Restaurant Scams in Beijing, China
Inflated bills, hidden charges, tourist menus, and food service tricks. Below are the restaurant scams scams reported in Beijing — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Kyoto, Shanghai, and Taipei.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
2
Restaurant Scams Scams
12
Total in Beijing
How it works
Near Tiananmen Square and Wangfujing, friendly English-speaking students approach tourists claiming to want to practice English. They invite tourists for tea, and the bill arrives for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Intimidating staff prevent leaving without payment.
How it works
Friendly locals posing as university students practising English approach tourists near Wangfujing or Tiananmen and invite them to a traditional tea ceremony nearby. The experience ends with an exorbitant bill of several hundred USD for tea sampled, and some visitors report being blocked from leaving until they pay.
See all scams in Beijing
12 total warnings across all categories