Guangzhou Solo? Don't Do It! Seriously, It's THAT Dangerous.
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Wailing sisters, heed my advice! When traveling alone in Guangzhou, your safety should always be a top priority!
As I often travel for business on my own, this time I wanted to make a brief stop at Canton Tower (popularly known as "Little Waist"). After taking some photos, it was almost time for lunch, and I looked forward to tasting Guangzhou's morning tea, a very popular type of Cantonese dim sum meal that is somewhat like brunch with a lot of small dishes.
- Searched online and found a buffet-style morning tea place that seemed cost-effective in the Four Seasons Place, a shopping mall. At the time, I naively thought shopping malls are safer than solo eating in roadside cafes.
- However! This experience has left me with mental trauma beyond expectation!
- While resting at Starbucks on the first floor, a man approached out of nowhere and asked if he could add my WeChat (a widely-used social app in China that resembles a combination of WhatsApp and Apple Pay).
- Since I have a boyfriend, and I prefer not adding strangers, I simply refused.
- He didn't leave, though, sitting beside me for about twenty minutes. Seeing he had no intention of leaving, I grabbed my bag and walked away.
- Right at the lift entrance, that man came forward again, pestering me to add him on WeChat.
- To avoid his persistent demands, I added him on a little-used WeChat backup account.
- Then I headed up to the second floor for breakfast tea, but after less than two minutes’ wait outside the shop entrance, I began to feel uneasy.
- Rushing into the female restroom, I changed clothes and then took a taxi straight back to my hotel.
- Looking at that little-used backup WeChat account during the taxi ride, I was shocked! That man immediately sent some extremely repulsive messages, hinting something sexual - asking me to cuddle in his arms - which instantly made me feel sick to my stomach!
Fortunately, I reacted quickly enough to flee! Upon returning to my hotel, I felt more and more afraid, thinking what would have happened if I'd stayed and that man had been still around watching me during the meal, with fewer people in the mall...
Important Warning & Precautions for Solo Women Travellers:
- Keep alert! My experience shows that when alone, especially in unfamiliar places, caution cannot be ignored, even in seemingly safe malls.
- How to handle harassment?
- Decline decisively and leave swiftly! If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, directly decline and try to leave the vicinity as soon as possible. Don't fear seeming rude.
- Trust your gut feeling! The moment you sense something off, get up and go immediately! Do not hesitate, but go somewhere crowded or head home.
- Confuse them by changing attire (if feeling followed): Changing clothes, probably helped me in my case. If you feel watched, enter a store and quickly change your outfit or hair style.
- About solo travel/night outing:
- Avoid lone action where possible! Preferably travel during the day, stay off lonely areas, and bring friends along.
- In cases of solitary outings: inform friends or family of your whereabouts and keep your phone handy.
- On adding strangers as contacts:
- Be cautious of strangers’ advances, especially those leaving you uncomfortable. Refusing unwanted social interactions is your right.
- Temporarily escape! As I did now, giving out a little-used backup account is a last resort, aimed at escaping quickly, and you must delete and block them right afterwards.
#GuangzhouSoloTrip #SoloFemaleTraveler #TravellingSafety #GuangzhouTourism #CantonTower
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Come on, don't make Guangzhou sound so dangerous! He sat next to you for 20 minutes, you sensed his unfriendly intentions, yet you didn't show any displeasure or move away. That's what gave him the opening to follow you. Then, after he followed you, you even let him add you on WeChat! You need to learn from Guangdong girls – be firm and assertive with unfriendly people.
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What are you trying to say? Victim-blaming, is that it?
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Just shout 'Pervert!' I guarantee he'll bolt faster than a rabbit.
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Hahahahaha