Is Guangzhou safe to visit right now? (November 2026)

Travel advisories for China

What the advice says

• The US Department of State advisory is Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution, dated October 19, 2026; this is a country-level rating for China, not specific to Guangzhou.
• The UK FCDO advice, last updated August 27, 2026, is also issued at the country level and covers China as a whole rather than Guangzhou specifically.
• The FCDO notes that terrorist attacks in China cannot be ruled out, and while foreigners have not been specifically targeted, travelers should take particular care during national holidays and at public transport hubs.
• Serious crime against foreign nationals is described as relatively rare, but the FCDO warns of scams such as the tea tasting or massage scam in tourist areas, where friendly strangers lure visitors to an establishment that then demands a large fee, sometimes followed by threats or credit card fraud.
• Travelers should not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers, since drink spiking and sexual assault, though rare, have occurred; the FCDO notes women traveling alone or with female friends could be at higher risk.
• The FCDO highlights that Chinese national security laws have broad scope, so a visitor could be detained without having intended to break the law, and ID (passport) should be carried at all times since police carry out random checks.
• As generic after-dark and solo-travel precautions, stick to well-lit and busy areas, keep valuables secured at crowded tourist sites, and avoid demonstrations or large gatherings, which the FCDO says can lead to arrest, detention, or deportation.