Is Shanghai Safe For Tourists? Crime Rates & Safety

Shanghai Crime Rate & Safety Index

• Crime: 48.06
• Safety: 66.94
• Overall Safety Risk: LOW/MEDIUM

Safety In Shanghai

As per the U.S Department of State Travel Advisory, the city of Shanghai is categorized under “Low-threat” criminal activities. So, a person can take a sigh of relief if he/ she is planning a trip to Shanghai. In terms of criminal activities or any kind of violent risk, Shanghai has a low-key profile. Shanghai is more on the safer side as compared to other metropolitan cities in China. One of the primary contributing aspects of the low crime rate in Shanghai is due to the implementation of modern technologies in law enforcement and other security-related factors as well. However, there are much smaller and non-life threatening criminal activities that a person should be aware of, especially for tourists. The greatest concern for tourists in Shanghai comes in the form of activities such as:

• Pickpocketing
• Scams
• Night Clubs

Pickpockets

Pickpocketing in Shanghai is one of the major concerns for tourists. Due to its large popularity, Shanghai city has become a massive tourist-magnet over the years. This, in turn, has led to the growth of pickpocketers as well. Shanghai is also a densely populated city which makes it an ideal city for pickpocketers to function. Public transports and shopping zones are considered as the primary hot-zone for pickpocketing. They usually work in groups, and they mainly target cash and credit cards. The majority of the complaints that have been reported by tourists have been related to pickpocketing. It is therefore advisable for a person to stay alert with their wallets/ purses.

Scams In Shanghai To Avoid

Apart from pickpocketing, scams also pose a high risk to foreigners. Scams occur in various “schemes.” One of the most common scams comes in the form of “fake money.” Many tourists have fallen prey to this scam due to the necessity of using local currency for any type of purchase.

Fake police scam: Individuals posing as local police often threaten to charge the victim with invalid criminal acts. Most victims unknown to local rules and regulations end up believing the fake officer. Hence, they are forced to settle with a financial solution.

Begging: Locals posing as beggars with physical deformities is a common sight in Shanghai. They either pose as crippled individuals or they come with children with physical abnormalities. These beggars are usually a part of a big scam network using children to beg for them.

Taxi scams: A person should be careful not to board a taxi that has no taximeter or a driver without proper taxi registration. Tourists are often taken around the city or to their destination via the wrong and the longer route to charge more fares.

Night Clubs

Night club areas are a hot-zone for criminal activities, mainly robbery in Shanghai. The risks of getting robbed outside a night club, especially during the closing time are huge. Areas such as Ju Le Road or Mao Ming Road, in particular, are considered as a risky street for tourists, especially at night. However, police protections are often established around the perimeter during the risky hours.

Overall Safety

Although Shanghai is a hot-zone for petty crimes, the occurrences of violent criminal activities, especially towards tourists are very less. As long as one is careful when shopping around a jam-packed area or avoid venturing out into the wrong streets at night, there should not be any major problems. So is Shanghai safe? Yes, with perceived caution, everyone should feel safe during their stay. Other forms of safety and security risks that are considered LOW for foreigners in Shanghai include:

• Mugging
• Terrorism
• Women Safety
• Natural Disasters