Destinations › China › Beijing › Scams
Beijing, China
12 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Beijing, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Unlicensed taxis around major stations and tourist sites charge double fares, rig the meter with a false starting charge, or suddenly jump the price late in the ride.
Bar/karaoke/gallery variant of the tea house setup: new "friends" build rapport, then lead tourists to a venue with inflated drink prices, entrance fees, or pressure to gamble.
"Art student" scam — friendly students invite tourists to a free art exhibition, pressuring them into buying cheap factory-printed pieces marked up as original student art.
The well-documented "tea house" scam: a friendly, English-speaking local (sometimes met via a dating app) near Tiananmen Square strikes up conversation, then invites a tourist to a "traditional tea ceremony" — the bill arrives at $70–$280 or far more, with intimidation to pay.
Money changers outside official banks offer a better rate but shortchange the count or hand over counterfeit or damaged, unusable notes.
Restaurants without fixed prices charge tourists more than locals, or swap to a different, pricier menu at payment time.
Fake attraction tickets sold outside official booths at a "discount."
A local claims a tourist's accommodation is closed or unavailable, redirecting them to a pricier alternative.
"Monks" solicit donations and sell overpriced prayer cards using social pressure, keeping the money themselves.
Impostors in official-looking uniforms redirect tourists from the correct public bus onto unofficial minibuses charging premium fares, especially near the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors.
Markets near tourist sites (e.g. Silk Street) selling counterfeit branded goods at aggressively inflated starting prices.
Scammers at the Forbidden City claim a special permit, ID, or clothing is required for entry, and offer to sell it.
