GLD INDEXGLD COUNTRY SCORE
The national picture for LGBTQ+ travel.
YOUR DESTINATION IN THE INDEX
Among destinations covered by this index with current publishable scores. Based on unrounded scores; equal values share a rank. As of 2026-09-27. How rankings work →
YOUR DESTINATION, IN CONTEXT
China has a published GLD Country Score of 63/100, in the Medium range.
China combines vast tourism infrastructure and major metropolitan communities with limited LGBTQ+ legal recognition, censorship and constrained public organising. Shanghai, Beijing and selected large cities offer social networks that should not be mistaken for nationwide openness.
PLACES TO STAY
Independent selections with sourced hotel information and LGBTQ+ travel context.
BEYOND THE NATIONAL SCORE
Source-based overview · external sources consulted 2026-09-29. GLD score dates are shown separately.
High-speed rail connects many major centres, but the country’s scale still requires careful routing. Payment systems, internet restrictions, language access and identity-linked bookings deserve preparation before arrival.
Sources: China Culture and Tourism — official portalGaylidays currently connects 17 scored cities to the national picture. Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenzhen are the three highest-scoring cities currently covered. Recorded city scores range from 57/100 in Nanjing to 61/100 in Chengdu, a 4-point spread that shows why local context still matters.
Source: GLD country and city scoring records. Interpretation of the recorded assessment, not a new score calculation.Large cities support venues and informal networks, while public advocacy and online information can face restrictions. Travellers should protect digital privacy and avoid assuming that a visible nightlife space indicates legal protection.
Sources: China Culture and Tourism — official portalShanghai, Beijing and several large cities have the deepest informal communities, although public organising remains constrained.
Sources: China Culture and Tourism — official portalInternet access, payment tools and commonly used applications may work differently or require advance setup.
Sources: China Culture and Tourism — official portalHOW TO READ THIS SCORE
The country score combines legal rights, social acceptance, rule of law and travel comfort. City guides add the local perspective to this national foundation.
BEHIND THIS SCORE
The source-based overview above adds national and city-level context. These are the recorded score components; the editorial research has not recalculated them.
Components have different weights and may be subject to methodology caps; this is not a simple average.
Legal status from ILGA/Equaldex; social score from Equaldex Public Opinion; rule of law from World Bank WGI; travel comfort from GLD editorial review using Intrepid, Reuters, Guardian and other current LGBTQ-risk evidence.
Synced from GLD Index on 27 Sept 2026. The sync date is not an evidence verification date.
No. Use the GLD Index alongside current official travel advice and local information. Conditions and personal experiences vary.
This score is read from GLD Index’s data portal, using only current published or partner-ready records. Score last updated: 20 May 2026. Public display levels use the existing four-band scale; the underlying methodology category is tracked separately.