* Foreign tourists still come for the expected attractions -- historic landmarks, natural scenery, futuristic urban life, and a rich culture. Yet a quieter observation is increasingly common in travel accounts: a strong sense of order and safety that is part of China's appeal.

* Perceptions of safety in China are reflected in international surveys. China ranks among higher-scoring countries globally in public feelings of safety and law and order index, according to Gallup's 2025 Global Safety Report.

* At a deeper level, observers said China's economic development has significantly reduced poverty-driven crime, while effective governance and voluntary public participation have helped strengthen the overall sense of safety.

SHANGHAI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- About 30 minutes after leaving a restaurant in downtown Shanghai, German tourist Lukas Schmidt realized he had left his phone behind. He turned back.

Restaurant staff had already set the device aside. After confirming it was his, they returned it without fuss.

The brief episode left a lasting impression. It makes people worry less about losing things, Schmidt said, adding that he finds it simply part of everyday life in China.

It is not the kind of takeaway travelers usually bring back from trips abroad. Foreign tourists still come for the expected attractions -- historic landmarks, natural scenery, futuristic urban life, and a rich culture.

Yet a quieter observation is increasingly common in travel accounts: a strong sense of order and safety that is part of China's appeal.

This appeal is evident in short videos, travel diaries and live-streams under hashtags such as "ChinaTravel," which have multiplied as visa policies ease and inbound tourism recovers.

"I've been to 55 countries," Canadian traveler Dave Mani said in a YouTube video documenting his first visit to China earlier this year. "And this is probably one of the top three safest places I've ever been to."

Across these videos, certain details recur: deliveries sitting unattended outside apartment buildings, or personal belongings briefly left in public spaces, which are mundane scenes for locals but surprising discoveries for first-time visitors.

Nights are also full of surprises for foreign travelers. In many global cities, the hours after sunset are associated with caution. In China, however, visitors record something different: well-lit streets, midnight joggers and vibrant night markets.

In a video posted by American backpacker Christian Grossi, he joined crowds in a public square in Chongqing on a Saturday night, where locals shopped, dined and raised their phones to film a drone light show.

"It feels super peaceful and super safe. Everyone has their phones out. I have never felt any sort of danger here. You can see there is no police, no security, just people enjoying their lives here," he said.

A CLOSER LOOK

Perceptions of safety in China are reflected in international surveys. China ranks among higher-scoring countries globally in public feelings of safety and law and order index, according to Gallup's 2025 Global Safety Report.

Official data show that in 2025, the number of criminal cases nationwide fell 12.8 percent year on year to its lowest level since 2000, while public security cases declined by 3.5 percent.

Analysts point to a mix of factors behind these figures, including technology-assisted public safety systems, which are widely used to improve emergency response.

Lu Jifeng, a professor at Shandong University of Science and Technology in eastern China, underscored the high level of public trust in law enforcement as a key factor.

"When people see police helping solve everyday problems, trust is built naturally," Lu said, noting that Chinese police are widely perceived as having a service-oriented approach.

That sense of trust is also reflected in the experiences of foreign travelers. Earlier this month, Katherine Taylor McCall, an American who teaches English in China, recovered a phone she had left in a ride-hailing car with help from police, who contacted the platform, identified the driver and retrieved the device.

"Thank you! Chinese police, amazing!" she said.

At a deeper level, observers said China's economic development has significantly reduced poverty-driven crime, while effective governance and voluntary public participation have helped strengthen the overall sense of safety.

Claude Brouir, a Belgian cycling enthusiast, experienced this firsthand during a trip across China last year. He said locals along the way volunteered help with translation, accommodation and introductions to local customs, making the journey easier and more enjoyable.

"In China, mutual trust and support are part of daily life," said Wang Dianli, a professor at Shandong University. He added that Confucian teachings of harmony and respect for diversity have shaped everyday behavior in Chinese society.

For some visitors, their safe-and-sound travel experience becomes a reason to stay longer.

A South African content creator who operates the "Because I'm Lizzy" social media account has spent years living in China. She cited everyday interactions with locals as a key factor for remaining in the country. "The Chinese people really are the friendliest I've ever met," she said.

Fabien Loudet, who has lived in China for over 16 years, recalled growing up in France with what he described as a constant background awareness of risk, such as which neighborhoods to avoid and how to stay alert in public.

"That feeling gradually disappeared after I came to China," he said in a video posted on social media. "Peace of mind is priceless. Much as I love my home country, I couldn't see myself living in a place without the level of safety I experience here."

(Reporting by Cao Peixian, Chen Aiping, Li Aoqiu and Wang Hongshuo; Video reporter: Pan Xiaojing; Video editors: Zheng Xin, Zhu Cong and Liang Wanshan.)  ■