Returning to One's Country Alone: Practical Advice for Solo Travelers

Safety: Overall Good

China ranks highly in terms of friendliness toward solo travelers (including solo female travelers) worldwide: city streets are generally safe at night, public transportation is well-developed, and violent crimes targeting tourists are rare.

Things to pay attention to:

• Solo travel at night: Cities are fine, but in remote areas and counties, it's recommended to return early.
• Excessive drinking: It's the same everywhere, but you should be more careful when alone.
• Informing your destination: Send your itinerary to family or your accommodation every day.
• Photocopy of documents: Keep one copy with you and one in the cloud.

Costs: Disadvantages of Solo Travel

The cost structure of traveling in China is not friendly for solo travelers:

• Accommodation: Room rates are per room, not per person, so solo travelers bear 100% of the cost. This is the biggest cost difference.
• Chartered cars: The fare is per vehicle, not per person, so solo travelers cover the entire cost.
• Meals: Chinese cuisine is often shared, leaving solo travelers with fewer choices and higher costs.

Solutions:

• Stay in budget or boutique single rooms and use the money saved for experiences.
• Use public transportation instead of a chartered car: China's high-speed rail and long-distance bus networks are extremely developed, and public transport offers much better value for solo travelers than chartered cars.
• Join small groups: In areas where chartered cars are not cost-effective (Hexi Corridor, Western Sichuan, Northern Xinjiang), joining a quality small group is more than half the price of solo chartered travel.
• Eat snacks and fast food: Chinese snacks and noodle dishes are very friendly for solo travelers and often provide a more authentic local taste than full-service restaurants.

Advantages of Solo Travel

• Full control over your pace: Stay longer in one place if you want to.
• Easy to start conversations: Chinese people are generally friendly toward solo travelers, making it easy to chat in teahouses, hostels, and on trains.
• High-speed trains and subways are very convenient: No coordination required, you can depart anytime.

Practical Advice

• Choose accommodation in the city center: The importance of location doubles when traveling solo (convenient for returning at night).
• Choose accommodation with common areas: The common areas in hostels or the cafes in boutique hotels are good places to get local information.
• Get mobile payment ready: When traveling alone, there is no companion to pay for you, and getting stuck at the payment step can be troublesome.
• Learn a few phrases in Chinese: Even if you have a Chinese-looking face, being able to say a few local phrases makes interactions much smoother.
• Don't overfill your itinerary: When traveling alone, you have to handle all decisions and problems yourself, so leaving some free time is important.
• Have an "indoor rainy day plan": Museums, tea houses, shopping malls—prepare one or two in each city.

Additional reminders for women traveling alone

• China is generally safe, but it is still recommended to avoid traveling alone in remote areas and counties at night.
• For ride-hailing, confirm the license plate and driver’s name before getting in, and share your trip with friends (this feature is available within the app).
• Choose legitimate hotels for accommodation, and avoid small inns without elevators or reception desks.
• In case of disputes, public places and the police in China generally respond positively to women seeking help.