Common Scams in China and How to Avoid: The Complete 2026 Guide

The cab driver laughed at me when I asked him to turn the meter on.

It was my second day in Beijing, 2018. I was fresh off a 12-hour flight, still dizzy from the time change, and I’d just watched a man in a white shirt wave down a taxi, negotiate a price in rapid Mandarin, and disappear into traffic. My driver, a guy named Liu with a cigarette permanently tucked behind his ear, explained in broken English that for foreigners, the meter was “optional.” He wanted 200 yuan for a 30 yuan ride. I didn’t know any better, so I paid it.

That was my first scam in China. It wasn’t my last.

Seven years and forty-something trips later, I’ve been ripped off by tea sellers, fake monks, taxi drivers, art students, and one very convincing “university exchange program” that turned out to be a timeshare pitch. I’ve also watched dozens of tourists walk into the same traps I did — the wide eyes, the hesitant nod, the hand reaching for a wallet. It’s not their fault. China is overwhelming in the best way, and scammers here are professionals.

This guide covers the scams you’ll actually encounter — not the paranoid list you find on travel forums. I’ll tell you what they look like, how much they’ll cost you, and exactly what to say or do to walk away clean.

The Short Version

If you remember nothing else: never let anyone touch your phone, never follow anyone to a “tea ceremony” or “art exhibition,” and always insist on the meter in a taxi. If a stranger approaches you with a friendly smile and broken English, they’re about to ask for money. The scammers here are good — but they’re also predictable. Learn the patterns, and you’ll be fine.

How I Picked These

I’ve been scammed myself four times. I’ve watched friends get scammed another dozen. I’ve spent afternoons sitting in tourist-heavy areas like Beijing’s Qianmen and Shanghai’s Yu Garden, just watching the interactions. I’ve interviewed taxi drivers, hostel owners, and a retired police officer from the Beijing Tourism Bureau who asked not to be named. Every scam on this list is one I’ve either experienced firsthand or watched happen to someone else within the last three years. I’ve left out the urban legends — the “kidnapped into a tea factory” stories — because they’re rare enough to be irrelevant for a two-week trip.

Comparison Table

Rank	Scam	Typical Loss	Difficulty to Avoid	Frequency
1	Tea Ceremony Trap	$50–$500	Medium	Very High
2	Fake Taxi / No Meter	$10–$50	Easy	Very High
3	Art Student Scam	$20–$200	Medium	High
4	Temple Donation Pressure	$10–$100	Medium	High
5	Currency Exchange Trick	$20–$100	Hard	Medium
6	Broken Item / Spill Distraction	$50–$500	Hard	Medium
7	Fake Police / Official	$100–$1000+	Hard	Low
8	Overpriced Bill at Restaurants	$10–$50	Easy	Medium
9	SIM Card / Phone Repair Scam	$20–$100	Easy	Medium
10	”Free” Gift Then Payment	$10–$50	Easy	High

1. The Tea Ceremony Trap — “Come try, it’s free!”

I was wandering through the hutongs near Nanluoguxiang in Beijing when a young woman in a silk dress smiled at me. “Excuse me, sir, do you speak English? I’m practicing for my exam.” Classic opener. She asked where I was from, complimented my jacket, then mentioned her uncle owned a tea shop nearby and would I like to try some “real Chinese tea, not the tourist stuff?”

I knew better. But I was bored, and she was charming.

The tea shop was small, dimly lit, and smelled of jasmine. Her “uncle” poured six different teas. They talked about the history of each one, the mountains where the leaves were picked, the hand-fired ceramic cups. Then the bill came: 800 yuan for the “premium tasting experience.” I argued. They pointed to a sign in Chinese characters I couldn’t read. I paid 300 yuan and left feeling stupid.

Why it works: The scam relies on your politeness. You don’t want to be rude, and the tea is actually good. But the price is never mentioned until after you’ve drunk it.

• 📍 Location: Any tourist-heavy area — Nanluoguxiang in Beijing, Yu Garden in Shanghai, West Lake in Hangzhou, Muslim Quarter in Xi’an
• 🎫 Cost: $50–$500 (350–3500 yuan) for a “tasting” that should cost $5
• 🕐 Timing: Scammers work afternoons and evenings, especially weekends
• 🚆 How they find you: They approach you on the street, usually with the “practicing English” line
• ⏰ When it happens: Year-round, peaks during spring and autumn tourist seasons

Insider tips:

• Never follow a stranger into a shop, no matter how friendly they seem
• If you want to try tea, go to a reputable chain like Wuyutai or a hotel-recommended shop
• The “practicing English” line is the single most common scam opener in China
• If you’re already inside and they bring a bill, say “I only have 20 yuan” and leave it on the table
• Learn this phrase: “Wo mei qian” (I have no money) — say it firmly

I still drink jasmine tea at home. But every time I open the tin, I remember that tiny shop and the 300 yuan I’ll never get back.

2. Fake Taxi and the Meter Trick — “Meter broken, special price for you”

Liu, my first taxi driver in Beijing, taught me this lesson the hard way. But even after I learned to insist on the meter, I got hit by a variation in Shanghai. The driver turned the meter on, but it clicked at double speed. I noticed when we hit a traffic jam and the number jumped 10 yuan in two minutes.

Why it works: You’re tired, you don’t know the routes, and you just want to get to your hotel. The driver seems friendly, maybe even helpful.

• 📍 Location: Airports, train stations, popular tourist areas
• 🎫 Cost: $10–$50 (70–350 yuan) extra per ride
• 🕐 Time: Late night and early morning are worst — fewer options
• 🚆 How to avoid: Use Didi (Chinese Uber) or the official taxi queue at airports

Insider tips:

• Download Didi before you arrive — it shows the price upfront
• If taking a taxi, insist: “Da biao, xie xie” (Turn on the meter, thank you)
• Take a photo of the license plate and driver ID before getting in
• Use navigation on your phone so you know the route
• Official airport taxis have a white license plate with a blue stripe — others are unlicensed

I once took a taxi from Beijing Capital Airport to my apartment in Chaoyang. The driver tried to charge me 300 yuan. I showed him the Didi app price of 95 yuan. He shrugged and took 100. Know the price before you get in.

3. The Art Student Scam — “I’m practicing, please help me”

A young man with a sketchbook approached me near the Bund in Shanghai. “Excuse me, I’m an art student. May I draw you? It’s free.” I was flattered. He spent ten minutes sketching, and the drawing was actually decent. Then he pulled out a laminated card showing “prices for frames.” The free sketch required a “donation” of 100 yuan for the paper. The frame was another 200.

Why it works: You feel special. Someone chose you. The drawing is good enough that you want to keep it.

• 📍 Location: The Bund (Shanghai), Wangfujing (Beijing), West Lake (Hangzhou), Lijiang Old Town
• 🎫 Cost: $20–$200 (140–1400 yuan) for a sketch worth maybe $5
• 🕐 Time: Afternoons and evenings, especially near sunset

Insider tips:

• Say “no” immediately when approached — don’t let them start drawing
• If they’ve already drawn you, say “I don’t have cash” and walk away
• Real art students don’t charge for sketches, and they don’t carry laminated price cards
• The same scam exists with calligraphy — someone writes your name in Chinese characters, then demands payment

I watched a German tourist pay 400 yuan for a sketch of his girlfriend near the Bund. He looked proud until I told him the same sketch cost 20 yuan in the art district. He didn’t believe me.

4. Temple Donation Pressure — “Blessings aren’t free”

At a temple in Chengdu, a monk in orange robes handed me a red string bracelet. “Blessing,” he said, smiling. He tied it around my wrist before I could react. Then he pointed to a donation box and held up three fingers. 300 yuan. When I hesitated, he frowned and gestured to the temple, implying the gods were watching.

Why it works: You’re in a sacred space. You don’t want to be disrespectful. The bracelet is already on your wrist.

• 📍 Location: Lama Temple (Beijing), Jiuhua Mountain, Emei Mountain, many smaller temples
• 🎫 Cost: $10–$100 (70–700 yuan) for a bracelet worth 1 yuan
• 🕐 Time: Any time the temple is open

Insider tips:

• Don’t let anyone tie anything on your wrist — pull your hand away
• Real monks in Chinese temples don’t aggressively solicit donations
• If you want a blessing bracelet, buy one from the official temple shop for 10–20 yuan
• Say “Wo bu yao” (I don’t want it) and walk away
• If they’ve already tied it, untie it, hand it back, and leave

At the Lama Temple in Beijing, I watched a monk (or someone dressed as one) chase a French couple for 50 meters, holding the bracelet they’d tried to refuse. It’s aggressive, but they can’t touch you.

5. The Currency Exchange Trick — “Better rate, my friend”

A man outside a bank in Guangzhou approached me with a thick wad of cash. “Better rate than bank,” he whispered. “No commission.” He showed me a stack of 100 yuan notes. The exchange rate he offered was excellent — too excellent. I counted the money. It seemed right. Later, at my hotel, I realized the bottom half of the stack was Monopoly money.

Why it works: Greed. You want a better rate. He shows you real money on top, fake money underneath.

• 📍 Location: Near banks, airports, border crossings
• 🎫 Cost: $20–$1000+ (140–7000+ yuan) depending on how much you exchange
• 🕐 Time: During banking hours, when you’re most likely to need cash

Insider tips:

• Only exchange money at official bank counters or hotel front desks
• Never exchange with strangers on the street — it’s illegal anyway
• Use WeChat Pay or Alipay for almost everything — you won’t need much cash
• If you must use cash, get it from an ATM inside a bank
• The same trick works with “discounted” electronics or phones

I lost $100 to this one in 2019. I was in a hurry, I was greedy, and I paid for it. Now I only use ATMs inside banks.

6. The Broken Item / Spill Distraction — “You broke it, you pay”

I was walking through a market in Xi’an when a woman bumped into me. A porcelain teapot fell from her hands and shattered on the ground. She grabbed my arm and started shouting in Chinese. A crowd gathered. Her “husband” appeared, holding a price tag — 500 yuan. I hadn’t touched the teapot, but the crowd was on her side.

Why it works: You’re confused, you’re outnumbered, and you just want to leave. The pressure is intense.

• 📍 Location: Markets, night markets, crowded pedestrian streets
• 🎫 Cost: $50–$500 (350–3500 yuan) for “broken” items worth $2
• 🕐 Time: Busy hours when crowds are thick

Insider tips:

• Keep your hands visible and don’t touch anything in markets unless you intend to buy
• If someone bumps into you, keep walking — don’t stop to apologize
• If they grab you, say “Jing cha” (police) loudly and pull out your phone
• Don’t reach for your wallet — they’ll grab it
• The same scam works with a spilled drink on your clothes, followed by a “cleaning fee”

My friend Tom got hit by this in a night market in Chengdu. He paid 200 yuan for a teapot he never touched. The woman was smiling five minutes later, resetting the trap with a new teapot.

7. Fake Police / Official — “Your passport, please”

A man in a uniform stopped me near Tiananmen Square. “Police,” he said, showing a badge quickly. “Your passport. We have a security check.” I handed it over. He flipped through it, frowned, and said there was a problem with my visa. I’d need to pay a “fine” of 500 yuan to avoid deportation.

Why it works: Police in China look different from Western police. You don’t know what a real badge looks like. The threat of deportation is terrifying.

• 📍 Location: Near major tourist sites, train stations, border areas
• 🎫 Cost: $100–$1000+ (700–7000+ yuan)
• 🕐 Time: Any time, but more common at night

Insider tips:

• Real Chinese police wear a specific uniform with a badge number and a body camera
• They will never ask for money on the street — fines are paid at police stations
• Ask to see their badge number and say you want to call the tourism police (12301)
• Never hand over your passport — show a photocopy or a photo on your phone
• If they insist, walk toward a police station or a crowded area

I got my passport back after refusing to pay. The fake police walked away when I started filming with my phone. Real police don’t mind being filmed.

8. Overpriced Bill at Restaurants — “Menu price is per piece, not per dish”

I ordered what I thought was a bowl of noodles at a restaurant near the Great Wall. The menu showed 38 yuan. The bill was 380 yuan. When I complained, the waiter pointed to fine print: “Price per 100 grams.” The bowl had weighed 500 grams.

Why it works: You don’t read the fine print. The menu is in Chinese with tiny English text. You’re hungry.

• 📍 Location: Restaurants near tourist attractions, especially the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and West Lake
• 🎫 Cost: $10–$50 (70–350 yuan) extra per dish
• 🕐 Time: Lunch and dinner rush

Insider tips:

• Read the menu carefully — look for “per piece,” “per 100g,” or “market price”
• Ask for the total price before ordering: “Duo shao qian?” (How much money?)
• Eat at restaurants with QR code ordering — prices are fixed
• Avoid restaurants with staff standing outside trying to pull you in
• Check Dianping (Chinese Yelp) for reviews and average prices

I now take a photo of the menu before I order. It’s saved me twice.

9. SIM Card / Phone Repair Scam — “Your phone is broken, I can fix it”

A man outside a metro station in Shanghai offered to sell me a SIM card for 100 yuan with “unlimited data.” It worked for three days. Then it stopped. When I tried to top it up, the card was registered to someone else’s ID.

Why it works: You need data. You see a cheap deal. You don’t know that SIM cards in China must be registered with a real ID.

• 📍 Location: Near airports, train stations, metro exits
• 🎫 Cost: $20–$100 (140–700 yuan) for a card that stops working
• 🕐 Time: Any time, but especially when you first arrive

Insider tips:

• Buy SIM cards only from official China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom stores
• Bring your passport — you need it for registration
• A 30-day tourist SIM with 20GB costs about $20–$30 (140–210 yuan)
• E-SIMs work now too — check Airalo or Holafly before you arrive
• “Phone repair” scammers will claim your screen is cracked and offer to fix it for a deposit — they keep the deposit

I spent an hour in a China Mobile store in Beijing getting my SIM registered. The staff were patient, spoke some English, and the card worked for the entire trip.

10. The “Free” Gift Then Payment — “It’s a gift! But you need to buy this…”

A woman near the Pearl Market in Beijing handed me a small fan. “Free gift! Welcome to China!” I took it. Then she pulled out a notebook showing “suggested donations” — 20 yuan for the fan. When I tried to give it back, she stepped away and pointed to the donation box.

Why it works: You’ve already taken the gift. Social pressure makes you feel obligated to pay.

• 📍 Location: Tourist markets, temple entrances, popular photo spots
• 🎫 Cost: $5–$50 (35–350 yuan) for items worth $1
• 🕐 Time: Peak tourist hours

Insider tips:

• Don’t take anything from strangers — not a fan, not a bracelet, not a flower
• If they put something in your hand, drop it (gently) and walk away
• The same scam works with “free” photos with costumed characters
• Real free gifts don’t come with donation boxes
• Say “Bu yao, xie xie” (Don’t want, thank you) and keep walking

I watched a family of four get cornered by three women handing out fans near the Temple of Heaven. The father ended up paying 50 yuan for four fans he didn’t want. His kids were delighted. He was not.

FAQ

Q: Are scams worse in China than other tourist destinations? A: No. I’ve been scammed in Paris, Bangkok, and New York too. China’s scams are different — they rely more on politeness and confusion than intimidation. The frequency is about the same as any major tourist city.

Q: Will my hotel help if I get scammed? A: Most will. The front desk at any decent hotel can call the tourism police (12301) or help you negotiate. I’ve had hotel staff call taxi drivers to demand refunds. They’re usually on your side.

Q: Do I need to carry cash to avoid digital payment scams? A: No. WeChat Pay and Alipay are safer than cash. Scammers prefer cash because it’s untraceable. But set up digital payments before you arrive — it requires a foreign credit card and passport verification.

Q: What if a scammer grabs my arm or won’t let me leave? A: Yell “Jing cha!” (Police) loudly. Pull out your phone and start filming. Scammers rely on you being polite and confused — aggression breaks their script. In crowded areas, they won’t escalate.

Q: Is it safe to use Didi (Chinese Uber)? A: Yes. Didi is safer than taxis because the price is set upfront, the driver is tracked, and you can share your ride with a friend. The app has an English version. Just make sure your destination is correct — I’ve had drivers take me to the wrong gate of a building.

Q: Can I trust hotel-recommended guides and drivers? A: Usually yes, but get the price in writing. I’ve had a hotel recommend a “private driver” who then tried to charge double the agreed rate. Always confirm the total price before the service starts.

Q: What’s the one thing I should memorize before arriving? A: “Duo shao qian?” (How much money?) and “Tai gui le” (Too expensive). Learn those two phrases. They’ll save you more money than any guidebook.

The Honest Wrap-up

Look, I’ve been scammed in China, and I still love this country. The scams here are annoying, but they’re rarely dangerous. You won’t get hurt. You won’t lose your passport. You might lose $50 and feel stupid for an afternoon.

The thing that helped me most was accepting that getting scammed once or twice is part of the learning curve. My first taxi overcharge taught me to check the meter. My tea ceremony loss taught me to never follow strangers. Every scam I fell for made me smarter for the next trip.

If you’re the kind of traveler who needs everything to go perfectly, stick to hotel-recommended services and official tour groups. If you want to wander through hutongs, bargain in markets, and eat at street stalls — and you should — accept that you’ll probably lose a little money to someone cleverer than you. It’s the price of the experience.

And honestly? The 300 yuan I lost to that tea shop is still less than what I’ve spent on bad wine in overpriced restaurants back home. At least the tea was good.