Shanghai

Is Shanghai safe?

On the street, yes. Shanghai is one of the safest megacities in the world for a visitor to walk around: violent crime is rare, the metro is clean and orderly, and 94% of people in China tell Gallup they feel safe walking alone at night, one of the highest shares among 144 countries. We score it 84 out of 100, below Hong Kong and Seoul, because of traffic, air quality and typhoons.

The risks that matter most here are of a different kind from those in most cities. The roads kill more people than crime does, and the legal system of mainland China, covered on our China page, is the main reason the US rates the country Level 2.

Crime and surveillance

Shanghai does not publish a homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary, but China's national figure is about 0.5 per 100,000 people (2020, UNODC), close to Japan's level. City police say criminal cases fell 13.5% in 2025. Cameras are on almost every street corner, metro station and building entrance, and that deters pickpocketing and robbery as well as anything else.

Random violence is rare but not unknown. In September 2024 a man killed three people in a supermarket stabbing in Songjiang district. If police close off an area, follow their instructions and leave.

The scam visitors meet is the tea-house trap. The UK Foreign Office describes friendly strangers who invite you to drink tea, visit a bar or have a massage, after which the venue demands a huge bill. In Shanghai this happens on Nanjing Road, around People's Square and along the Bund. Decline, and choose cafés and bars yourself.

Exit bans, detention and the law

This affects few tourists but matters a lot to anyone who visits for business. The US and UK both warn that China uses exit bans in business and civil disputes and investigations, sometimes for months or years, and that people may only discover them at the airport. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says suspects can be held for up to 37 days without charge, and up to six months on national security grounds without a lawyer.

The FCDO also says people linked to foreign governments, media or NGOs face greater risk of surveillance, harassment or detention. Practical steps:

• Assume your phone, messages and hotel Wi-Fi may be monitored. VPNs need a government licence.
• Avoid photographing military sites, protests or police operations.
• If you have a commercial dispute with a Chinese company or partner, get legal advice before you travel.
• Carry your passport; hotels register you with the police.

Traffic, e-bikes and walking

Traffic is the bigger daily risk. Shanghai recorded about 3.3 road deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, according to a comparison by Hong Kong's Transport Department, more than Tokyo or Singapore though far below China's national rate. Police say deaths fell 7% in 2025.

Silent electric scooters are the hazard to know. Delivery riders use pavements and cycle lanes, often against the flow, and do not stop at crossings. Cars may turn right on a red light. Look both ways even on a one-way street, and use underpasses and footbridges at big junctions. The metro, which covers the city and both airports, is the safest way to get around.

Air, heat and typhoons

Air quality has improved but is still poor by WHO standards. Annual PM2.5PM2.5Tiny airborne particles 2.5 micrometres across or smaller. They reach deep into the lungs and are the air pollutant most linked to early death.More in the glossary was 26 µg/m³ in 2025, according to the city's environment bureau, down from 28 in 2024 but five times the WHO guideline of 5. Winter brings the worst days. If you have asthma or a heart condition, check the air quality index each morning. Drink bottled or boiled water, not tap water.

Typhoons hit the coast from May to November, most often in late summer. Typhoon Bebinca in September 2024 was the strongest to reach Shanghai since 1949, grounding flights and closing the waterfront. Much of the city is only a few metres above sea level, and heavy rain floods streets and some metro entrances. Summers are hot and humid, regularly above 35°C. Earthquake risk is low.

International hospitals and clinics in Puxi and Pudong are good and some staff speak English, but they are expensive and want payment up front, so bring travel insurance. Foreign cards now work with Alipay and WeChat Pay, which you will need for almost everything.

How we scored it

Walking at night (93) and violent crime (93) are near the top of our scale, and theft and scams (85) is strong apart from the tea-house trap. Health and environment (70) is the weakest factor because of air pollution, followed by natural hazards (72) for typhoons and floods and traffic (78) for e-bikes. Confidence is medium because Shanghai publishes no city homicide figures. The legal risks above are not part of the city score but are reflected on our China page.