The government of China can be quite oppressive compared to other countries' governments, so it follows that the laws are quite different. Also, a reason why China enjoys such a low crime rate is because of the harsh penalties imposed for crimes, even crimes that foreigners may feel are very minor. This can be a bad combination for travelers who are not aware of these facts, especially for those that are under the (false) impression that because they are a foreigner their government will help them if they get in trouble.

This section will be expanded in the future to include information on Internet "controls" by the government ("The Great Firewall of China") and how to prepare for it before you arrive.