China is statistically one of the safest countries in the world for international travelers. Violent crime and opportunistic street muggings against foreigners are virtually non-existent, and women can safely walk through city neighborhoods late at night. However, around major international tourist hubs in Beijing and Shanghai, targeted psychological scams still catch unsuspecting first-time visitors.
These schemes rely not on intimidation or physical threats, but on politeness, curiosity, and social awkwardness. Once you recognize the standard scripts, avoiding them is straightforward.
1. The Tea House & Art Student Scam
This is by far the most widespread scam in central Beijing (especially around Tiananmen Square, Wangfujing, and the Forbidden City) and Shanghai (around People’s Square, Nanjing East Road, and the Bund).
How it works: Two friendly young people (often presenting themselves as art students, university students practicing English, or tourists visiting from another Chinese province) approach you asking for help taking a photo. After polite conversation, they suggest going together to an authentic tea tasting ceremony or nearby traditional cafe. You are seated in a private room and served several small cups of tea. When the bill arrives, it totals several thousand RMB (often $300 to $1,000 USD). Large staff members block the doorway until the bill is settled via mobile pay (Alipay/WeChat Pay) or foreign credit card.
The Golden Rule: Never accompany people who approach you on the street to any cafe, tea house, massage parlor, or bar. If someone invites you for tea, politely smile and say “No thank you, I have an appointment” and keep walking.
2. Unofficial Airport & Railway Station “Black Cabs”
When you exit the customs hall at major international airports (such as Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, or Guangzhou Baiyun), men with lanyards or badges will aggressively approach you asking “Taxi? Where you go?”
The trap: These are unauthorized private drivers (“black cabs” or heiche). They do not use standard municipal meters and will quote prices three to five times higher than official fares, or claim an agreed 100 RMB price was actually “per person” or “per bag” upon arrival at your hotel.
How to avoid it: Ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal. Follow physical overhead bilingual signs pointing directly to the official Taxi Queue (出租车). Uniformed attendants oversee the queue, and all legitimate taxis must turn on the dashboard meter (dǎ biǎo). Alternatively, use the English version of Didi directly within Alipay or the standalone Didi app to book a fixed-price ride.
3. Cheap Day Tours to the Great Wall
Flyers handed out near train stations or cheap tour brochures at budget hostels frequently advertise 100 to 150 RMB day tours to the Great Wall, including transport, lunch, and admission.
The reality: These tours spend less than an hour at overcrowded sections of the wall. The rest of the day is spent trapped in commercial jade showrooms, traditional Chinese medicine clinics offering high-pressure pulse readings, and silk factories. In some cases, guides become verbally aggressive if passengers refuse to purchase items.
How to avoid it: Travel independently using official express buses from Dongzhimen, or book verified small-group transport through reputable international platforms like Trip.com Day Tours.
4. What to Do If You Find Yourself in a Scam
- Stay Calm: Scammers rely on intimidation and social embarrassment. Do not escalate into a physical confrontation.
- Call the Police: In China, dialing 110 connects immediately to the police. Scammers are terrified of official police intervention because operating an illegal price-gouging establishment carries severe municipal penalties. Firmly stating “I am calling 110” frequently causes the bill to drop to a nominal fee immediately.
- Keep Digital Receipts: If forced to pay under duress, pay using a credit card or mobile app where digital merchant IDs and transaction serial numbers are permanently recorded for dispute resolution.
