China's Foreign Ministry renewed a safety advisory on October 19, 2026, urging citizens traveling to France to take precautions amid demonstrations and violent clashes. It told travelers to stay alert, follow local developments and avoid protest areas.
CCTV News carried the advisory on Monday, October 19, 2026, Global Times said. The instruction is direct: keep clear of demonstrations.
The ministry also advised travelers facing an emergency to contact local police and seek help from Chinese diplomatic missions. The warning followed unrest in several cities.
Demonstrations and clashes have reached dozens of cities
Protests have erupted in dozens of major and medium-sized cities, including Paris, Marseille and Lyon. Some demonstrations turned violent, with protesters and police clashing.
The embassy and consulates had issued an earlier notice on Friday, ahead of expected demonstrations on Saturday. It warned that trade unions and student groups planned large-scale protests across the country.
That earlier notice also urged Chinese nationals, particularly tourists, to watch local developments, avoid protest areas and take precautions. The renewed warning followed demonstrations and reports of violent incidents. Stay away from protest sites.
A 2023 alert followed an attack on a bus carrying 41 tourists
The Foreign Ministry has issued alerts during earlier periods of unrest. On Sunday, July 2, 2023, its Department of Consular Affairs urged Chinese nationals in the country to heighten security awareness and take precautions as clashes continued.
The alert came after rioters attacked a bus carrying 41 Chinese tourists in Marseille on Thursday, June 29, 2023. The protests followed police shooting a 17-year-old, and unrest had spread to many cities.
Stones struck five or six passengers, some of whom suffered minor injuries. The Polish driver was hurt when the windshield shattered, then turned the bus around to escape the rioters.
The Chinese Consulate-General in Marseille helped the group contact police and arrange medical care for those injured. The Foreign Ministry said the consulate also raised representations with the French side, demanding that authorities protect Chinese citizens and their property.
All tourists left France and returned home. The consulate's response formed part of the ministry's account of the incident.
The earlier alert listed police and consular emergency numbers
The Foreign Ministry's 2023 advisory included phone numbers for police and Chinese consular assistance. They are from that earlier notice, not a contact list specified in the renewed advisory.
- French Police: (+33)17
- Foreign Ministry consular protection hotline: +86-10-123-08 / +86-10-6561-2308
- Chinese embassy assistance center in Paris: +33-1537-588-40
- Chinese Consulate-General assistance center in Marseille: +33-6719-058-35
- Chinese Consulate-General assistance center in Strasbourg: +33-6099-944-64
- Chinese Consulate-General assistance center in Lyon: +33-7856-209-31
The 2023 alert described consular assistance after the Marseille bus attack, including help reporting the incident and treating injured passengers. The current advisory directs travelers to local police and diplomatic missions if an emergency arises.
