Beijing Tourist Trap Tips by henry14

We booked onto two separate day tours and both trips made stops at ‘special places’ for us; a pearl factory, jade factory, Chinese medicine academy, friendship store and a tea house ceremony. In the Chinese medicine academy, one tourist was diagnosed with an overheating liver and the ‘doctor’ prescribed some herbal tablets. The tourist said he had a doctor friend who was interested in Chinese medicine back home and could they write the details down so he could take advice but the academy ‘doctor’ was having none if it - the medicine was so special it was only available that day and from their clinic!! Strangely enough, no one examined (and it was optional) was given a clean bill of health that day. These stops do get a bit tiresome, especially when you are keen to get to your destination but just politely make it clear you are not interested and the staff will leave you alone - just don’t show interest out of politeness or before you know it you will be purchasing something unwanted and overpriced.

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At Least Do This: Organised tours are a good introduction to the sights, especially to non-Chinese speakers so dont be put off by these stops. Keep a sense of humour and just remember although they want to sell you something you dont have to buy.

I had read about the art students prior to going to Beijing, but unlike other tipsters we were approached constantly not just at the major sights; we were stopped in shopping malls, while walking on quiet side roads and one morning we made a quick coffee stop and two students were circling the exit like a pair of sharks waiting for us! All the students were polite, if a little devious in their approach sometimes - usually along the lines of asking could they practice their English, which we were happy to do, but which then led to their ‘art spiel‘. We were approached at least six times a day. Initially we listened to them and then made polite excuses but after a couple of days it did become tiresome so we cut off the conversation from full flow by saying “we’ve been” - and this seemed to do the trick.

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At Least Do This: Not sure if it's a trap as such, we didnt go. From other tips it appears to be another sales pitch, so just be prepared for that if you chose to go and view.
Alternative: Not all approaches are art students, we were in a bookshop on Wangfujing when a young man asked for the time, I answered him half-expecting another art shot but it wasn't - he was genuinely just trying to converse with us. So, an approach could be a genuine attempt to practice English, but most times it isn’t and unless you want to go and view, and buy, their art make it clear as soon as the art word is mentioned. "We've been" works wonders.