Avoid scripted-murder-mystery (剧本杀, "jubensha") and escape rooms located in residential buildings or below the first basement level

No cost involved. Just ask for the building floor number before booking.

The same 2022 notice from five departments lays out very specific requirements: script-entertainment venues (剧本娱乐, "juben yule") are prohibited from operating in residential buildings or below the first basement level. It also mandates that venues must adhere to the Work Safety Law and Fire Protection Law, regularly identify, inspect and rectify fire hazards, and improve their ability to organize evacuations and extinguish incipient fires during emergencies. Additionally, the notice requires all script-entertainment (剧本娱乐, "juben yule") content to include age suitability warnings, and minors are not allowed to enter venues with scenes inappropriate for them. Outside statutory holidays, rest days and school holidays, script-entertainment (剧本娱乐, "juben yule") activities for minors are also strictly prohibited.

文化和旅游部、公安部、住房和城乡建设部、应急管理部、市场监管总局 (2022). 关于加强剧本娱乐经营场所管理的通知. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2022-06/27/content_5698021.htm

These venues are typically dimly lit, have many partitions, use flammable props, and their doors often need to be unlocked via puzzle-solving. In case of a fire, escaping from them is far more difficult than from ordinary shops. You can easily check both the floor number and whether the venue is located in a residential building on review pages before booking. If a venue does not comply with the regulations, it is best to choose another one.