Plan your Beijing tour? Most foreign travelers feel very safe when traveling in Beijing. But that doesn’t mean you should lower your vigilance on possible travel scams in Beijing. While you are expecting your trip to Beijing, please note the top 10 tourist traps which may happen.
Scam #1 Avoid KTV bars
Whether you enter on your own or taken by a Chinese “friend.”, in most cases you are in for a trap! It is a karaoke place. You enter the room to sing a few songs and have a few beers. Suddenly girls appear and want to drink with you. Then suddenly a cart appears with lots of snacks and beer.
The snacks are NOT free and they are expensive–but more on that later. The girl wants a brandy and you say okay. You will end up paying huge amount of money! Just avoid KTV!
Scam # 02: Tea Scam
At some heavy tourist areas (like Tiananmen Square), you will be approached by one or three attractive females or gentlemen, who are willing to have a natural and nice talk with you or even give you a free tour of hutong in a polite way. She or he will talk about the interesting things in Beijing, or talk about the culture or history of your home country and even world affairs!
Then if everything goes smoothly, then invite you to a traditional Chinese teashop or ceremony. The whole ceremony proceed then at the end of the ceremony your “friends” will ask you to pick out some favorite teas. So the scam start when it comes time to pay the bill, and it can again run into the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Simply don’t go for it!
To make the tea scam more natural, they protend to be very friendly. They even don’t suggest you pay the whole amount. It is to be split between you and your “friends”. So you wil see them pay their part. It is a scam!
It happens in central part of Beijing mainly, esp. in Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the surroundings.
Scam # 03: “Art Student” Scam
Also at some big tourist destinations, some young people, disguised as ” art student’”, will approach you. They offer you a free tour of a art show. Thus begins the “Art Student” scam.
Actually they will take you to an art shop selling all kinds of “art” stuff. This is just a waste of time. You can easily find these art pieces on the market. They sell the same “art” at higher prces. Simply say bye bye to them.
It happens mainly in historical sites, and public transport hubs. They are good actors(actresses) indeed. To us Chinese people they say they are out job-hunting and is penniless; to overseas travelers they say they are art students. Many of them are very properly dressed.
Scam # 04: Rickshaw Scam
Some first-time oversea or even domestic travelers visiting Beijing fall into the traps of some seemingly “humble rickshaw drivers”. For example, let’s day, you and a rickshaw driver agree on a price of RMB 40 for a pedicap ride. It will turn out to be RMB400!. The trick is that your rickshaw driver will pretend to be ignorant and he will pull out a laminated price list and say it is 400 yuan instead of 40 yuan. Better take a taxi than a pedicap.
1) Rickshaw Scam at the North Gate of Forbbiden City
There are two entrances to the Forbidden City – the south gate ( Meridian Gate – Wumen) and north gate( Gate of Divine – Shenwu Men). The south gate is linked to Tiananmen Square to the south. You have to enter Forbidden City from its south gate and eixt from its northern gate, which is officially set as a one-way south to north travel route.
Make sure you are taken by your taxi to the south entrance of Forbidden City (better yet, take the subway line 1– its very nice and very cheap!). Don’t ever take a Rickshaw at the north gate of Forbidden City unless you feel like getting lost and extorted.
So if you visit Forbidden City by getting to a wrong gate (north gate), don’t use a local rickshaw to get back to the south gate, just walk to the right gate (south gate). For the same reason, if you exit from the north gate after visiting Forbidden City, don’t use a rickshaw for your next place.
2) Rickshaw scams also occur at the entrance to the “Legend of Jinsha” which is performed at the Beijing Workers’ Club in Beijing.
3) Rickshaw scams possible at any places in Beijing
Rickshaw scams could occure at any other places in Beijing. Be Vigilant!
Scam #05: “Black” Taxis
When arriving at the airport, keep away from the taxi drivers who approach you in the terminal or outside the terminal as they will charge you much more than the actual price. Just following the sign pointing to the taxi line just outside the terminal. Taxi drivers should use their meter; make sure that the driver puts down the flag.
Taking a taxi from the airport to the downtown Beijing costs just over RMB 100 plus RMB 5 toll fee. Beijing legitimate taxi license plates will begin with the “Beijing B” otherwise it is possibly a black taxi!
After paying a legal taxi, you will get a legal computerized receipt in which you can find the taxi company’s phone number while a black driver only offers you a hand-written receipt with which you will never find him! A black driver would charge you RMB 400 – RMB 500 for the airport downtown drive! Normally a taxi ride from the airport to the downtown of Beijing costs you around RMB 120.
Black cars could be found around the subway stations, shopping malls, and also aound some major tourist attractions such as Summer Palace, Forbiden City and Wangfujing Street and Beijing Railway Station as well.
By the way, your taxi driver may pull out a very official looking list of all hotels and official airport price. Never belive so-called so-called official taxi-rate list of all hotels and official airport price. Never such a taxi-rate list!
It seems that there is a new kind of scam in Beijing when it comes down to the taxi’s. Taxi drivers are asking their passengers to get out of the car and help to push it / close the trunk. When the passengers are outside, the drivers takes of with all their belongings.
For more information on taxi, please visit Beijing Taxi.
Scam # 06: “Fake” Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall is one of the five popular sections of the Great Wall around Beijing. The other four are Juyongguan Great Wall, Mutianyu Great Wall, Jinshanling Great Wall and Simatai Great Wall. Badaling Great Wall is the most visited section of the Great Wall of China. Opened to the public in 1957, it is the most well-preserved section of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It has a spectacular view, firm, magnificent, well preserved and leading to the all directions, hence the name of “Badaling”.
But along the Badaling Expressway between Juyongguan Great Wall and Badaling Great Wall is located another section of the Great Wall – Badaling Shuiguan Great Wall (Shuiguan or Water Pass Great Wall). The Shuiguan Great Wall is a short restored section which is created in an effort to reduce the tourist volume and overcrowding at Badaling Great Wall.
It’s not the best choice for your first trip to the Great Wall in Beijing. Some of the “black” tour buses use “Badaling Shuiguan Great Wall” to replace Badaling Great Wall covertly since the former is much cheaper than the latter.
Plan the itinerary yourself, NEVER RELY ON UNKNOWN TRAVEL AGENCIES FOR GREAT WALL TOUR. P.S. Badaling is always over-crowded. Two good option are visiting MuTianYu Great Wall or Shixiaguan Great Wall.
Scam # 07: “Fake” Ming Tombs
If you join a local group tour or bus tour visiting Badaling Great Wall, you are very often arranged to visit Ming Tombs on the way. When we say “visit Ming Tombs”, it is quite misleading. Actually there are 13 Ming Tombs, but only 3 of the 13 Ming Tombs are open to the public – Dingling (underground palace), Changling and Zhaoling.
Of the three, only Dingling has been excavated with its underground palace open to the public. Zhaoling is not so worth visiting as Dingling and Changling. If it is your first time to visit Ming Tomsbs, you are advised to visit either Dingling or Changling.
But it is a pity that some of the local tour travel agencies only organize day trips to Zhaoling in the name of ”Ming Tombs” instead of Dingling or Changling simply due to the fact that the entrance fee to Zhaoling is cheaper plus few tourists know the difference among the tombs.
Scam # 08: “Official volunteers” at Bus 877 to Badaling
The cheapest way of going to Badaling Great Wall is to take the Bus 877 at Deshengmen using Beijing public bus service. To get to the Bus 877, you are advised to take the subway Line 2 and get off at Jishuitan Stop (积水潭）. Then you walk all the way to Deshengmen（德胜门）, which is a whole block east of the Jishuitan Subway Stop Exit A. Be sure to get the correct Bus 877 to Badaling.
Kindly reminder: there will be allegedly “official tourist information volunteers” with red badges on, who will try to drive tourists to get on their minibuses with all sorts of excuses to lure you on. Just don’t go for it. Otherwise, you will be on a nightmare trip.
Just a kindly reminder: you may find advertisements on bus stops reading one-day travel to the Great wall with a telephone number–that’s totally a scam and the Bus Company is having a hard time removing it.
Scam # 09: “Black Tour Bus”
In Beijing, there are some illegal tour buses offering day tours to the Great Wall. You will have a terrible trip once you get on it. To promote their illegal tours, these sales people hand out business cards to passing-by travelers at some big destinations like Tiananmen Square, the entrance of Forbidden City…
Very often they use their “unbelievable low price” to attract those “blind” tourists.
But once you come aboard their bus for the Great Wall, they have to make you pay additional fees again and again. You are kindly advised not to take their card if you happen to meet them. Most of the black tour buses don’t offer English speaking tour guide service. You are suggested to use the slightly more expensive yet reliable Beijing Bus Tours through your hotels or local tour operators.
Scam # 10: “Illegal Tour Guide“
In China, to be a licensed tour guide, you must pass a national tour guide certificate examination sponsored by our China National Tourism Administation. In addition, to be a legal tour guide, you have to register at a travel agency. After your registration, you will get a tour guide IC card ( or tour guide offcial permit ) from the local tourism administration. Tour guides are requested to hang their IC card around their necks when they escort touists. Black tour guides have neither IC card nor travel plans from a travel agency.
They touch the tourists directly by using some low-cost sales channels like web forums, online chatting, phone calls, direct encounter at some scenic areas. Some trendy black tour guides also make a simple travel website and contact the internet travellers directly! You are kindly advised not to use their services even though their service charges are much lower maybe.
Just a kindly reminder: When communicating with strangers on travel is: if something is too good to be true, then it is problematic; and if someone is too amiable and hospitable within the initial 15 minutes of your conversation, avoid’em wisely. An extra rule: always beware. better keep your money in your pocket than being regarded indifferent.
To put yourself in the hands of a black tour guide is dangerous! For more information on tour guide, please visit Beijing tour guide.
Scam # 11：Fake helpers/officials around Mao’s Tomb at Tiananmen Square
When you line up for entering Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, you will probably meet some fake helpers or officials who are trying to “grab” some money from you. To avoid being cheated, please read the following travel tips:
The admission to Mausoleum of Mao Zedong is free. No neend for passport ID check and no need for buying shoes to replace your sandals (though not encouraged). As with most mausoleums, strict rules are enforced for visitors. No bags and cameras are allowed inside the hall. One locker is located 500m to the east of the mausoleum. The deposit is not free ( yes, a little strange)! The charges on deposit locker listed as below:
1. Storage charge for cameras
One-time cameral: CNY2
Normal camera: CNY3
Long lens camera, Laptop, Video camera
One-time cameral: CNY2
Normal camera: CNY3
Long lens camera, Laptop, Video camera
2. Storage charge for bags
Less than 20 cm: CNY2
20cm – 30cm: CNY3
30cm – 40cm: CNY4
40cm – 50cm: CNY5
50cm – 60cm: CNY6
60cm – 70cm: CNY7
70cm – 80cm: CNY8
80cm – 100cm: CNY10
Less than 20 cm: CNY2
20cm – 30cm: CNY3
30cm – 40cm: CNY4
40cm – 50cm: CNY5
50cm – 60cm: CNY6
60cm – 70cm: CNY7
70cm – 80cm: CNY8
80cm – 100cm: CNY10
Scam # 12: Pickpockets
Pickpockets, like croaches, die hard. The thieves in Beijing are no exception like every large city in the world. The most endangered places are public bus lines, subways, airport, popular tourist spots and shopping centers as well. These crowded places are where pickpockets often cruise around. If things from you are stolen by thieves , or you have pickpocket clues, you are encouraged to call the anti-pickpocket hotline 110 or 64011327.
If you find you are not in the good position to call the hotline in case you will be endangered, you are kindly reminded to send a text message to the anti-pickpoket hotline mobile – 13911991234. They will be on the spot within 20 minutes. For more information on pickpockets, pease visit Pickpockets in Beijing.
Just a kindly reminder: But if you left something unnoticed for a long time in public places you probably won’t recover them. Sometimes they are taken away by cleaners and guards but you just don’t know where to find them if you can’t speak Chinese.
Scam # 13: Child Beggars
85% beggars in Beijing are professional beggars, only 15% are really poor men. In professional begging, using a child for panhandling is quite popular. It is said professional beggars are the members of a kind of beggars’organization, a large, complicated organism. Just avoid those child beggars. If you give money to child beggars, you may have the risk of getting a swarm of them.
Any questions, just drop a line.
I wish I had of visited this blog page before went to the Forbidden city as my wife and I were hit by the tea room scam. They seem so believeable and kind but when you walk away you realise with disbelief that you have just been ripped off for 200 – 250 CNY. It leaves you with no faith in human madkind.
We travelled to several cities south of China and met many genuine people whom actually picked up the bill until we arived in Beijing and found that every corner you turn is a scam of some description.
Anyway we have put this down to experience and reading this blog page gives some reasurance that we are not the only dills walking around Beijing.
Dear Gary,
Thanks for your time writing us the tea scam you have expereinced around the Forbidden City，which will remind new visitors of the possible tourist traps around this area. Life is still beautilful. Thanks again for your feedback on your Beijing trip!
Amazing that I got hit by several scams in my first trip to Beijing.
First, I went to the taxi line like a smart boy, and several Chinese soldiers, very very friendly, looking very official, helped me get into the right taxi. turned out to be a black taxi and cost me 550CNY to get to my hotel. I protested a bit but they pulled out a very official looking list of all hotels and official airport price. Got to my hotel and found out normal cost is 120CNY.
Ran into some very friendly students, trying to talk me into going to an internet Coffee place for a cup of coffee. They were too persistent, I smelled scam and am sure it would have a cover charge or connection charge I would get stuck with.
On the way to hotel a few more attempts to engage me.
On the positive, I stopped into the Legendary Hotel (quite luxurious) and asked for directions. A lady there at the Concierge desk (Tracy Cao) went way out of her way to help me find my way to my own hotel via taxi. Classy person.
Hello Tony C.,
Thanks for your posting your taxi experience in Beijing! It is also my First time to learn about the taxi trick regarding so-called official taxi-rate list of all hotels and official airport price. Never such a taxi-rate list!
These swindlers have been using all possible ways to deceive people and make dirty money. They are bad and disgusting. Thanks again for your useful post to remind newcomers!
I’m not rich. Im from australia.
Last night, On my first night in beijing i went for a walk and met some very nice students my age. We share stories about culture, language. The told me they where on holiday in beijing. It was friday night and they invite me To join them for a night out. To cut a long story short a few drinks, a small meal, and sing a few songs in a karoake bar cost me 500 usd.
I feel So stupid, what i find really sad was that i was lonely and genuinely thought i had found some nice people to share some time with. Much of my budget is now gone. I worked so long for this holiday. I am worried the bar will take more money from my card.
Hello Michael
Are you traveling Beijing alone or on a group? These “fake students” are disgusting like die-hard croaches. We’re sorry that you’ve fallen into their trap. A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit. Don’t feel sad about it.
Just a kindly reminder, you may try to contact your credit card company to deny them money. Just have a try!
Oh my God! I wish I had seen this website earlier!
Today, I was tricked into the tea ceremony scam. I went exactly as mentioned above. I “student” talked to me and eventually took me to a tea shop saying that we sit and enjoy tea. The bill was huge and although we shared it 50%-50% it was more than my 3 days hotel bill! I was so shocked, buy this “student” was so calm, I had no choice but to pay. By the way, I used my credit card to pay as I did not have much cash then. Now I am worried about the security of my credit card. Should I change my credit card? any possibility of cloning the card by these people?
Hello Dev,
Sorry that you have been hit by the “students”. As far as we know, these “students” and the people behind them only want to get money from your credit card, and little possibility of cloning your credit card.
By the way, it’s best to get in touch with your credit card company if thinngs go wrong. And try to extract the money with the help of your credit card company.
I was hit by TWO scams today, and boy do I feel suckered! First I was approached by two women who said they were visiting from the south of China. We chatted for a bit and then they suggested getting some tea. We walked into the first tea shop we saw and each ordered a tea. The price came to 500 yuan each. They each “paid” with their visa. I was shocked. The money part made me angry, but the betrayal part made me feel much worse. I’m still in disbelief that these two, kind-seeming ladies who shared so much with me could have been hustlers. Finally, a “student” convinced me to have a quick coffee with him so that he could practice his English. In Korea, where I live, this is normal and innocent. I did and the bill for my powdered coffee came to 100 yuan. These people are the lowest of the low. Unbelieveable.
Hello Jamie,
Thanks for posting your story about your encounter with the “students”! This is helpful for newcomers coming to Beijing. Have a good time in Beijing! and Don’t be affected by the experience and life is still beautiful. Thanks!
As a *Chinese* university student studying in Beijing for 4+ years I can tell you that these scams are true, and EVERYWHERE. Yes Beijingers are helpful, yes they are kind and warm-hearted, but that doesn’t mean all you meet occasionally and coincidentally have a good intention.
There are scams in other places, and so there are scams here in Beijing. SOMETIMES YOU WON’T EVEN NOTICE IT (personal and friend’s experience).
Some remarks to the article:
>> Tea Scam: it happens in central part of Beijing mainly, esp. in the Forbidden City and the surroundings.
>> Art Student Scam: it happens mainly in historical sites, and public transport hubs. They are good actors(actresses) indeed. To us Chinese people they say they are out job-hunting and is penniless; to overseas travelers they say they are art students. Many of them are very properly dressed.
>> Black taxis: they rip you off the same way they do to us. Quick trick: as of Aprial 2013 (this post was written), ALL taxis in Beijing have a licence plate beginning with 京B (京 is the shortened form for Beijing in Chinese, and B is a reserved letter for public transportation vehicles in Beijing.)
>> Fake Badaling Great Wall: to be quite frank ShuiGuan is more adventuring and less crowded. If you visit the Great Wall simply for recreation then Shuiguan can be your destination. But again, plan the itinerary yourself, NEVER RELY ON UNKNOWN TRAVEL AGENCIES FOR GREAT WALL TOUR. P.S. Badaling is always over-crowded. Another option is visiting MuTianYu Great Wall.
>> ‘Fake volunteers’ at 877 station: again as i’ve said previously, plan your visit to the great wall on yourself, and do not trust any others. I don’t know why local government have allowed such scams going on and on for 10+ years. More importantly, you may find advertisements on bus stops reading one-day travel to the Great wall with a telephone number–that’s totally a scam and the Bus Company is having a hard time removing it.
>> Delinquent/Illegal Tour Guide: local Chinese are ripped off by them all the time, let alone overseas travellers. One principle I abide by when communicating with strangers on travel is: if something is too good to be true, then it is problematic; and if someone is too amiable and hospitable within the initial 15 minutes of your conversation, avoid’em wisely. An extra rule: always beware. better keep your money in your pocket than being regarded indifferent.
>> Pickpockets: they are not as many as those in Xi’an. But if you left something unnoticed for a long time in public places you probably won’t recover them. Sometimes they are taken away by cleaners and guards but you just don’t know where to find them if you can’t speak Chinese.
One of the uncommon ideas to travel in Beijing is to join activities on Couchsurfing.org. You can check it out if you like.
Hello NeilBR,
A big thank for your review on the Beijing Top 10 tourist scams! Your post will help people better understand those scam tactics and play them out.
We’ve also just updated our Beijing Top 10 list per your latest review. Thanks!
Hi! Great article! I’m from Argentina and I will be travelling to Beijing for the first time this August. Do you know it there is a way to get to downtown Beijing by train or subway from the airport? I don’t want to be scammed by illegal taxis.
Thanks in advance for the answer!
Hello Melisa，
Please don’t be scared by the illegal taxis. Just follow the taxi sign at the airport and take your taxi at the official taxi stand.
See: http://www.tour-beijing.com/taxi/
Or you may use airport shuttle bus.
See: http://www.tour-beijing.com/beijing_airport_shuttle_bus/
Or you may use airport express light train. See:
http://www.tour-beijing.com/travel_blog/beijing_china_sightseeing/beijing_airport_express_train.php
It seems that there is a new kind of scam in Beijing when it comes down to the taxi’s. Taxi drivers are asking their passengers to get out of the car and help to push it / close the trunk. When the passengers are outside, the drivers takes of with all their belongings.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-01/23/content_16166995.htm
Hello GoYvon,
Thanks for your message about the new kind of taxi scam in Beijing.
Rickshaw scams are not only for the north side of the forbidden city.
After seeing the “Legend of Jinsha” show, I got out and asked someone at the door for a taxi. He pointed me to a Rickshaw. I gave the driver my hotel address and asked up front how much it would cost. She said “4″. I said “4 yuan?” and she said “Yes, 4 yuans”. It had costed me 16 yuans by metered taxi to get from my hotel to the show. 4 yuans seemed like an very good deal. It was my first night so I still had no point of reference as to what costs what, except my ride to the show. So I said ok.
Eventually she stopped, said the hotel was one block away and asked for the money. I felt bad because 4 yuans didn’t seem like enough. So I gave her 10. She said it didn’t cost 4, but 40. I was a bit annoyed of having been lied to, but tired (had been up for 26 hours, 13 of those in the air), I gave her 40. Again, she said it was not 40, but 400, then she pulled a price sheet with 400 yuan on it. Now I really became mad and I started to argue. More so because I didn’t have 400 on me. I brought the price down to 200. She left.
After she left I looked around a bit, started walking in the direction that she gave me. Something felt wrong. So I pulled my smartphone out and the GPS placed me a good 30 minutes walk from my hotel, at 22h at night and extremely tired. It took me a good two days of being angry before I could start talking to people and not feel like everyone wanted to rip me off.
But most of the time, when someone talks to you first, and in English, good odds are it’s a scam. Sad but true.
Hello Christian,
Sorry for your bad experience! Your review is useful for those new travelers visiting Beijing on the rickshaw you haved used after seeing the “Legend of Jinsha” which is performed at the Beijing Workers’ Club in Beijing.
Thanks for your time writing the feedback, a kind reminder for foreign travelers coming to Beijing in future.
So, i just got tea scammed yesterday around the forbidden city/Tienanmen square area. Same as others who have been scammed. these people are very good. they prey on your kindness and you wouldn’t expect it at all.
On our way to the forbidden city, three girls asked if we were lost and needed help but we said we were okay…. conversations started and of course the whole going to a tea shop and having tea and snacks business. they were very friendly and nice…. and lets be honest we foreigners do like it when we find someone who can carry out a conversation in english. little did we know it was all a scam. the bill came, and it was 1860 yuan.
I only had 200 quai on me so my friend had to pay with her debit card. they didn’t even suggest we pay the whole amount…. it was to be split between the 5 of us and we did see them pay their part (or at least it seemed like they paid). my friend had to go to another store to pay the bill with her debit card. After the whole shenanigan, we came out thinking…. “Damnnnnnnnnnn that was one expensive ass tea… i mean, who pays $65 on 3 tiny cups of tea”. we took pics, said our farewells and parted ways.
then my friend said…. “umm i think we just got tea scammed”… never heard of it before so i replied.. “nah… they were probably just some rich bitches that drink expensive tea”. We went back to the hostel and looked up tea scam and concluded we did INDEED get tea scammed.
we asked the hostel receptionist if we could cancel the charge but she said because it was a debit transaction, we couldn’t cancel through our bank only through the merchant. we google translated some simple sentence…. Tea scam… too expensive… call police.. we want our money back… and took it to the shop.
I am Black and can be aggressive when called for. We were able to intimidate the restaurant scammers involved. my friend did call the cops but she didnt know how to describe our location, so they were little to no help. Thank God we had a receipt (860rmb tot). they tried to take it from me but i didnt trust them. I thought they might tear it so i held on to it and told them they could look but not touch. they said because we drank some of the tea, we had to pay some… i suggested 100rmb for both of us but they said it was too little. My friend suggested 200rmb coz she didnt want the situation to drag on considering we had to cat a train back to shanghai in an hour. We had 2 options…. cancel the whole transaction and pay 200rmb in cash or leave the transaction as is and they refund us 660rmb cash. Didn’t want to risk getting fake bills so we paid them cash and cancelled the transaction. Got the new cancelled recipt (btw, they wanted to keep the original receipt making some excuses but i told her no because we were going to use it to verify with our bank the transaction was cancelled).
We left the shop feeling better. I am still mad about paying 100rmb for tea but its more acceptable than 430quai each. No body followed us (unlike other comments i’ve read) and we verified with one of the area guard that the cancellation receipt was indeed one.
This is definitely an organized crime because when we mentioned we were tea scammed to the guard, he knew where it was and pointed towards the direction of the shop. maybe hes in on it too, who knows. we will check with our bank later on this week to make sure the transaction was cancelled and we didn’t get scammed an extra 200quai. That would be really sad but funny.
I mean, if we were going to get butt raped (analogy), we weren’t just going to bend over and take it…. had to get a couple of scratches in there too…. I suggest people go back…with your receipt and a cop! if you just let it happen and don’t do anything about it, the crime gets worse. TRUST!
Hello Destiny,
Yes, you are right by saying that “I suggest people go back…with your receipt and a cop! if you just let it happen and don’t do anything about it, the crime gets worse.”
Hi, the same thing that Christian describes above happened to my girlfriend and I today. We got in a rickshaw outside the Temple of Heaven and asked how much to go to Beijing railway station. He said 50, we said no as we knew it was cheaper in a taxi. We said 30 to which he agreed after we started to walk alway. Less than a 5 minute ride later we arrived at the station, handed him 30 yuan, he laughed, pulled out a laminated price list and said 500 yuan (our turn to laugh). After much arguing in the middle of the road we eventually gave him 50 yuan. We won’t be using one again! Shame as our general opinion of Beijing is quite good!
Hello Michael,
Thanks for your feedback! Your experience on a rickshaw scam is a good reminder for people to be more vigilant if they are going to use a rickshaw.
Well I have experienced a The Scam with a rikshaw driver. I wanted to get to a Place in North Beijing that was like a 5minute ride, i was tired After walking for the whole Day. So i Took a rikshaw, he was very friendly and started to Drive along small roads. Near to the Goal he went Into a narrow Road and ripped me Off 300 Yuan. So guys Take a taxi or the U!
I fell for the taxi scam, the tea scam and the rickshaw scam during a solo visit to Beijing in 2007. It was a little frightening as a solo traveller as especially the rickshaw scam involved a near assault with the driver. I handed cash over for the taxi in dollars, was scammed using s debit card in the tea room and managed to get away from the rickshaw cowboy. No-one can help you unless you travel with a local guide so watch out for these “friendly” offers.