Are there any specific cities or regions in China where LGBTQ+ travelers should be particularly cautious?

Here’s the deets on LGBTQ+ travel in China:

Overall, China’s pretty chill for LGBTQ+ travellers, but there are some situations and places to be wary of:

• While the big cities like Beijing and Shanghai are fairly open-minded, smaller towns can be more conservative.
• Chinese society in general is pretty conservative. PDA might attract some side-eye or discomfort. Keep it PG, folks!
• There’s no explicit legal protection for LGBTQ+ folks, but discrimination and violence aren’t common.

Watch Out For These Places:

• Smaller towns and rural areas are more traditional and less exposed to the outside world, so they might be less accepting of same-sex relationships.
• Tibet Autonomous Region: Religion influences the mindset here, so there might be more prejudice.
• Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region: Islamic law is taken seriously here, so additional pressure might be put on LGBTQ+ folks.

Also, steer clear of military zones and sensitive areas. Any non-mainstream behaviour could be seen as a no-no.

What to Watch Out For:

• Keep PDAs to a minimum in public spaces. Discreet is the word!
• Be more low-key in conservative areas or smaller towns.
• Don’t flash your gayness around religious places or traditional festivals. That’s a big no-no.
• Be careful what you post online. China has strict internet regulations, and LGBTQ+ content might get blocked.

Here’s Some Tips:

• Big cities like Beijing and Shanghai are friendlier for LGBTQ+ travellers.
• Stay low-key and discreet to avoid unnecessary attention.
• Hit up local LGBTQ+ orgs if you need help.
• Do some background research on the culture and social vibes of your destination.
• Consider using a VPN to access blocked LGBTQ+ content.

So, while China is mostly safe for LGBTQ+ travellers, exercise caution in more conservative areas. Play it by ear, prepare in advance, and if you’re heading somewhere super traditional, run it by the local LGBTQ+ community first. 💪🌟