China has told its citizens to stay safe and steer clear of football hooligans at the World Cup finals in Germany, a Chinese newspaper said on Wednesday. (Click to see full coverage on the World Cup)

A Japanese supporter celebrates during a friendly soccer match for World Cup warming-up between Germany and Japan in Leverkusen May 30, 2006 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006. [Reuters]

The foreign ministry urged football fans to hurry back to their hotels after games and not to tarry in places with large numbers of football fans, the Beijing News said.

"Improve safety awareness... avoid 'football hooligans' and after games, please leave the venues as soon as possible," the statement said.

"Avoid lingering in places where football fans congregate -- especially areas with bars. If (an incident) occurs, please follow police instructions and leave."

The foreign ministry also reminded Chinese fans to stay away from deserted streets at night and to travel in groups "to avoid the attacks of bad elements".

A German supporter celebrates during a friendly soccer match between Germany and Japan in Leverkusen May 30, 2006 in preparation for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006. [Reuters]

Other helpful travel tips were offered, including refraining from carrying large amounts of cash around and observing traffic rules.

"When crossing the road, use the pedestrian crossing and abide by traffic lights."

Chinese football fans sometimes get rowdy at domestic football matches, often in response to spotty officiating or poor play in the country's scandal-plagued leagues, but hooliganism and fighting are not a major problem.

Apart from the large numbers of football-mad Chinese tourists descending on Germany, myriad Chinese will stay up late to watch the games according to a recent online poll.

Seven out of 10 Chinese fans said they would watch all the World Cup games -- the highest of over 10 countries' fans polled by market researcher, GMI -- while 96 percent said they planned catch some of the action.