Side Missions & Activities Overview

Beyond the main story of Huang Lee's quest for vengeance and the family sword, Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars offers a plethora of side missions and activities. These diversions are not just for fun; they provide valuable cash, unlock new features, and contribute to your overall game completion. Mastering these can give you a significant edge, especially in the early game.

Drug Dealing

Drug dealing is arguably the most lucrative and central side activity in Chinatown Wars. It's a dynamic system where you buy drugs low and sell them high across the five boroughs of Liberty City. The prices fluctuate constantly, so smart trading is key.

How to Start: You'll be introduced to drug dealing early in the story. Keep an eye on your PDA for messages from dealers.
The Process:
1. Check Prices: Open your PDA and navigate to the "Drug Info" tab. This shows current prices for different drug types (e.g., Heroin, Cocaine, Acid, Weed, Ecstasy, Downers) in various neighborhoods.
2. Buy Low: Identify neighborhoods where drug prices are low. Drive to a dealer icon on your map (represented by a white pill bottle). Interact with them to buy.
3. Sell High: Find neighborhoods where prices for your purchased drugs are high. Drive to a dealer in that area and sell your stash.
4. Watch for Alerts: Your PDA will often notify you of "Good Deals" (low buy prices) or "Bad Deals" (high sell prices) in specific areas.
5. Evade the Cops: Selling large quantities or getting caught with drugs will attract police attention. Be prepared for chases or have a safe house nearby.
Tips for Success:
- Monitor the Market: Constantly check your PDA. Prices change every few in-game hours.
- Utilize Safe Houses: Use safe houses to store drugs if you can't sell them immediately for a good profit. This also helps reduce the risk of losing your stash if busted.
- Invest in Storage: As you progress, you can upgrade your drug storage capacity, allowing for larger, more profitable trades.
- Busts and Informants: Be aware that some dealers are informants and will set you up. These are marked with a specific icon on the map. Avoid them unless you're prepared for a fight.

Rampages

Rampages are classic Grand Theft Auto challenges that test your combat prowess and weapon handling. Each rampage requires you to eliminate a certain number of gang members or destroy vehicles within a strict time limit, usually with a specific weapon provided.

How to Start: Look for the skull icon on your map. Drive to the location and step into the glowing marker to begin.
Strategy:
- Know Your Weapon: Each rampage provides a specific weapon (e.g., Flamethrower, Minigun, Rocket Launcher). Understand its range, fire rate, and reload time.
- Prioritize Targets: Focus on the required targets. Don't get sidetracked by other pedestrians or vehicles unless they pose an immediate threat.
- Use Cover: If available, use environmental cover to protect yourself from enemy fire.
- Vehicle Rampages: For vehicle-based rampages, aim to destroy the target vehicles efficiently, often by ramming or using mounted weapons.
- Practice Makes Perfect: Don't be discouraged if you fail. Learn the spawn points of enemies and optimize your route.
Rewards: Completing rampages earns you cash and contributes to your completion percentage.

Stunt Jumps

Scattered throughout Liberty City are unique ramps and elevated points designed for spectacular jumps. Successfully completing these "Unique Stunt Jumps" requires speed, precision, and sometimes a bit of luck.

How to Start: Identify potential jump locations. These are often marked by a distinct ramp, broken barrier, or natural incline.
Execution:
1. Find a Fast Vehicle: A sports car or motorcycle is ideal for achieving the necessary speed.
2. Approach with Speed: Line up your vehicle and accelerate towards the jump point.
3. Land Cleanly: The key is to land all four wheels (or both on a motorcycle) without crashing or flipping.
Rewards: Each successful stunt jump awards you cash and contributes to your overall game completion. There are a total of 80 Unique Stunt Jumps to find.

Security Van Missions

These missions involve intercepting and raiding armored security vans for their valuable contents. They are a quick way to earn a decent sum of cash.

How to Start: Look for a blue van icon on your map. These vans appear randomly throughout the city.
Walkthrough:
1. Locate the Van: Drive to the blue van icon.
2. Disable the Van: You'll need to damage the van until it stops. Ramming it repeatedly with a sturdy vehicle (like a truck or SUV) is effective. Shooting at the tires or engine block also works.
3. Eliminate Guards: Once the van stops, two armed guards will exit. Quickly eliminate them to prevent them from calling for backup or causing too much damage.
4. Open the Van: Approach the rear doors of the van and interact with them (usually by tapping the screen or pressing a button). You'll play a quick mini-game to drill open the lock.
5. Collect the Cash: Once open, grab the cash briefcase inside.
6. Evade the Cops: Successfully raiding a security van will immediately trigger a wanted level. Be prepared to escape the police.
Tips: Have a fast escape vehicle ready. Using a powerful weapon like a Shotgun or SMG can quickly dispatch the guards.

Taxi Driver

Embrace your inner cabbie and earn some honest (or not-so-honest) money by ferrying passengers around Liberty City.

How to Start: Enter any taxi and press the designated button/tap the screen to activate the mission.
The Job:
1. Pick Up Passenger: Drive to the glowing marker to pick up your fare.
2. Drive to Destination: Follow the GPS route to their desired location.
3. Drop Off Passenger: Stop in the glowing marker at the destination.
Rewards: You earn money based on the distance traveled and how quickly you get the passenger to their destination. Consecutive successful fares increase your earnings.
Tips: Avoid crashing, as this will upset your passenger and reduce your payout. Driving recklessly might get you there faster but could also lead to a wanted level.

Paramedic

Save lives and earn a steady income by becoming a paramedic. This mission type involves picking up injured citizens and transporting them to the hospital.

How to Start: Enter an ambulance and press the designated button/tap the screen to activate the mission. Ambulances are typically found near hospitals.
The Job:
1. Pick Up Patient: Drive to the flashing blue marker to pick up an injured person.
2. Transport to Hospital: Drive carefully to the nearest hospital, following the GPS.
3. Drop Off Patient: Deliver the patient to the hospital's entrance.
Rewards: You earn cash for each successful delivery. The more patients you save in a single run, the higher your reward.
Tips: Driving too erratically will cause further injury to your patients, reducing your payout. Focus on smooth, efficient driving.

Firefighter

Put out fires and save citizens from burning vehicles and buildings. This heroic endeavor can also net you some cash.

How to Start: Enter a fire truck and press the designated button/tap the screen to activate the mission. Fire trucks are usually found at fire stations.
The Job:
1. Drive to Fire: Follow the GPS to the location of a fire.
2. Extinguish Fire: Use the water cannon on the fire truck to put out the flames. Aim carefully to extinguish all parts of the fire.
3. Rescue Citizens (Optional): Sometimes, citizens will be trapped in burning vehicles or buildings. Extinguish the fire around them to save them.
Rewards: You earn money for each fire extinguished and for any citizens rescued.
Tips: The water cannon has a limited range, so position your truck effectively. Be mindful of exploding vehicles.

Collectibles (Lion Statues & Security Cameras)

Liberty City is littered with hidden items that offer rewards and contribute to your completion percentage.

Lion Statues: These small, golden statues are hidden in various nooks and crannies across the city.
- How to Find: Keep an eye out for them in alleys, on rooftops, and behind buildings. They often emit a faint glow.
- Reward: Destroying all 100 Lion Statues unlocks the "Golden Rhino" tank at your safe house.
Security Cameras: These surveillance cameras are placed by rival gangs. Destroying them weakens their control.
- How to Find: They are typically mounted on walls, poles, or buildings. They are often accompanied by a red light.
- Reward: Destroying all 100 Security Cameras reduces the price of weapons at Ammu-Nation.
Strategy: Consult online maps or a detailed guide for specific locations. Many players choose to tackle these after completing the main story.

Engaging with these side missions and activities not only enriches your gameplay experience but also provides crucial resources and unlocks that will make Huang Lee's journey through Liberty City much smoother.