Canadians often wonder whether China is a safe travel destination for them to visit.
The concern is valid considering what happened to the relations between Canada and China since December 2018, when Canada arrested Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver at the request of the Trump administration. China’s arrests of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor in retaliation against Canada’s arrest of Meng Wanzhou angered Canadians. The subsequent COVID-19 pandemic that first broke out in China further damaged the relations of the two countries due to China’s…
Now that the two Michaels are back home and the pandemic over, some Canadians begin to think again if they should take a trip to China. However, they have to be certain that they would be able to get their visa and they would not harassed at the border on arrival or by the Chinese police after entering the country.
So, is China safe for Canadian visitors?
We can only answer this question based on our own recent experiences. Since May 2023, Laurus Travel has sent dozens of Canadians and Americans to China on organized tours. Some of our staff members who are Canadian citizens also travelled to China since then. We are happy to report that none of our guests from Canada or the United States was denied a visa and nobody experienced any form of harassment at the border or after arrival in China.
Without any exception, the guests all had a wonderful time in China on our tours. You can easily find some recent testimonials and online reviews of Laurus Travel’s China tours as proof. It is fair to conclude that Canadians going to China for fun are extremely unlikely to be targeted by the Chinese government who is keen to welcome overseas visitors to help prop up its sagging economy. If the pattern holds, your appreciation will quickly give way to joy and peace of mind after encountering ordinary Chinese, who are nothing but nice and friendly to guests from afar.
So, is this a good time for Canadians to visit China?
The answer is yes. China is an incredibly safe country for visitors. Its rich cultural heritage and natural wonders are made all the more attractive by the genuine hospitality of the ordinary Chinese people you meet. It’s better to go now while the Chinese currency is still weak against the Canadian and US dollars. The Chinese government is about to launch a bunch of initiatives to stimulate its sluggish economy. If only part of the stimulus package achieves its target, the effect would be reflected in the strength of the Chinese currency.
