Taxi & Transport Scams in Beijing, China
Overcharging, meter tampering, fake taxis, and transport cons targeting tourists. Below are the taxi & transport 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
Taxi & Transport Scams
12
Total in Beijing
How it works
Outside the Summer Palace, Great Wall (Badaling), and other major sites, drivers of unmarked cars solicit tourists with seemingly reasonable fixed prices. Fares are often tripled at the destination, and drivers have been known to lock doors or become threatening when tourists refuse to pay the inflated amount.
How it works
Pedicab drivers near the Hutong alleyways quote a very low price for a tour, then interpret the agreement as per person or per hour, demanding 10x more at the end. Tourists are sometimes driven to a dead end and refused passage until paid.
See all scams in Beijing
12 total warnings across all categories