Thanks to Ashley for the tweet that inspired this post:
@ashleyindallas Women who have traveled solo in China: I need your advice, inspiration, and tips! @ashleyindallas me! Thank you
Taking "selfies": Maybe the most annoying part of solo travel
I think China is probably one of the easiest countries for women traveling alone. For one thing, there are almost always people around! Even when I go for a run on Yuelu Mountain, I am rarely out of sight of a group of students or older women out for a walk. That does a lot to ease my solo-traveling anxieties.
Of course, I still follow basic safety precautions — Journeywoman has great tips that apply no matter where you are. And there are a few China-specific things to do to make your experience safer, and better all around.
- Take the top bunk: If you’re traveling hard sleeper on an overnight train, ask for a top bunk (上铺, shangpu). Not only does this make it harder for anyone to snatch your belongings as you sleep, it also gives you the option of escaping from unwanted attention (which can be annoying, though it’s rarely sexual in nature). On the bottom bunk, you’re visible all the time, but up top, you can hide away pretty effectively. Other passengers may never even realize there’s a waiguoren around. Bonus: It’s usually a few kuai cheaper than the bottom or middle bunks.
- Get directions in Chinese characters: If you’re trying to get somewhere, make sure you have the address in Chinese characters. (The Lonely Planet guide does a good job giving most addresses and names in both characters and pinyin romanization.) As long as you have the name written down, you can show it to taxi drivers, shopkeepers and people on the street without having to worry about mispronouncing it. You’re more likely to get where you want to go, faster.
- Be friendly! This may seem to contradict tip number one. However, China’s rapid growth and development means that maps and directions have a pretty short shelf life. Making friends is a good way to get the most up-to-date information from locals. As long as you look remotely approachable, you’ll probably have tons of people trying to help — don’t automatically blow them off!
What do you do to stay safe alone in China? Share in the comments, please!
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