A handful of well-rehearsed scams target foreign tourists in major cities across China. These schemes rely on friendliness, cultural curiosity, or confusion rather than threats. The goal is to get you to agree to something that costs far more than it should.
The good news is that these scams follow predictable patterns. Once you know what to watch for, they’re much easier to sidestep. This guide covers the most commonly reported tourist scams in China, how they work, and how to protect yourself without becoming paranoid or rude.
Before traveling to China, setting up payment methods, mobile data, and ride-hailing apps reduces the situations where scams are most likely. Our China pre-trip setup guide covers those practical steps. If this is your first visit and you are still planning logistics, the first-time visitor trip planner walks through the full preparation process.
The tea ceremony scam
This is one of the best-known scams reported in Beijing and Shanghai. It typically starts with a friendly stranger or a small group approaching you in a tourist area like Wangfujing, the Forbidden City, East Nanjing Road, or the Bund. They speak decent English, seem curious about where you’re from, and ask to practice English or take a photo together.
After a few minutes of pleasant conversation, they mention they’re about to visit a traditional tea ceremony or art gallery and invite you to join. The offer sounds cultural and low-pressure. You walk together to a teahouse or gallery that looks legitimate.
Once inside, you’re served tea or shown art, and the atmosphere stays friendly. Then comes the bill, often significantly inflated, well beyond what tea or a gallery visit should cost. If you object, staff may become insistent or claim you already consumed the tea and must pay.
Some travelers pay out of embarrassment or concern. Others negotiate and get the bill reduced. Either way, the experience is unpleasant.
How to avoid it: politely decline invitations to tea houses, art galleries, massage parlors, or karaoke bars from people who approach you in tourist areas. If someone is overly friendly within the first two minutes of meeting you, that’s a signal to be cautious.
If you want to visit a teahouse, choose one yourself. Research it beforehand or ask your hotel for recommendations.
Fake monks and blessing items
People dressed as monks sometimes appear near temples, tourist sites, and busy pedestrian streets in cities like Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. They wear robes, carry prayer beads, and may offer you a bracelet, card, or small Buddha statue as a blessing or gift.
Once you accept the item, they ask for a donation, sometimes insistently. If you try to return the item, they may refuse or claim you already received the blessing.
Monks at legitimate temples don’t typically approach tourists this way in heavily trafficked commercial areas. If you visit a temple and wish to make a donation, you can do so at donation boxes inside the temple.
How to avoid it: if someone in monk robes approaches you outside a temple or in a tourist area, politely say no and keep walking. Don’t accept items, even if they’re presented as gifts. You don’t need to explain or justify your refusal.
If you want to make a temple donation, do so inside the temple at an official donation box.
Black cabs and unlicensed taxis
Unlicensed taxi drivers sometimes wait outside airports, train stations, and popular tourist spots. They approach travelers who look confused or tired and offer rides at what seems like a reasonable fixed price. Some drivers quote a price in RMB that sounds fair but later claim they meant US dollars. Others take long detours or drive to a different address and demand more money.
How to avoid it: use official taxi stands, which are clearly marked at airports and stations. Licensed taxis have meters and company logos. Ask for a receipt with the driver’s information, though not all taxis provide printed receipts. Keep the receipt if you receive one.
If you prefer ride-hailing, use Didi or another verified app. The app shows the price estimate, driver and car information before the ride starts. Our Didi guide for foreign tourists explains how to set up and use the app.
For airport arrivals specifically, the China airport arrival checklist covers secure transport options and what to expect at immigration and customs.
Don’t agree to a ride from someone who approaches you directly inside or just outside the terminal. Walk to the official taxi area or the designated ride-hailing pickup zone.
Currency and change scams
This scam happens at small shops, markets, or street vendors. After you pay with a large bill, the vendor quickly hands you change and rushes you along. Later, you realize the change is short or includes worn bills that might be questioned elsewhere.
A variation involves confusing tourists about the currency itself. A vendor may quote a price that sounds low, then claim it was in US dollars rather than RMB after you agree. Or they may hand you a bill and expect you to pay in RMB amounts far higher than what was verbally agreed.
Counterfeit bills do circulate in some contexts. How to avoid it: carry small bills when shopping at markets or street vendors. Check your change before walking away. If the amount looks wrong, calmly point it out immediately.
For mobile payments, Alipay and WeChat Pay show the exact amount on your screen before you confirm. Once you scan the merchant QR code, double-check the total. If it looks wrong, don’t confirm the payment. Our guide to Alipay and WeChat Pay for foreign visitors explains how payment confirmation works.
QR code scams
Fake QR code stickers sometimes appear on shared bikes, parking meters, or tourist information boards. The fake code redirects you to a phishing page that asks for payment information or personal details.
Another version involves street vendors or small businesses displaying QR codes that look like Alipay or WeChat Pay codes but actually link to scam accounts or payment requests with inflated amounts.
How to avoid it: before scanning any QR code, check whether it looks tampered with or placed over another code. If a code looks suspicious, appears to be a sticker overlay, or the placement seems unusual, don’t scan it. Instead, open the official app for the service you’re trying to use (Didi bike, Meituan bike, or the relevant operator) and scan from within that app, or check the domain and payment recipient before confirming.
When paying at small vendors, confirm the amount on your phone screen before completing the transaction. If the amount is much higher than expected, cancel and ask the vendor to show you the correct code.
Art student and gallery scams
This scam is similar to the tea ceremony version but involves art galleries instead of tea houses. Friendly strangers, sometimes claiming to be art students, invite you to an exhibition or small gallery. The art may be real, but prices are inflated far beyond market value. Pressure tactics or emotional appeals are used to convince you to buy.
Some versions involve calligraphy demonstrations, painting lessons, or cultural workshops that end with high-pressure sales.
How to avoid it: decline unsolicited invitations to galleries or cultural workshops from people who approach you in tourist areas. If you’re interested in Chinese art or calligraphy, research galleries or workshops in advance and visit on your own terms.
Legitimate art districts like 798 in Beijing and M50 in Shanghai have many real galleries, but even there, be cautious of overly friendly strangers who want to guide you to a specific venue.
Overpriced tourist traps near landmarks
Restaurants, souvenir shops, and services located immediately adjacent to major tourist sites often charge far more than businesses a short walk away. This isn’t exactly a scam, but it can feel like one when prices are significantly higher than elsewhere.
Street vendors near the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, West Lake, and similar landmarks may also charge inflated prices for water, snacks, or souvenirs.
How to avoid it: eat and shop a short walk away from the main landmark entrance. In most cities, walking a few blocks in any direction brings you to more reasonably priced options.
Carry a bottle of water and light snacks when visiting major tourist sites. If you do buy from a vendor, check the price clearly before handing over money.
For restaurant recommendations and how to order food without reading Chinese, see the guide to ordering food in China using Meituan and Ele.me.
Fake police or document checks
This scam is less common than the others but still happens occasionally. Someone in plain clothes approaches tourists and claims to be undercover police. They may show a badge or ID that looks official and ask to inspect your passport, wallet, or money for counterfeit currency.
Once they have your wallet, they may take cash or claim to find a problem with your documents and demand a fine on the spot.
Uniformed police do conduct routine checks in China, but legitimate document checks don’t involve handing over your wallet or cash to be inspected away from your view. If someone claiming to be police asks to see your documents or money in a way that feels unusual, you have the right to ask to go to the nearest police station to complete the check there.
How to avoid it: if approached by someone claiming to be police, stay calm and polite. Ask to see their police ID and badge number. Suggest going to a nearby police booth or station to complete the check there. If they refuse or become aggressive, walk toward a crowded public area or an actual police station.
Police stations are clearly marked. In tourist areas, there are often small police booths with uniformed officers. Those are safe places to go if you feel uncertain.
What to do if you are targeted
If you realize you’re being targeted by a scam, the best response is to stay calm and remove yourself from the situation. Don’t argue, don’t try to reason with the scammer, and don’t feel obligated to be polite beyond a simple no.
Say “no, thank you” clearly and walk away. Head toward a crowded area, a hotel lobby, a metro station, or a police booth. Don’t let embarrassment or confusion keep you in a situation that feels wrong.
If someone follows you or becomes aggressive, go to the nearest police station or call 110, the police emergency number in China. For more on emergency numbers and how to get help, see the China emergency numbers guide for tourists.
If you’ve already paid money in a scam situation, leave the location first if you feel unsafe. Once you’re in a safe location, keep any receipts, screenshots, or location information you have. Document what happened while the details are fresh. You can contact your payment provider or card issuer if you paid by card, or file a report with local police by calling 110.
Staying aware without becoming paranoid
Most interactions with locals in China are genuine. People may approach you out of curiosity, to practice English, or to help you find a location. The scams described here rely on specific patterns, and once you recognize those patterns, they’re not hard to avoid.
A good rule is this: if someone you just met is unusually friendly and immediately suggests going somewhere that costs money, be cautious. Genuine social interactions typically don’t move that quickly toward commercial venues.
At the same time, don’t let concern about scams stop you from talking to locals or exploring freely. Stay aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts if something feels off. The guide to safety in China for travelers covers that broader picture.
Set up mobile payments, learn basic polite refusals in Mandarin, keep your phone charged, and use official transport and verified apps. These steps help you avoid many common issues tourists face.
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