Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
This synopsis gives a quick overview of the criminal situation in China
as it relates to foreigners. The information is concise and is certainly easy
to act on. The alert warns against pickpockets, so it is reasonable to assume
that more than a few Americans have been victims of this type of criminal
activity. Safeguard your wallet by keeping it in your front pocket. The
report also gives a specific warning about the remote sections of western
China and the border with Nepal. Perhaps you had better cancel a trip to
those areas. Use your common sense. Believe it or not, there are people
who go to New York City and wish to sightsee in Harlem. While there are
many interesting places to see and cultural events to experience in
Harlem, visitors really need to be familiar with the area or go with some-
one who knows it, in order to avoid problems in the dangerous high-crime
areas. The State Department report on China goes on to say:
Throughout China, women outside hotels in tourist districts frequently use the
prospect of companionship or sex to lure foreign men to isolated locations where
accomplices are waiting for the purpose of robbery. Travelers should not allow
themselves to be driven to bars or an individual's home unless they know the
person making the offer. Hotel guests should refuse to open their room doors to
anyone they do not know personally. Sexual assaults in China reported by Amer-
ican women usually involve acquaintances rather than strangers.
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To the male readers of this chapter, that paragraph really needs to sink
in. There are many old tricks in the topic, but this one is one of the oldest
and is common the world over, certainly not just in China. A man alone,
especially after having just enough to drink to switch off the common-
sense center of the brain, is extremely vulnerable to this practice. In many
countries it is possible to engage the services of a prostitute for about the
same price as the breakfast special at IHOP. Beautiful women offering the
promise of a sexual encounter for such little money can be an extremely
tempting proposition. To quote the words of former first lady of the United
States Nancy Reagan: “Just say no.” Even if you do have a purely sexual
encounter, you are taking your life in your hands regarding the possibil-
ity of being exposed to HIV. However, you also have a pretty good chance
of being drugged and robbed or lured to a place where the woman's asso-
ciates will rob you by force. Once again, if such a warning is included in
the State Department travel advisory, you can be sure it has happened to
Americans before.
