Hangzhou Travel: Don't Get Shocked by These Tourist Traps!

[Ken Fahey]

Well, it's amazing! I'd like to share two funny experiences of buying Longjing tea in Hangzhou with all of you, especially to warn my fellow travelers about cab drivers.

Longjing tea is a very famous green tea from Hangzhou. Many people come here just to get some of this famous tea.

• About ten years ago, when I first came to Hangzhou.

  • The taxi driver we rode in that time was extremely "helpful" and advised us to visit a village where there was a place to wash hands and get good luck, which is said to be helpful.
  • He drove us there enthusiastically. After arriving, we purchased some Longjing tea from the villagers "legitimately." When I got home, everyone said how delicious it was! [Giggling R](Thinking back now, hmm...)

• Then yesterday, I came to Hangzhou for the second time. The main purpose was to visit Lingyin Temple, a famous temple known for its rich history.

  • It was around 5 pm in the afternoon when we were leaving Temple, having difficulty finding a cab as it was rush hour.
  • After much hardship, we managed to step into a cab, whose driver was very talkative! He mentioned that his wife's dad's birthday was coming up and he had to get Longjing tea for him as a gift first, asking if we were in a hurry and saying he wouldn't use the meter for this part of the ride (i.e., no charge).
  • We, the visitors, have more free time, and also recalled the good experience of buying tea ten years ago, happily agreeing to go with him.
  • He took us to what he said was a tea farmer's house, where the prices ranged from 170 RMB to 260 RMB to 360 RMB per liang (liang is a unit of weight, 1 liang equals approximately 50 grams, so this price refers to every 50 grams). We got caught up in the moment and purchased tea at a total cost of 4,000 RMB.

• That night we returned to our hotel, scrolling through Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social app like Instagram and Pinterest combined where everybody shares life stories and information. I saw many people posting about a "tea scam."

  • Only then did I realize I'd been taken in again!
  • Also, I suddenly realized it was probably the same trick ten years ago!

• Luckily, when I saw others’ stories on Xiaohongshu, I contacted the tea shop the next day. To my surprise, they refunded my money! Truly grateful to the kind people on Xiaohongshu!

️重要提醒！给来杭州玩的朋友们，特别是外国朋友们：

Be wary of overly friendly cab drivers:
Drivers may suggest taking you to some "special place" for shopping of tea, silk or other local products. They might say not to use meter or need to detour. Be suspicious of such offers which might be consumer traps.
Tip: Stick to your planned destinations. Politely refuse the offer if they aggressively try to persuade. You can also say you've already bought some, or just express disinterest.

• Be cautious of "direct sale" by tea farmers:

  • Sometimes drivers will take you directly to a "tear farm." It sounds like a great deal to buy cheap, genuine tea. However, the tea prices may be much higher than in regular stores, and the qualities cannot be guaranteed. When language is a barrier, you may purchase due to fear of politeness.

  Tip: Instead, purchasing tea in properly registered stores or supermarkets will ensure better quality and transparent pricing albeit slightly more expensive.

• Pay attention to tea pricing and total cost:

  • Like in my case, tea are priced in "liang" units (50 grams per unit). Units price sounds low but small quantities could total to expensive amounts.
    Tip: Before a purchase, ask the vendor the exact pricing unit and total cost and whether you have sufficient budget. Don’t let your enthusiasm override your caution.

• If necessary, retain evidence and fight back:

  • If you happen to encounter similar circumstances and need to consume money, keep receipts and any contact details provided by vendors.
    Contact sellers for a refund like I did, or appeal to related authorities.
  • How to avoid (or compensation): Use traceable payment methods when paying. If something feels wrong, try audio taping or photo documentation as potential evidences (make sure not to put yourself in danger, at all costs).

• Utilize review apps:

  • Before making any purchases recommended by drivers or making personal trips, search the location on popular review apps like Dazhongdianping (for China-specific reviews) or TripAdvisor etc, to see if other tourists have posted any problems.

Hope this little reminder helps you on your journey, good luck everyone, don't fall into the pits I’ve previously fell into!

[Dr. Guadalupe Homenick]

Report them to 12345! They'll just keep scamming other tourists.

[Ms. Cecilia Lowe]

It's the same with Chongqing's yellow taxi drivers. Don't trust what they say and be vigilant.

[Alejandro Runolfsdottir]

Make sure to report this. If we don't stop them, they'll only get more brazen.

[Lorena Runolfsson]

And a taxi driver took me to Wanshili – that was a scam too.

[Dr. Mandy Walter-Reichert]

Keep your receipts and call 12345 to report it.

[Jeannie Parisian]

If you're still looking for West Lake Longjing tea, hit me up~ No tricks here, hehehe.

[Darren Sawayn]

Report them! We need to stop these kinds of scams!

[Sally Breitenberg]

They must be quite rich, huh?

[Priscilla Marquardt IV]

Tell me about it, I've run into this a few times myself.

[Leon O'Keefe]

Forget trying to avoid scams. When I went to your Fujian, it was the same thing. They invite you over, and then it's all about the Wuyi Da Hong Pao.

[Theodore Wiza]

Fewer tourists is actually a good thing. It's always so noisy, locals can't even go out on weekends.