It's pretty much the rule everywhere in the world—as a foreigner, you're always an easy target!

Unfamiliar with local life, it's genuinely difficult to spot scams, which is why to prevent your stay—whether it's a vacation or something longer-term—from being spoiled, we've compiled a rundown of the most frequent tourist scams in China:

The Tea House Scam

This is a classic and it can happen to you several times during your trip. Girls, often attractive and friendly, approach you and ask if they can chat with you to practice English (or offer some other excuse).

They may then invite you to a tea house to continue the conversation. At this venue, you'll be handed a different menu from the usual one, and you could end up paying up to 2,000 yuan just for tea with these girls.


Unlicensed Taxis and Their "Special Rates"

At the airport or in downtown zones, when looking for a taxi or other transport, you'll frequently receive numerous offers. Some of them, naturally, aren't official taxis and offer you a "special rate" that's supposedly cheaper to get you where you want to go.

Of course, this rate is always more expensive than an official taxi, and there's also a good chance the price at your destination differs from what was quoted at the start—and by then, you're not in a strong position to negotiate or pay the originally agreed amount.

Although official taxis seem like the safest option, the famous phrase "neng pian jiu pian," which literally means "if you can cheat, do it," reflects an attitude some city dwellers have toward tourists. And this doesn't exclude official taxis either.

What this means is that an unscrupulous taxi driver might take you on a "more scenic" route to your destination—one that's considerably longer and more expensive.

They might offer you a rate lower than advertised and thereby skip using the meter, or at the end of the ride, refuse to give you change or charge you far more than you'd have paid with a meter.

They can also swap the bill you handed them, replace it with a counterfeit, and return it while accusing you of having given them a fake note.

The same goes for any other transport—you may well find offers to buy discounted flight tickets through your hostel or hotel: don't trust them! Instead, use a flight comparison site like https://www.easyvols.fr/

Suspiciously Cheap Tours and Fake Great Wall

It might sound unbelievable, but it happens. You may encounter tour guides in the city offering visits to counterfeit attractions, surrounded by shops selling "authentic" souvenirs at excessive prices.

Don't believe it? Well, there is a miniature replica of the Great Wall of China, and some tourists have mistaken it for the real thing.

Art Students

Generally this scam is carried out by girls, though it can also happen with young men. They approach tourists, claim they're art students, say they're having an exhibition, and invite you to see their work. Sometimes they might seem too old to be students.

The young people take you to a nearby gallery where you can see many pieces, some of good quality. The gallery owner tells you they're selling them at below-market rates because the pieces are student-made.

You buy a work and they "wrap it up to ship it to you wherever you want." Of course, the artwork never arrives.

How to Avoid Being Scammed or Defrauded in Beijing?

First and unfortunately, be a bit cautious when you're in major cities that receive large numbers of tourists—not just Beijing or China. This doesn't mean you shouldn't be polite or avoid interacting with locals; you simply need to be careful with anyone trying to sell you something.

Regarding taxi and transport scams in Beijing, the best option is undoubtedly to book a reliable, trustworthy private driver who speaks at least English so you can communicate.

For scams related to exploring the city or tourist attractions, the best approach is to travel with a local or someone who knows the city well to avoid pitfalls. The ideal way to take a guided tour is to book a reliable tour guide who, besides accompanying you and showing you the places you want to see, will help you steer clear of potential con artists.

And finally, in restaurants and eating establishments, try not to eat in the most touristy areas and watch out for menu changes or price differences between travelers and locals.

Ultimately, it's normal and common to have a very pleasant and unforgettable experience in Beijing, but it's better to avoid, as much as possible, the scams and fraud that could leave you with a negative impression of the Chinese capital.