Free Tour Guide
These people may found in tourist-heavy area of largest cities of China: the Bund of Shanghai, the Tian’anmen Square of Beijing, the City Wall of Xian, etc. An attractive male or female will approach the tourist and offer to be a free tour guide. They may actually take you to a place or two, all the while learning more about you to find the best way to get your money. Just remember, there is no free lunch in the world, so don’t believe them.
Super-cheap Tours
There are always many cheap tours offer to you when you arriving at some city of China. They will take you to shopping places and force you to buy a lot of things which you don’t want to buy, and you may spend more time at these places than at the places that you intended to visit. What’s more, the services are not very good: dirty bus, bad lunch, for example. You should find a standard tour agency to start your tour in China.
Expensive Souvenirs
There are always many stalls which selling souvenirs in a ridiculous high price inside some scenic spots. These vendors always sell souvenirs to visitors, especially to foreign visitors who don’t speak Chinese. Just don’t buy them inside these scenic spots. If you want to buy some souvenirs of some city, you can go to the markets of that city.
Child Beggars
Some children will beg for money, sometimes even grabbing onto your legs until you pay them some money in some cities of China. There are reports that these children may have been kidnapped from other places specifically to be used for begging purposes. If you give money to child beggars, you may have the risk of getting a swarm of them. Just avoid those child beggars.
Ticket Scam
When joining a tour, or being guided at a local sightseeing spot, you may be offered a higher priced ticket, including a performance that you don’t want to watch. Always ask the price of the sight-only ticket.
Teahouse Scam
While you are touring in China alone, one person may starts to chat with you in fluent English. He/she is friendly to you and teaches you a lot of local customs. He/she shows you around, then brings you to a teahouse. You order cups of teas. At the end you’re told you should pay a large amount of money for the tea. Don’t talk to them at first, or check the price of the tea you will be drinking beforehand.
Art Student Scam
Also at some big tourist destinations of China, some young people, disguised as “art student”, will approach you. Of course, they will show you the art that they have allegedly produced. This one is usually more of a waste of your time than anything, and once you have realized that they are only selling the same “art” that you can find everywhere and that they are selling it at much higher prices, you can simply leave.
Pickpockets
Pickpockets always can be found in the major tourist sites of China. Always keep your eyes on your bags, and carry your wallets in a front pocket or a pocket inside your coat, especially in the late evening alone. Beware of these young men and also of the ladies in whose interests they ply their trade. This is one scam where a true tour guide is very helpful, as thieves will not target tourists with a tour guide that knows how to turn them in to the police.
Vendors and Counterfeit Bills
While you are wandering around some scenic spot, a tout may asks you if you want to buy a souvenir from him/her. You like one of them, then you haggle over price. Then you found that you only have RMB1OO notes. You give it to the seller and he/she gives you a RMB50 and some change. Later you try to use the RMB50 but others will tell you that it is fake. You should always keep small change on you to pay for little things, or learn to distinguish the real money.
“Black” Taxis
“Black” taxis don’t mean that the colors of the taxis are black, but refer to the illegal taxis or cars that can be found all over China. You may encounter them almost everywhere you need a taxi, including the airport, the city center, or around attractions. The drivers will approach you and asking “where are you going”. They will not only overcharge you but there have been reports of tourists taken out into the middle of nowhere where several of the black taxi drivers friend showed up and took all of the tourists belongings. Don’t even talk to these people.
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