China Tourism Scams while Traveling in China
-Toffler Niemuth, Local Travel Expert
China is generally a very safe place for tourists. However, when traveling in China, there are a number of tourist scams that visitors should be aware of. The following examples have actually happened to Western tourists in Beijing or elsewhere while touring China. Please be aware of them so you can be alert and protect yourself while you travel in China.
China Travel Scam – Airport Taxis
At the Beijing Capital airport (or any international airport in China), a guy claiming to drive a taxi says he’ll take you to town for 700RMB! And he makes you walk a long way to his taxi.
What should you do?
Go outside to the taxi queue and insist that the driver use the meter. Most rides to downtown Beijing or Shanghai are less than 200RMB. Always be sure that your taxi’s have a meter.
If you suspect you have been scammed, write down the taxi driver’s ID number (this is usually placed on the dashboard of the taxi on the front passenger side). Also take note of the color of the taxi. Certain taxi companies can be identified by the color of the car. When you get to the hotel, immediately contact the hotel staff and provide them with the detailed description of your taxi including the car color, taxi company (if you know it) and taxi driver number. With this information, they can report it to the taxi company as well as the authorities.
When arriving into an unfamiliar city with luggage, keep your luggage with you in the backseat with you instead of in the trunk. That way, you can easily grab your bags and get out of the car if there are any problems.
As a reminder, you can call the police from any phone in China by dialing 110.
China Travel Scam – Tourist Attractions and Taxis
When leaving the Summer Palace in Beijing, (or any other major tourist site), a guy claiming to drive a taxi offers to take you back to downtown Beijing. You see that his car has a ‘taxi’ sign on top so you think it must me legit and you agree. However, after the taxi starts, you realize the meter is clicking over 2-2.5times as fast as it should be. When you arrive at your destination the meter reads RMB400. The meter is rigged. You protest but the driver pretends not to understand you and so you give in and pay.
What should you do?
Instead of taking a taxi whose driver seeks you out, go and flag down your own taxi on the street, maybe even walk a block away from the attraction. Also, choose standard taxis–(in Beijing) red, green/yellow, blue/yellow, red/yellow.
If you do find yourself in a taxi where the meter is rigged (and you don’t have any luggage), get out immediately, without paying. If you’ve reached your destination and find it’s too late to get yourself out of this situation, take the driver’s license (visibly located about the glove box), then report it to the police (get your hotel to help you) to try to get your money back.
In another case, if the driver refuses to start the meter, get out immediately without paying.
China Travel Scam – Taxis and Counterfeit Bills
Unfortunately, currency counterfeiting is very predominant in China. You are an easy target for fraudulent tourist services and vendors as you do not speak the language and likely do not expect it.
Here is a new situation from the above scenario. You’ve just paid the driver of the previous taxi his exorbitant rate of RMB400 because the meter was rigged. He takes your money and then tells you that 3 of your RMB100 notes are fake. You tell him that can’t possibly be because you got them at the bank in your home country. You realize that he had plenty of time to switch your good RMB100 notes with fake notes he has readily available while you were getting out of the taxi and not paying attention. But he again pretends not to understand. You refuse to give him new notes, he gets angry and makes for a nearby policeman. You guess involving the police probably won’t help the situation given your inability to speak Chinese and a system know as guanxi. Again, you give in and give the driver RMB300 more just to have it done with. All-in-all, you paid RMB700 for a taxi ride which should have cost less than RMB200.
What should you do?
If paying with large bills, sit in the front of the taxi, then watch the driver as he checks the bills. Don’t give him the opportunity to switch them and don’t get out until he’s satisfied with them. You can ask the driver “Hao?” pronounced “How” and see that he agrees.
If it’s too late, take the driver’s license (visibly located about the glove box), then report it to the police to try to get your money back.
China Travel Scam – Teahouse Scam
You’re wandering through the hutong watching and learning about local life and a Chinese person starts to chat with you in excellent English. You think, wow, great. This person is so friendly and helpful and I’ll learn so much more about the local culture by having a native to talk to. He shows you around, then brings you to a teahouse. There you sample tea and the beneficial properties of each type of tea are explained to you. At the end you’re told you owe RMB2400(!!) because each tea you tried was between RMB80-500.
‘What,’ you balk, ‘I can’t pay that much. I don’t have that much money. I didn’t drink that much tea.’ ‘That’s ok,’ they explain, ‘they accept credit cards.’ (Note: Credit cards are rarely accepted in China, therefore this is also likely credit card fraud as well.) Reluctantly, you give them your credit card.
What should you do?
Before drinking tea, whether in Chengdu, Beijing, or elsewhere, always check the pricelist/menu and ascertain the price of the tea you will be drinking beforehand. There are some very expensive teas in China and for the most part, you won’t know the difference so stick with teas in the range of RMB30-40 per glass.
China Travel Scam – Another Tea Scam
You’re wandering down Nanjing Road in Shanghai and someone with decent, but not great English approaches you and asks if you will practice English with them. You think, wow a great opportunity to interact with locals, learn more about local life, and do someone a favor. So you follow them and then take you to a top floor of a building and together you drink tea and chat in English. After a while you say you have to go and get up and leave but they say, ‘wait, you need to pay RMB1500 for the tea.’
What should you do?
This is also a tea scam and possibly credit card fraud as well. See above for how to deal.
China Travel Scam – Art Student Scam
You’re walking toward Forbidden City in Beijing or maybe down Nanjing Road in Shanghai and a young person speaking excellent English approaches you and says ‘I’m an art student and we’re having an exhibition, please come look.’
What should you do?
This is a scam, usually also involving tea or an art viewing fee. They may also try to make you feel guilty or feel pity for them, by making up stories about needing to sell their artwork for class; this is all just a scam. Say no and continue on your way.
China Travel Scam – Vendors and Counterfeit Bills #1
You’re wandering through Tiananmen marveling at its size, then a tout asks you if you want to buy a Mao watch, or other souvenir. You decide you like that Mao watch, then you haggle over price. You agree on 20RMB. When you go to pay, you realize you only have a RMB100 note. You give it to the seller and he gives you a RMB50 and 3 RMB10s in change. You think wow, what a deal, until later you try to use that RMB50 to buy lunch but they tell you, ‘no, that’s fake.’ You realize you just paid RMB70 for that watch, not such a great price after all.
What should you do?
Always keep small change on you to pay for little things. Also, learn the security features of the RMB50 and RMB100 notes (link to new article). Then check for them every time you’re handed one of those bills.
China Travel Scam – Vendors and Counterfeit Bills #2
You go to rent a coat, or a bike, or whatever and you’re required to pay a deposit of RMB100-200. When returning the item, you receive the deposit back and go on your way. Later in the day, you go to pay for a meal or your next item/service only to realize that the RMB100 notes you receive from your deposit are fake.
What should you do?
This is a very common scam. The vendors have more than enough time to switch out the real RMB100 notes from your deposit with counterfeit RMB100 notes. To combat this, learn the security features of the bills and always remember to check them. If the notes seem fake, insist on different ones or smaller denominations. Consider telling the local police bureau.
These scams may change as they become more well-known to the foreigners visiting China so always be aware. Please pass this along to anyone you know visiting China to help protect them and teach China that they can’t treat foreigners this way.
Related Articles:
Chinese Visa - Getting a Travel Visa
More Navigation:
China Travel Tips Category Page
Travel to China Section Home Page
