Street Scams in Guangzhou, China
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Guangzhou — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Kyoto, Beijing, and Shanghai.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
3
Street Scams Scams
9
Total in Guangzhou
How it works
The area around Zhanxi Road near Guangzhou Railway Station is infamous for counterfeit goods — fake branded clothing, electronics, watches, and accessories sold openly. Sellers may claim goods are genuine exports or factory overruns. Quality is poor, items frequently malfunction, and purchasing counterfeit goods is illegal in most home countries.
How it works
Sellers in Guangzhou's informal markets and some canal-district shops present counterfeit watches, handbags, and electronics as genuine branded products or as "factory seconds" with minor defects. The city's manufacturing base gives sellers a credible story about direct factory access. Items are convincingly packaged but are fakes that carry import risk when taken home.
How it works
Young people claiming to be art students at a Guangzhou art academy approach tourists near Shamian Island or the Canton Fair Exhibition Center, showing a portfolio and inviting visitors to an art show or gallery nearby. The gallery sells low-quality prints at vastly inflated prices, and the student receives a commission. Significant social pressure is applied during the sales pitch.
See all scams in Guangzhou
9 total warnings across all categories