China Warnings Or Dangers Tips by hopang Top 5 Page for this destination

Don't buy souvenirs from roadside vendors!

Don't buy guidebooks, postcards or other small souvenirs from roadside vendors in large popular tourist attractions such as the Forbidden City in Beijing. We have been warned by our tourist guides before. They know better and seeing is believing!

If the item is really a good bargain and you insist on buying it, give them the right change for the item. For example, the guidebook as depicted in our photograph above costs 20 rmb (that was exactly what we paid for that guidebook), give them just a 20 rmb note. If you do not have any change, don't buy it. If you give a roadside vendor a 100 rmb note, he may refund you with 80 rmb notes in fakes!

They sell these items on the roadside very cheaply to unsuspecting foreign tourists in the hope that you give them a large note and many have been cheated this way unfortunately! Of course we are not saying all roadside vendors have the intention to cheat to get rich quick! The cheaters are probably in the minority!

If you do not intend to buy anything from these roadside vendors, don't enquire about the price in the first place. Once you show some interest, they will stick to you and follow you until you purchase the item from them.

Beware of pickpockets in Beijing!

Beware of pickpockets in large cities in China such as Beijing and Shanghai. Where there are large concentration of people especially with foreign tourists, pickpocket is unavoidable, it has to be said. Places need special attention are Wangfujing Street and the popular shopping malls around Beijing. Do not carry your bags behind your back. It only encourages more pickpockets. Carry them in front of you so that you are aware of what is going on.