For Tiểu Thanh, a Vietnamese national who has called China home for several years, answering the perennial question from friends and family about safety doesn't require complex statistics. It's found in a simple nightly ritual: picking up her online shopping parcels around 11 p.m. The streets are quiet, the self-service pickup station is unattended, and yet, in all her years, not a single package has ever gone missing. "This says everything," she reflects.
Her personal experience is echoed in broader measures. According to Gallup's 2025 Global Security Report, China ranks fourth globally for law and order and third for the percentage of residents who feel safe walking alone at night. These rankings provide a macro-level confirmation of what Tiểu Thanh lives daily.
For her, and for many long-term residents, the sense of security permeates everyday life in tangible ways. It's the freedom to carry a phone without a constant fear of theft, to leave luggage unattended on a high-speed train for hours, or to explore different cities at any hour without a second thought. It manifests in the confidence to ask strangers for directions, to borrow a phone charger, or even an umbrella during a sudden downpour, without the underlying worry of being deceived.
Beyond interpersonal trust, the reliable and efficient operation of public infrastructure—from the punctuality of high-speed rail to the consistent supply of electricity, water, and gas—provides a quiet, foundational reassurance that enables a smooth daily life.
For anyone contemplating a visit to China but harboring safety concerns, Tiểu Thanh offers straightforward advice: "You're worrying too much." Her recommendation is to bring your passport, visa, phone, wallet, and a few essential Chinese mobile applications. With these in hand, you can confidently embark on a journey. In China, she concludes, safety isn't merely a statistic in a report; it's a feeling woven into the fabric of countless small, everyday moments.
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Vietnamese resident on the everyday safety she experiences in China
cgtn.com
