Tour & Activity Scams in Beijing, China
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities 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
Tour & Activities Scams
12
Total in Beijing
How it works
Scalpers near ticket booths at the Forbidden City, Great Wall, and other major attractions sell counterfeit or expired tickets at a slight discount. The forgeries are often convincing and only discovered at the turnstile, by which time the seller has disappeared.
How it works
Rickshaw drivers near the hutong areas offer free neighbourhood tours that always end at a calligraphy or traditional art shop with aggressive sales pressure. The driver earns commission on purchases, so the entire tour is designed as a delivery mechanism to the shop.
See all scams in Beijing
12 total warnings across all categories