lgbti travelers: homosexuality was decriminalized in china in 1997, but there are no civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. prejudices and discrimination still exist in many parts of the country. same sex marriages are not legally recognized in china and local authorities will not provide marriage certificates to same-sex couples. there are growing lgbti communities in some of china's largest cities and violence against lgbti individuals in china is relatively rare.
non-governmental organizations: in january 2017, china will implement a new law regulating the operations of foreign ngos in china. ngos and their employees should ensure they are complying with all relevant statutory requirements, particularly if working in sensitive areas or fields.
north korea: china shares a lengthy border with the democratic people's republic of korea (north korea or dprk). we strongly recommend that you not to travel to north korea. the united states does not have diplomatic relations with the dprk, and sweden, the protecting power for the united states, can provide only limited consular services. if you cross into north korea, even inadvertently, you will be subject to north korean law. for further information, consult the north korea country specific information webpage and the travel warning for north korea.
persons with disabilities: u.s. citizens with mobility disabilities may face challenges while traveling in china. sidewalks often do not have curb cuts and many streets can be crossed only via pedestrian bridges or underpasses accessible by staircase. assistive technologies for blind people and those with other vision disabilities are unreliable, and access to elevators in public buildings can be restricted. in major cities, public restrooms in places visited by tourists usually have a least one accessible toilet.
piracy: do not buy counterfeit or pirated goods. the bootlegs are illegal in the united states and you may also be breaking local law by purchasing them.
political and religious activity: participating in unauthorized political or religious activities, including participating in public protests or sending private electronic messages critical of the government, may result in detention and chinese government imposed restrictions on future travel to china. u.s. citizens have been detained and expelled for distributing religious literature, including bibles. if you bring religious literature with you, chinese law dictates that it be a "reasonable amount? for your personal use. if you attempt to bring larger quantities, the literature will likely be confiscated and you may be fined, detained, or deported.
social insurance: china has a social insurance system to which foreigners who work in china must contribute. when you sign an employment contract, you must apply for a social insurance number, and it is important that your employer work with you to comply with the regulations. please check the official website for updated information.
special scrutiny of foreign citizens: on occasion in recent years, citizens of the united states and other countries visiting or resident in china have been interrogated or detained for reasons said to be related to 'state security.? in such circumstances, you could face arrest, detention or an exit ban prohibiting your departure from china for a prolonged period. dual u.s.-chinese nationals and u.s. citizens of chinese heritage may be at a higher risk of facing such special scrutiny. information about dual nationality can be found on our website. foreigners working for ngos in china have also recently faced additional scrutiny, and china will implement a new law regulating foreign ngo activity in january 2017. ngos and their employees should ensure they are complying with all relevant statutory requirements, particularly if working in sensitive areas or fields.
students: see our students abroad page and fbi travel tips.
