Protect yourself: legal rights and property safety✳
This section deals with money and personal freedom rather than life expectancy. It covers three main points: what legal responsibilities you must fulfill, how much compensation you can avoid by following those rules, and what procedural rights you have if something goes wrong. All clause numbers have been cross‑checked against the official texts. The items are ordered so that those with the biggest potential losses and the easiest preventive measures appear first; items that require advance planning come next; finally, those based purely on experience without any official backing are listed last.
English text comes from the independent translation maintained by dlgrv. New entries without a translation appear in Chinese. The author's Chinese original is authoritative for the latest content. Translation snapshot: dlgrv/HowToLiveBetter · 11818c6
After a traffic accident, stop, help the injured, and call the police — don’t flee
If you flee the scene, you are automatically considered fully responsible for the accident. Your driver’s license will be revoked, and you won’t be allowed to retake the test for life. More practically, both collision damage coverage and third‑party liability insurance will not pay any claims related to fleeing — you’d have to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket. Staying on the scene to help and call the police only takes a couple of hours.
Cost
No cost at all. Stopping, turning on hazard lights, helpin…
Benefit
The person who flees bears full responsibility for the accident. Only if you can prove the other driver also a…
02Evidence A
If you realize you’ve been scammed, call 110 or 96110 right away to request a stop‑payment — don’t try to investigate on your own first.
The brief period right after money is sent is the only window of opportunity. During this time police can issue an emergency stop‑payment order and quickly freeze the funds; banks are required to comply. Once the money has been moved through multiple accounts and scattered, it becomes almost impossible to recover. Therefore, call 110 or 96110 immediately — don’t waste time investigating or asking questions on your own. Calls to 96110 come from police officers trying to warn you, so be sure to answer them.
Cost
No cost at all. Just make one call, clearly stating the ti…
Benefit
Law enforcement has the authority to instantly query, urgently stop‑pay, and swiftly freeze any funds linked t…
03Evidence B
Remember the anti-fraud golden rules: don’t trust unsolicited calls, never share personal information, avoid clicking on links, and always verify before transferring money. All seven of the most common scams follow this same pattern.
If someone asks you to transfer money, share your screen, download an unknown app, click a link, or provide a verification code, hang up first and then call back using an official number to verify. The seven most common scam types are fake job offers with promised returns, fraudulent investment schemes, online loan scams, impersonation of customer service agents, impersonation of police, procuratorate, or court officials, romance scams, and fake task-based payment scams. They all share one thing in common: they ask you to send money, pay fees, or share your screen first. Spotting them in advance is far cheaper than trying to get your money back after the fact.
Cost
No cost at all. Just memorize the “three no’s and one extr…
Benefit
Laws require government agencies and relevant departments to educate the public about common tactics used in t…
04Evidence B
Seeing a face on video or hearing a voice on the phone does not count as verification; if a transfer is involved, hang up first and call back using an old number saved in your contacts.
Seeing someone’s face or hearing their voice is not reliable proof of identity. Whenever money transfer is mentioned, hang up immediately and call back using an old number stored in your contacts, or ask someone you both know. If the caller claims “poor signal” or “I’m in a meeting” and refuses a live video chat, treat it as a scam.
Cost
No cost involved. It only requires making one extra call a…
Benefit
The Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security has outlined three key measures. First is motion v…
05Evidence A
If accused or summoned, hire a lawyer first — don’t settle privately or delete records
You can hire a lawyer right from the first time you’re called in for questioning. If the lawyer requests a meeting, the detention center must arrange it within 48 hours, and those talks cannot be monitored. You’re allowed to refuse answering any questions unrelated to the case.
Cost
Legal fees start at several thousand yuan. Those with fina…
Benefit
Starting from the first interrogation or from the moment you’re placed under compulsory measures restricting y…
06Evidence A
Coming forward voluntarily after an incident: Self‑surrender can cut a sentence by up to 40%, and the “statute of limitations” defense simply does not exist
Voluntarily surrendering can reduce a prison term by up to 40%; for less serious offenses it may even lead to no punishment at all. If you confess only after being caught, the reduction is capped at 20%. Running away or denying responsibility yields no benefit. Relying on the statute of limitations to get off scot‑free is impossible: once a case is officially opened, the time you spend evading authorities does not count toward that limit. The relevant sentencing rules have been in effect since 2021.
Cost
There is no cost at all. You can walk into a police statio…
Benefit
Article 67 of the Criminal Law states that anyone who voluntarily surrenders and truthfully confesses their cr…
07Evidence A
Don’t touch the steering wheel after drinking — even for e‑bikes or “just moving the car a bit”
Driving after drinking results in a 6‑month suspension of your license and a fine of 1,000–2,000 yuan. A second offense brings up to 10 days in jail and permanent license revocation. Drunk driving leads to immediate license cancellation; you can’t reapply for 5 years and may face criminal charges for dangerous driving, leaving a criminal record that affects background checks and certain jobs. Auto insurance won’t cover any claims: once you’ve been drinking, your policy becomes void. Even “just moving the car a bit” counts as driving.
Cost
Using a designated driver or taking a taxi costs only a fe…
Benefit
Temporary suspension of the license for 6 months and a fine ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 yuan for driving after…
08Evidence A
Never lend your bank cards, SIM cards, or payment accounts to anyone — “money laundering” is not a side hustle
Renting, lending, or selling your bank cards, SIM cards, or payment accounts is illegal on its own. Penalties include confiscation of all illegal earnings plus a fine of 1 to 10 times that amount; if no earnings were made, the maximum fine is 200,000 yuan. In serious cases, offenders face up to 15 days in detention, a negative credit record, and restrictions on account functionality. If you knowingly assist criminals by receiving or transferring money using these accounts, you could be convicted of aiding information network criminal activities, punishable by up to 3 years in prison.
Cost
Zero. Some people claim “just lend your card for a few tra…
Benefit
Engaging in any activity that involves renting, lending, or selling phone cards, bank accounts, payment accoun…
09Evidence A
Checking your credit report twice a year for free helps spot any loans or cards you didn’t apply for.
Laws give you the right to check your own credit report twice a year at no charge, and you can finish the process online in ten minutes. Negative entries stay on the report for five years from the date they’re resolved; after that they must be removed. If you dispute any information, the credit agency or data provider must respond to you in writing within 20 days. To check your report, use the official website of the People’s Bank of China’s Credit Information Center or your mobile banking app — avoid third‑party “credit check” apps, as they collect your personal data.
Cost
It costs nothing. You can complete the check online in jus…
Benefit
Regulatory rules state that “individuals have the right to obtain their own credit reports twice a year free o…
10Evidence A
If a fight breaks out, call the police first — the one who strikes first almost always loses
Anyone who assaults another person faces 5 to 10 days in jail and a fine of 500 to 1,000 yuan. If they act in a group, target the elderly, pregnant women, children, or disabled individuals, or repeat the assault multiple times, the penalty rises to 10 to 15 days in jail and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. Causing minor injuries to another person turns it into a criminal case, punishable by up to 3 years in prison; serious injuries bring a sentence of 3 to 10 years. When two people fight each other, it does not qualify as self-defense — the person who strikes first almost always suffers the consequences. Moving to a crowded area and calling the police is far more effective than retaliating.
Cost
No cost at all. Simply move to a crowded area and call the…
Benefit
Under the law, anyone who assaults another person or intentionally harms them faces 5 to 10 days in jail and a…
11Evidence A
You may defend yourself against an unavoidable attack, but only strike the person who is actually attacking — stop when he stops.
To protect yourself or others from an ongoing attack, it is legally acceptable to intervene and injure the attacker. If someone is committing murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, or any other violent crime, harming or even killing them is not considered excessive. However, you must only strike the person actively attacking — stop as soon as he ceases. Even if the court ultimately rules in your favor, the process is far from easy; many people are first charged and detained for several days. In total, 47 individuals have been recognized as acting in self-defense under these circumstances.
Cost
Legal fees start at several thousand yuan;
Benefit
Criminal law defines what constitutes legitimate self-defense. When national interests, public welfare, or you…
12Evidence A
Who to avoid — when you’re owed wages, fired unfairly, or scammed out of money — use complaints, arbitration, or lawsuits instead of taking revenge
Following legal channels means the worst outcome is simply not getting your money back. Choosing revenge yields the same result — no money recovered — plus you risk losing your own life. Take the Wuxi case: Xu failed his exams, didn’t receive his diploma, and was unhappy about his internship pay. He went on to kill 8 people and injure 17 others with a knife. He was sentenced to death and executed. Nationwide in 2024, complaints and arbitration helped 654,000 workers recover 8.65 billion yuan in unpaid wages.
Cost
There’s no monetary cost;
Benefit
Official statistics back up legal action. In 2024, labor inspectors handled 137,000 cases, securing 8.65 billi…
13Evidence A
No matter how angry you are, never target innocent people: deliberately driving into a crowd or committing violence in public is classified as endangering public safety by dangerous means, carrying a minimum sentence of three years; if anyone dies, the penalty is death.
Intentionally driving into a crowd or attacking people in public constitutes endangering public safety by dangerous means. Even if no one is injured, the offender still faces at least three years in prison. If fatalities occur, the sentence rises to ten years or more, life imprisonment, or death. In the Zhuhai case, Fan Weiqiu, dissatisfied with the divorce settlement, drove his car into a crowd exercising at a sports center, resulting in 35 deaths and 43 injuries; he was sentenced to death and executed.
Cost
There is no monetary cost involved. The real challenge is…
Benefit
Article 114 of the Criminal Law states: “Whoever commits arson, breaches a dike, causes an explosion, releases…
14Evidence B
Thoughts such as “find a scapegoat” or “go down together” must be treated as a medical emergency: leave the scene, hand over car keys and knives to someone else, and call 12356.
The window between the moment these thoughts arise and any attempt to act on them is very brief. Among 82 people who survived a suicide attempt, 47.6% reported that no more than 10 minutes elapsed from the first appearance of such thoughts to the attempt itself. Therefore, the priority is not to “figure things out” intellectually, but to create physical distance — one step at a time — between oneself and steering wheels, knives, gas valves, or ropes, thereby surviving those crucial ten minutes. After that, calling 12356 is essential.
Cost
There is no monetary cost. The difficulty lies in admittin…
Benefit
The time gap between the emergence of these thoughts and actual action is indeed short. Interviews conducted w…
15Evidence A
Family members say “no one will be safe” or “I’ll take the kids and leave” — don’t dismiss this as anger: close relatives can take such a person to the hospital, and police must respond to any emergency call.
When family members say things like “no one will be safe” or “I’ll take the kids and leave,” close relatives have the right to take that person to a hospital, where treatment cannot be refused. If there has already been violence or an imminent risk of harm, hospitalization does not require the person’s consent. If it’s unclear whether these statements are just angry outbursts or genuine threats, call 12356 for advice or dial 110 so police can intervene. Keeping this information secret does not help the person at all.
Cost
Registration and consultation fees range from a few dozen…
Benefit
Article 28, paragraph 2 of the Mental Health Law states: “When a suspected mental disorder patient exhibits be…
16Evidence A
Don’t curse, spread rumors, or share unverified content online; if you’re a victim of online abuse, document evidence first then report it to police
Publicly cursing, spreading rumors or defaming others can result in detention for up to 5 days or a fine of up to 1000 yuan; for more serious cases, detention ranges from 5 to 10 days. If the circumstances are especially grave, it constitutes the crimes of insult or defamation, punishable by up to 3 years in prison. Simply sharing such content also makes you liable. Conversely, if you’re a victim of online abuse, you generally have to file a lawsuit in court yourself to pursue legal action for insult or defamation, so you must rely on yourself to take screenshots, record video and save links.
Cost
No cost at all. Just take ten extra seconds to think befor…
Benefit
Those who openly insult others or fabricate facts to defame them face detention for up to 5 days or a fine of…
17Evidence A
Read the document thoroughly before signing; never sign on behalf of others or on blank paper
Once signed, the document becomes legally binding. Claims such as “I didn’t read it properly” or “I thought it said something else” rarely hold up in court. Therefore, it’s essential to spend those few minutes reading everything, ask for clarification when needed, and document it all with photos. Never sign for someone else, never sign on blank paper, and always specify the intended purpose when providing a copy of your ID. Electronic signatures and facial recognition verification also count as valid signatures.
Cost
There is no cost involved. It simply requires a few extra…
Benefit
Contracts that are legally executed are protected by law and are binding on all parties involved. Once signed,…
18Evidence A
Write a clear loan agreement when lending money; think carefully before agreeing to be a guarantor
The loan agreement must include all essential details: who the lender and borrower are, the amount, interest rate, term, and repayment method, plus signatures from both sides. Use a bank transfer instead of cash to make legal enforcement easier. Before agreeing to be a guarantor, check whether the contract mentions “joint and several liability.” Under ordinary guarantee arrangements, creditors must first sue the borrower and exhaust all collection efforts before seeking payment from you. However, if you sign a joint and several liability guarantee, creditors can demand repayment from you directly.
Cost
There is no cost involved. Simply use a piece of paper to…
Benefit
Loan contracts should be in writing and contain information such as the type of loan, currency, purpose, amoun…
19Evidence A
Time limits for legal action: 3 years for civil lawsuits, 1 year for labor arbitration; once the deadline passes, a simple “statute of limitations exceeded” claim can block your case
The statute of limitations for civil lawsuits is three years, counted from the day you become aware your rights were violated. Once that period ends, the court won’t act on its own; however, if the debtor simply argues “the deadline has passed,” you lose the right to recover what’s owed. A single documented demand for payment can reset that three‑year clock entirely. Labor disputes follow a different rule: the arbitration deadline is just one year.
Cost
Zero cost. Don’t just hope for payment in silence — use We…
Benefit
The Civil Code states that “the limitation period for filing a civil lawsuit is three years, calculated from t…
20Evidence A
If you’re being sued or have a court order against you, report all your assets truthfully and repay as much as you can — don’t transfer your house or money to relatives, friends, or companies.
Putting your house in a company’s name or transferring money to relatives or friends isn’t some clever “workaround” — it falls squarely under the circumstances described in the law on refusal to execute court orders. Conviction for this offense carries a sentence of up to three years; in especially serious cases, the sentence is three to seven years. Relatives, friends, or companies that help hide or transfer assets are treated as accomplices, and those assets must be recovered. Failing to report assets or providing false information can result in fines of up to 100,000 yuan and up to 15 days of detention. However, if you truly have no money, this crime does not apply.
Cost
There is no cost involved. Simply report your assets as re…
Benefit
Asset transfers aren’t merely “workarounds” — they themselves constitute criminal acts. The Standing Committee…
21Evidence A
If you’re under a spending restriction or listed on the dishonesty registry, first find out which rule applies and request removal if possible
First, figure out whether you’re merely under a spending restriction or actually listed on the dishonesty registry. These are two distinct situations; it’s possible you’re subject to only one. There are exactly six legal grounds for inclusion on the dishonesty registry, and the listing remains valid for two years. Seven specific circumstances — including full compliance with court orders — require the court to remove the entry within three working days; proactive compliance can even lead to earlier removal. Spending restrictions prohibit using your own funds for eight specific types of non‑essential purchases; however, you may apply individually for permission to cover any truly necessary personal or business costs.
Cost
No cost at all. You simply need to visit the enforcement c…
Benefit
Only six specific scenarios qualify a person for inclusion on the dishonesty registry. First, having the abili…
22Evidence A
If scammed while shopping online or via second-hand markets, first file a complaint with the platform, then report it to police, and finally decide whether to sue.
Start by contacting the platform. Platforms maintain security deposits and strict penalty rules, so they act fastest. Next, call the police: if the loss exceeds 3,000 yuan, it meets the threshold for a criminal fraud case; otherwise it falls under public‑order penalties, which can result in a detention of 5 to 10 days. If you decide to sue, online‑purchase disputes can be filed in the court nearest to the delivery address. For smaller amounts, a small‑claims procedure applies, guaranteeing a verdict within two months and allowing online filing.
Cost
Filing a complaint with the platform and reporting the cas…
Benefit
When the amount defrauded ranges from 3,000 to 10,000 yuan, it qualifies as “a relatively large sum” under fra…
23Evidence A
Think carefully before and after making large gifts in romantic relationships or marriage
Once the money is transferred, you generally cannot get it back. A gift can only be revoked before it is officially registered under the recipient’s name. After that, revocation is only possible under three specific circumstances: the recipient seriously harms you or your close relatives; fails to fulfill their legal obligation to support you; or breaches any agreed terms of the gift contract. Therefore, decide early whether the payment is a loan or a gift.
Cost
No cost involved. Before sending a large sum of money, ask…
Benefit
Before property rights are transferred, a gift can be withdrawn. This legal threshold is known as the “transfe…
24Evidence A
Transfer betrothal gifts via payment with clear notes; keep chat records; money demanded under marriage can be reclaimed
Demanding money under the guise of marriage is illegal, and courts support claims for repayment. Repayment can be demanded in three cases: no marriage registration took place; registration occurred but no actual cohabitation followed; betrothal gifts were given before marriage, leaving the giver in financial hardship. If registration occurred and cohabitation did follow, repayment is generally not required. However, if cohabitation was brief and the gift amount was excessively high, courts will determine the repayment proportion based on how the money was used, presence of dowry, whether children were born, and any fault on either side. For couples who cohabited without registration, the same proportional rule applies (nationwide, effective February 2024). Therefore, always transfer betrothal gifts, wedding jewelry, and related payments via bank transfer with clear notes, and both parties must keep proper evidence.
Cost
No cost involved. Transfer betrothal gifts, wedding jewelr…
Benefit
Demanding money under the guise of marriage is strictly prohibited by law. If one party demands betrothal gift…
25Evidence A
No need to worry about premarital assets — clearly define adding a spouse’s name to property and parental contributions
Premarital assets remain your personal property and do not automatically become joint property simply because you’ve been married for many years. Couples can put in writing that premarital and postmarital assets stay separate. Keep in mind: if you agree to add your spouse’s name to a property title, you can still change your mind before completing the registration — once registered, it becomes their property. In divorce proceedings, any party who hides, transfers, squanders, or fabricates debts involving shared assets may receive a smaller share or none at all.
Cost
Drafting a written property agreement yourself costs nothi…
Benefit
Premarital assets stay under your sole ownership regardless of how long you’ve been married. Couples may stipu…
26Evidence A
Check a person’s marital status before getting married; those who use marriage as a pretext to defraud money can be prosecuted for fraud.
Marriages involving bigamy are invalid. Anyone who already has a spouse yet marries again, or who knowingly marries someone who already has a spouse, faces up to 2 years in prison. Those who use marriage as a ruse to steal money can be charged with fraud: if the amount taken is relatively large, they get up to 3 years; if it’s huge, 3 to 10 years; if it’s exceptionally massive, 10 years or life imprisonment. Always verify the marital status on the ID card and household register before tying the knot.
Cost
No cost at all. Before registration, simply check the mari…
Benefit
Bigamous marriages hold no legal weight. Persons who enter a second marriage while already married, or who kno…
27Evidence B
For home appliance repairs, vehicle inspections, and renovations: ask for a quote first, then stay on site throughout the process
Appliance repair services must clearly display their fee schedules and provide customers with receipts and invoices. They cannot falsely claim that a problem exists, nor replace parts that are still in good working condition. In serious cases, fines of up to 30,000 yuan may be imposed. All service providers must post prices openly and cannot charge extra fees beyond those listed. Therefore, always ask for a detailed quote and list of parts before work begins, request a receipt and invoice afterward, and keep the old parts. If you’re overcharged, call 12315 immediately.
Cost
There is no upfront cost. Before starting any work, ask fo…
Benefit
Appliance repair businesses must disclose all service items, parts pricing, quality standards, warranty period…
28Evidence B
Don’t be a “nominal legal representative” — don’t lend your ID to register a company
The law assumes the legal representative is the person actually managing the company; claiming “I’m just a figurehead and know nothing” does not serve as a valid excuse to avoid liability. If a legal representative causes harm to others while performing duties, the company must compensate first, then may seek reimbursement from the negligent representative. For those already serving in this role, company law allows them to resign, provided the company appoints a new legal representative within 30 days.
Cost
There’s no cost involved. If someone asks you to “just be…
Benefit
The legal representative is intended to be the director or manager who actually runs the company’s affairs, me…
29Evidence B
Don’t carry items for strangers when traveling, and don’t accept packages of unknown origin
The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelers to avoid carrying luggage or items for others, especially prohibited goods or anything they know nothing about. If drugs or contraband are later found in your luggage, you’ll be responsible for proving that you had no knowledge of them. The same applies to receiving parcels domestically — especially when someone asks you to pay upfront and promises a refund later.
Cost
No cost at all. Simply say no.
Benefit
Following this advice helps prevent unknowingly transporting prohibited items, thus avoiding any legal consequ…
30Evidence A
Leashing dogs is mandatory: failure to do so means strict liability for any harm caused (you must pay compensation regardless of fault), and the obligation extends fully
If a dog injures someone, the owner is generally required to pay compensation, no matter how much fault they bear. Only when it can be proven that the injured party acted intentionally or with gross negligence might the compensation amount be reduced or waived. However, if the owner violated regulations by not using a leash, the sole remaining defense — “intentional conduct by the injured party” — is effectively eliminated; failing to leash a dog shuts off this one last avenue for reducing liability. For owners of prohibited aggressive breeds, there are absolutely no legal grounds for exemption from compensation.
Cost
A leash costs just a few dollars. The real challenge is re…
Benefit
When a pet causes injury to another person, its owner or the person supervising it at the time bears legal lia…
31Evidence B
Do not have sex if the other person is intoxicated, unconscious, or under 14 years old
The law mentions “by violence, coercion, or other means,” not just physical force. If someone is drunk or asleep, they cannot give valid consent; later on, you’ll have almost no way to prove they did agree. The minimum sentence here is 3 years up to 10 years in prison. The only safe move is to abstain from sex and, once the party ends, hand them back to their friends or family. The same rule applies to age — anyone under 14 is off-limits; see Section 9, Article 18 for exact criteria (under 14 years old).
Cost
There is no monetary cost. The price is having to stop the…
Benefit
Article 236 of the Criminal Law states that anyone who rapes a woman by violence, coercion, or other means fac…
32Evidence A
If someone threatens to call the police, send photos, or inform your workplace to demand money after having sexual contact or engaging in nude chat, do not pay a single cent and do not delete any records — call the police immediately.
Using threats such as “I’ll call the police” or “I’ll send these photos to your workplace” to force you to pay money is extortion, not a private dispute. Pay nothing, delete no records, and report it right away. Once you pay even once, they will keep coming back for more. If they actually share the photos, that only adds another crime on their part — it is not your fault. In China, amounts over 2,000 to 5,000 yuan qualify as “relatively large,” punishable by up to three years in prison; amounts between 30,000 and 100,000 yuan can lead to 3–10 years behind bars. There are exactly 2013 such cases on record, and another 2013 similar incidents have been documented nationwide.
Cost
There is no cost involved. Take screenshots of the person’…
Benefit
Article 274 of the Criminal Law states that anyone who extorts money or property from others — when the amount…
33Evidence A
If someone falsely accuses you, you can seek legal consequences: up to 5 days of detention for minor violations, up to 3 years in prison for criminal acts
It is illegal to make up false accusations in an attempt to get someone punished under criminal or public order laws. For minor violations, offenders may face up to 5 days of detention or a fine under $1,000. More serious cases can result in 5–10 days of detention, possibly with a similar fine. When the actions meet the threshold for a crime, they fall under the offense of false accusation, punishable by up to 3 years in prison. However, simple mistakes or unintentional errors do not count as intentional wrongdoing. To hold someone accountable, you must prove they acted with deliberate malice.
Cost
No cost at all. You simply file a report with local police…
Benefit
Article 50 of the Public Security Administration Punishment Law (revised June 27, 2025, effective January 1, 2…
34Evidence A
Insufficient evidence alone warrants acquittal; coerced confessions must be excluded; appeals and retrials remain possible after conviction
The Criminal Procedure Law sets clear thresholds for conviction: evidence must be verified through legally prescribed procedures and must collectively leave no reasonable doubt about the facts. When these criteria cannot be met, acquittal is mandatory. Confessions extracted via torture or testimonies obtained through violence and threats must be excluded from consideration and cannot serve as a basis for sentencing. Once a verdict takes effect, the defendant, their legal representatives, and close relatives retain the right to file an appeal.
Cost
Pursuing these procedures costs nothing in terms of fees,…
Benefit
Article 55 of the Criminal Procedure Law stipulates that evidence must be both authentic and sufficient: it mu…
35Evidence A
Individuals who are later released without charges, receive a dismissal, or are acquitted may apply for state compensation calculated on a daily basis
If you were detained or arrested and then the case was dropped, you received a dismissal, or you were acquitted, you can seek state compensation. Compensation for unlawful deprivation of liberty is calculated daily: starting May 18, 2026, the rate is 495.94 yuan per day, which amounts to roughly 180,000 yuan for a full year of detention. The total compensation payable for unlawful detention is 475.52 yuan. Compensation for severe psychological harm is also available. However, if you committed the offense and the prosecutor chose not to prosecute solely because the circumstances were minor, those days of detention will not be compensated. Similarly, no compensation applies if the statute of limitations has expired, if you were under the legal age of criminal responsibility, or if you fabricated your own confession leading to detention.
Cost
No cost involved. File the compensation claim with the sam…
Benefit
Article 17 of the State Compensation Law outlines specific scenarios where victims are entitled to compensatio…
36Evidence B
If you’re a victim seeking compensation, use channels like 12315, file a lawsuit, or hire a lawyer. Never meet the offending party alone, and don’t phrase “paying money” and “I won’t expose you” as a single condition.
As a victim, you have every legal right to demand compensation from the party responsible for the harm — this doesn’t automatically make you a blackmailer just because your demands are high. Yet the consequences can be severe: Guo Li was initially sentenced to five years in prison for extortion before being later exonerated on appeal. Therefore, always use documented channels, avoid meeting the other party alone at a location they choose, and never link “paying money” with “I won’t go public” as one condition.
Cost
No expense at all. You can file a complaint via 12315, tak…
Benefit
Official precedent exists: after tests showed melamine contamination in certain batches of “Siren” brand milk…
37Evidence A
Cyberbullying: First enable protections, gather evidence, then choose between court injunctions, private prosecution, or police reports
Do three things immediately: turn on all platform safety settings, use the platform’s quick evidence‑collection tools to preserve content, and file a report through the same quick access point. After that, you can pick one of three options. First, ask the court for a personal rights injunction to make the harasser stop. Second, file a private prosecution yourself; if gathering evidence proves difficult, you can request police assistance. Third, if the consequences are especially severe and the impact widespread, the case may be turned into a public prosecution so you won’t have to provide evidence yourself.
Cost
There’s no monetary cost. It takes just a few minutes on t…
Benefit
Article 15 of Document No. 14 (2023) outlines how courts issue injunctions to protect personal rights. When a…
38Evidence A
The legal route of “buying insurance for a family member first, then harming them” is completely blocked: you get zero money, and the perpetrator faces multiple charges including intentional homicide and insurance fraud.
All four possible pathways are shut down. Buying life insurance for a loved one without their knowledge renders the policy invalid. If the policyholder deliberately causes the insured’s death, the insurer pays nothing. Intentionally killing an heir also results in loss of inheritance rights. Chinese law treats such insurance fraud as a separate crime, which is punished alongside intentional homicide — up to the death penalty. In short, you walk away with absolutely no compensation. Exactly 1,000,000 people are affected by such illegal acts.
Cost
No cost at all.
Benefit
Article 34 of the Insurance Law states that any life insurance contract requiring death as a payout condition…
39Evidence A
You must obtain a case receipt when reporting a crime; if no case is opened, you must receive a written notice. You can request a reconsideration within 7 days and a review within another 7 days. The procuratorate can also order the police to open a case.
Reporting a crime and having a case officially opened are two separate steps. When the police accept a case, they must provide you with a case receipt — this document is the sole proof that you actually filed a report. If they decide not to open a case, they must issue a written notice explaining this decision. If you disagree, you may request a reconsideration within 7 days, and if still unsatisfied, a further review within another 7 days. You may also approach the procuratorate to ensure the police fulfill their duty to open the case.
Cost
No cost involved. Simply ask for the case receipt right th…
Benefit
Article 171 of the Procedural Provisions on Handling Criminal Cases by Public Security Organs (Amended by Orde…
40Evidence A
Don’t give money or cards to investigators, law enforcement, or judicial staff: offering bribes is a crime, and bribing officials in these roles is punished even more severely.
“Spending a bit of cash to smooth things over” is a distinct criminal offense under Chinese law; those arrested aren’t just the recipients of the bribe. Offering a bribe can lead to up to three years in prison; more serious cases bring sentences of three to ten years, while especially grave cases may result in over ten years or even life imprisonment. Bribing investigators, administrative law enforcement officers, or judicial staff falls under a clearly defined category of aggravated punishment. However, if someone is coerced into paying but fails to obtain any improper benefit, this does not count as bribery.
Cost
No cost at all — you simply don’t do it.
Benefit
Article 389 of the Criminal Law defines bribery as “offering property to state workers to secure improper bene…
41Evidence A
For calls and in-person talks where things might turn sour, start recording right away: you can record conversations you personally take part in without needing prior consent from the other party.
When it comes to loans, debts, compensation, refunds, or labor disputes, misunderstandings can arise months later even if everything was discussed clearly on the phone with no written record. Recording these conversations yourself is perfectly legal, even if the other party wasn’t informed beforehand; this alone won’t disqualify the recording as evidence. What you must not do is eavesdrop, spy on someone’s private life, break into their home to record secretly, or coerce them into speaking.
Cost
There’s no cost involved. Simply turn on the call recordin…
Benefit
Article 66 of the Civil Procedure Law lists audio/video recordings and electronic data as admissible evidence.…
42Evidence C
In an emergency at the scene, first film a wide shot, then capture the spatial relationships, and finally record the damage and injuries — keep the original photos and videos.
If you only film close‑ups of a single scratch on a car or an isolated object on the ground, later on no one will know where they originally were. Begin by recording a wide shot that includes the intersection, street signs, vehicles, people, and surroundings; then film how these elements relate to one another, and finally capture the details. If you must move objects or vehicles, do so only after filming. Keep the original photos and videos on your phone — don’t rely solely on copies sent via messaging apps.
Cost
No cost involved. Simply use your phone to film for severa…
Benefit
Article 66 of the Civil Procedure Law lists physical evidence, audio‑visual materials, and electronic data as…
43Evidence A
Domestic violence: Call the police to get an incident report, then apply to court for a protection order — no divorce required and it’s free
Worldwide, over one‑third of all women murdered are killed by their partners — often after years of abuse. Among abused women, those who have been strangled have a risk of later homicide that is more than seven times higher than for women who were never strangled. That’s why it’s crucial to call the police right away and then seek a protection order from court. Courts are required to respond within 72 hours.
Cost
There’s no cost at all. Applying for a protection order in…
Benefit
From a risk perspective, a systematic review of data from 66 countries shows that intimate partners are respon…