foreign visitors. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and other urban centers have well-developed infrastructure and lower crime rates than most international destinations. Standard awareness in crowded tourist sites suffices in these locations.