Is Zibo safe to visit right now? (September 2026)

Travel advisories for China

What the advice says

• The US State Department places China at Level 3 - Reconsider Travel, a country-level advisory dated September 2026 that applies to the whole country rather than to Zibo specifically.
• The UK FCDO advisory is also issued at the country level and notes a high global threat of terrorism affecting British nationals, with advice to stay aware of surroundings, especially around national holidays and transport hubs.
• China is governed by a single political party, and the FCDO advises avoiding demonstrations or large gatherings, since authorities enforce public order strictly and foreign nationals can face arrest, detention, or deportation.
• Chinese national security laws have broad scope, and the FCDO notes that travelers can be detained without having intended to break the law, including for activity that occurred outside mainland China.
• Common scams mentioned in the advisory include the tea-tasting or massage scam, where friendly strangers invite visitors to a venue that later demands a large fee, sometimes followed by threats.
• Solo travelers, and particularly women traveling alone or with friends, are advised not to leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers, since drink spiking and sexual assault, while rare, have occurred.
• Travelers are advised to always carry their passport, since police carry out random ID checks and do not accept printed copies, with failure to produce ID potentially leading to a fine or detention.