Please be aware that CNET can in no way assure safety or take responsibility for safety issues when you are traveling abroad. Whenever one travels throughout the world, personal safety is an immediate concern. China is not on the State Department's watch list of trouble countries for Americans to travel in. However, in the current world political climate, Americans are sometimes targeted. There are some common sense rules that you should observe in China.

1. If at all possible, especially when you are new to China and the specific neighborhood in which you live, allow yourself to be accompanied by a Chinese native when going shopping or to a restaurant at night. For the most part, China is completely safe during daylight hours.

2. Be careful with your money. Do not carry large amounts if it is not necessary and do not show that you have large amounts on you. It is best to carry just what you will need for a specific outing.

3. Do not venture out in areas that you are not familiar with at night. When going out, go with another person or in a group. This is especially true when you have been drinking. An intoxicated person is perceived as a much easier target.

4. Never, ever take a cigarette, drink or food item given to you as a free gift by someone you do not know on the street. This is the oldest street trick in the book in China. The item will render you unconscious within minutes and you will pass out on a bench, in a public restroom, in a restaurant or in an alley and be robbed. Victims are generally not permanently harmed.

5. Carry some kind of identification on you at all times. It is not necessary to carry your passport or foreign expert certificate, but a standard driver's license or ID card in your wallet or billfold is advisable. In fact, passports are very valued and will be stolen, so keep it in your apartment or a safety deposit box at a bank unless you have immediate need for it. Should you become debilitated, someone in the Chinese police or hospital system will be able to interpret the information you have on you. You may also want to keep your school principal's business card or information about your school with you.

In short, the same rules apply in China that apply in the USA. For the most part, China is very non-violent and safe for foreigners. And, the schools and civil authorities go to great lengths to protect your welfare. But, it is important for you to be aware. With the current atmosphere among some nationalities towards Americans, it is very important to be aware of your surroundings at all times and to register with the US Sate Department when you arrive in China. You can do this by going to the USA Chinese Consular websites. If there is a national security problem involving China, they will contact you if you have registered with them and they know that you are in China.

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