Is Shanghai Safe for Travelers? Complete Safety Guide
Updated September 2026 · 8 min read
One of the most common questions from first-time visitors: "Is Shanghai safe?" The short answer: Yes, extremely safe — but there are a few things to watch out for. Here's our honest safety guide from local experts at Shanghai Private Transfers.
✅ Overall Safety Rating: 9.5/10
Shanghai is consistently ranked as one of the safest major cities in the world. Violent crime is extremely rare. You can walk around at night without worrying.
🛡️ What's Safe in Shanghai
✅ Walking around at night
Completely safe. Even late at night, the streets are well-lit and busy. You'll see families, couples, and people walking around at all hours.
✅ Pickpocketing risk
Very low. Metro stations and crowded tourist spots are the only places to be slightly careful. Keep your bag zipped and you'll be fine.
✅ Scams against tourists
Rare. The classic "tea house scam" and "art student scam" still exist but are much less common than 10 years ago. Just use common sense.
✅ Transport safety
Metro and taxis are very safe. Private car services like ours are the safest option — you know exactly who's picking you up.
⚠️ Things to Watch Out For
⚠️ Common Tourist Scams (Rare but exist)
- "Tea house scam": Someone invites you to a "traditional tea ceremony" and the bill is $100+. Avoid anyone who approaches you on the street.
- "Art student scam": "I'm an art student, please come see my exhibition." Then they pressure you to buy overpriced art.
- "Fake taxi": At the airport, only use official taxi stands or pre-booked private transfers.
🚕 Taxi safety tips
- Only use official taxis (white/blue with a roof light) or DiDi
- Make sure the meter is running
- Keep your belongings with you, not in the trunk
- For peace of mind, book a private car service — no surprises
💳 Money safety
- Use ATMs inside banks, not on the street
- Carry only the cash you need for the day
- WeChat Pay / Alipay are very safe — just link your card
Travel Stress-Free with Private Car Service
No taxi scams, no language issues, no getting lost. Just sit back and enjoy Shanghai.
Book Private Transfer🏥 Health & Medical Safety
- 💧 Don't drink tap water — bottled water is everywhere, cheap and safe
- 🏥 Hospitals are good — international hospitals in Shanghai have English-speaking doctors
- 💊 Pharmacies everywhere — basic medicine is easy to find
- 🦠 Air quality — usually good, check the AQI app if you're sensitive
👨👩👧👦 Family Safety
Shanghai is incredibly family-friendly. Kids are adored by locals — people will smile at your kids, help you with strollers, and generally be very kind. You can let your kids run around in parks without worry.
Emergency Numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 110 |
| Ambulance | 120 |
| Fire | 119 |
| Tourist Hotline | 12301 |
Final Verdict
Shanghai is one of the safest cities you'll ever visit. The crime rate is lower than most major European and American cities. Just use normal common sense — don't flash expensive stuff, don't follow strangers, and you'll have a perfectly safe trip.
More Shanghai travel guides: travel blog