Destinations › China › Qingdao › Scams
Qingdao, China
10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Qingdao, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Beachfront stalls swapping the seafood selected at the display for cheaper stock during preparation out of sight.
Seafood restaurants along the tourist beachfront charging by weight at rates far above those quoted at the tank, with disputes over the weighing itself.
Boat trip operators quoting per-boat and charging per-person at the end of the trip.
Touts selling brewery-tour and attraction tickets that are invalid or marked up substantially.
Theft from unattended belongings on the beaches and pickpocketing on packed summer buses.
Counterfeit branded beachwear and sunglasses sold as genuine along the promenades.
Beach chair, umbrella and photography services with no posted price, followed by demands well above local rates.
Counterfeit notes given as change by beach vendors and night-market stalls.
Unlicensed cars at the railway station and airport quoting fixed fares above metered rates in summer season.
Seasonal apartment lets taking deposits for properties unavailable on arrival in peak summer.
