Zhejiang is a coastal province in eastern China, on the southern shore of the Yangtze River Delta and the East China Sea. It is one of China's smallest provinces by land area yet one of its wealthiest and most densely populated, anchored by the historic capital Hangzhou and its famous West Lake. Zhejiang is celebrated for its canal-laced water towns, sacred Buddhist mountain of Putuo Shan, tea plantations, and a coastline scattered with thousands of islands.
Zhejiang is one of China's safest and most prosperous provinces, with very low rates of violent crime against visitors. The main concerns are opportunistic petty theft in busy tourist spots, a specific tea ceremony overcharging scam around Hangzhou's West Lake, and natural hazards from typhoons along the coast in summer and early autumn. Standard precautions make for a smooth, trouble-free visit for the large majority of travelers.
Current safety advisory
Low
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Zhejiang is a very safe province with low rates of violent crime; the main risks for visitors are petty theft in crowded tourist areas and a handful of well-documented scams rather than physical danger
Near West Lake in Hangzhou, friendly English-speaking strangers sometimes invite tourists to a 'tea ceremony' at a private teahouse; the visit ends with a bill of several hundred to several thousand yuan. Politely decline unsolicited invitations and only visit licensed teahouses chosen independently
China's national security laws are broadly worded and enforcement can be arbitrary, particularly around photography of official buildings, military sites, or border areas; avoid photographing anything that looks government or security related
Carry a passport at all times, as police can request identification, and hotels are required to register foreign guests
Mobile payment (Alipay or WeChat Pay) dominates daily transactions; carrying some cash as backup is wise since a minority of small vendors no longer accept cards or foreign cash
Typhoon season affects Zhejiang's coastal areas, including Zhoushan and Putuoshan, from roughly July through September; check forecasts before island or coastal travel and expect possible ferry cancellations
Air quality in Hangzhou and other cities can be poor on still winter days; travelers with respiratory conditions should check daily air quality index readings
Internet access is restricted under China's firewall; many foreign sites, apps, and messaging services are blocked, so arrange a VPN before arrival if needed for communication or navigation apps
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
West Lake tea ceremony scam
A friendly, English-speaking stranger near West Lake (often claiming to be a student or a tea specialist in training) invites visitors to a 'tea ceremony' or 'art exhibition,' leading to a private teahouse where the bill can run from several hundred to several thousand yuan for tea that was never priced up front
How to avoid: Decline unsolicited invitations from strangers to unfamiliar venues; choose an independently researched, licensed teahouse such as the China National Tea Museum's tasting room, and always confirm prices before ordering
Overpriced 'silk' or 'art' galleries
Similar to the tea scam, tourists near major attractions in Hangzhou are sometimes led to galleries selling silk paintings or calligraphy at hugely inflated prices under social pressure to buy
How to avoid: Politely decline invitations to private galleries from strangers, and buy souvenirs from established shops with posted prices
Taxi and ride-hailing overcharging
A minority of unlicensed drivers near train stations and the airport quote inflated flat fares to tourists unfamiliar with local rates
How to avoid: Use metered taxis from official ranks, or book through the Didi ride-hailing app, which shows the fare in advance
Counterfeit currency in change
Rarely, cash change given by street vendors or in taxis includes counterfeit banknotes, particularly higher denominations
How to avoid: Pay with mobile apps (Alipay or WeChat Pay) where possible, which eliminates this risk entirely, or check larger notes received in change
Fake or unlicensed tour operators
Informal touts near scenic areas sometimes sell day trips or boat tours that are overpriced or do not match what was promised
How to avoid: Book tours and boat tickets through official ticket offices at the scenic area entrance or well-reviewed platforms rather than street touts
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No specific vaccinations are mandatory for entry; routine vaccines should be up to date, and hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly recommended by travel clinics for China generally
- Water
- Tap water is not recommended for drinking; bottled or boiled water is standard practice throughout Zhejiang, including in hotels and restaurants
- Food
- Food safety standards in restaurants and hotels are generally good in Zhejiang's cities; street food from busy, high-turnover stalls is normally safe, though travelers with sensitive stomachs may prefer freshly cooked, hot dishes
- Facilities
- Major cities including Hangzhou and Ningbo have modern hospitals with English-speaking staff at international clinics; smaller towns and water-town destinations have more basic facilities, so serious issues are usually referred to Hangzhou
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 110
- Medical
- 120 (ambulance)
- Fire
- 119
- General Emergency
- There is no unified single emergency number in China; police, ambulance, and fire are separate lines (110/120/119), and English-speaking operators are not guaranteed, so hotel staff assistance is often the fastest route to help
- Traffic Accident
- 122
- Main Hospital
- Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou; Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Hangzhou (affiliated with Zhejiang University, commonly used by international visitors)
- Embassy Us
- US Consulate General Shanghai: +86 21 8011 2400 (nearest US consular post to Zhejiang)
- Embassy Uk
- UK Consulate General Shanghai: +86 21 3279 2000 (nearest UK consular post to Zhejiang)