Summer is the time to travel. And for many Chinese, this means a visit to the US. Millions make the journey every year. But the Chinese government is warning they should be on the look-out for possible problems. Roee Ruttenberg has more.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington is warning Chinese tourists planning to visit the U.S. - and Chinese nationals already here --- to take extra-precautions during the peak summer holidays. A statement posted on the Embassy's website advises them to buy travel health insurance in advance, because medical expenses in the U.S. can be very costly. They should avoid going out alone at night because - the warning says - shootings, robbery and theft are frequent. They should know what to do in case of a natural disaster. They should follow customs rules at the U.S. border, and know - they may be inspected. They should obey all American laws and comply with law enforcement. And they should be cautious of fraud. And, know when - and how - to call the authorities. This is not the first time China has issued such a warning. In Beijing, officials denied suggestions that the timing was tied to trade tensions with Washington.

LU KANG CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY "China's Foreign Ministry, overseas embassies and consulates have an obligation to warn Chinese citizens who are going abroad about the potential risks in the country or the regions that Chinese nationals are travelling to."

Chinese tourists are a desired commodity. They now they make up the world's largest share of the travel market. In the U.S. alone, last year, Chinese tourists spent more than thirty billion dollars.

AFSHIN MOLAVI SENIOR FELLOW, SCHOOL OF ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL STUDIES JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY "This is yet another example of how integrated the U.S. economy is with the Chinese economy. And if we do see a slowdown in tourism, it will hit the bottom line of hotels, shopping malls, and tour operators here in the United States."

ROEE RUTTENBERG WASHINGTON "Just a decade ago, around half a million Chinese tourists visited the US every year. Now, more than three million are coming. A recent poll showed that half consider safety when deciding where to travel. It's unclear exactly how many are now reconsidering. Roee Ruttenberg, CGTN, in Washington."