Safety in Beijing

The most common question we get from people here on a short visit is - "Is Beijing safe?'

When we first moved here we had the same question...being in a new city, not being able to communicate due to the language...it can be frightening for some of us.

Being a woman living in the capital of the most populated country in the world, do I feel safe? I do!

We use public transport to travel in Beijing. Mostly the subway.
To see what rush hour looks like check this video on you tube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG-meaGqg-M

Subway crowd during rush hour. Organized Chaos

Subway crowd during rush hour. Organized Chaos

Sometimes I'm the only lady in the cabin. Apart from curious glances because I'm a foreigner , not once had any sort of bad experience. In fact the year I was pregnant, I've often had people give up their seats for me.

I can take a taxi any time , day or night and never have felt the need to record the driver's details or the car number. They like to make small conversations with you if you speak the language but apart from that they just pick you and drop you off doing their dutiful job.

I've noticed that here both men and women are treated equal. The school uniform for both boys and girls are the same, a track suit. Women are seen doing all kinds of odd jobs and is not stereo typed.
You'll find ladies from cleaning the street, to driving the public bus, to serving food at restaurants.
They do their jobs with dignity and are not mocked at or ridiculed.

We often compare our county to China in terms of technology and infrastructure, but more than that I think we need to be like them in terms of the mind set. Treating both men and women equally.

If you are new to Beijing, sharing a few tips.
1. Be aware of your own belongings like any where else in the world.
2. If you don't speak Mandarin, carry the address of your home or hotel with you at all times to find your way back in case you are lost.
3.If using taxi, collect the taxi receipt. It helps if you've left something behind.
4. Be careful of fake 100 yuan notes, while handing it to pay for something you've bought take a look at the serial number. If the shopkeeper returns it back to for not having change or any other reason, ensure you've got the same serial number back. Some times they swap notes to return the fake note back to you.
5. Avoid cycle rickshaws or black (unauthorized) taxis. They are reckless drivers.
6. If you are a tourist, beware of tourist traps- Foot massage places, Tea ceremonies, Jade factories. The tour operators take you there as they get a commission. Make sure you ask the price for services or goods before you start. Bargain hard.

Beijing is a great place and one of the safest in the world. Stay calm and positive and you'll have a good time.