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Hangzhou Scams to Avoid in 2026 (China)
Hangzhou is one of China's most scenic cities, home to West Lake (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the Longjing tea-producing hills, and Alibaba's global headquarters. The city draws domestic and international tourists to its lakes, temples, and tea villages. Tea scams involving fake Longjing (Dragon Well) tea sold as premium authentic product are the most common tourist fraud, alongside taxi overcharging and restaurant overpricing near West Lake.
Street Scams scams are the most documented risk in Hangzhou — 3 of 8 reported incidents fall in this category. See all 3 →
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Last updated: April 4, 2026
Fake Longjing Tea Scam
Longjing (Dragon Well) tea is Hangzhou's most famous product, and fake or low-grade tea sold as premium authentic Longjing is the city's most prevalent tourist scam. Sellers in shops near West Lake, at tea villages, and along Longjing Road present cheap machine-rolled tea or tea from other provinces as hand-picked, first-flush authentic Longjing, charging prices 10–50 times the actual value. Some sellers show genuine samples but pack a different, inferior product.
📍Tea shops along Longjing Road in the Longjing Village area, souvenir shops on Nanshan Road near West Lake, and street vendors along the Su Causeway
How to avoid: Purchase Longjing tea only from government-designated stores with official certification, or from the Longjing village cooperative shops with origin labels. Genuine first-grade Longjing is expensive — if the price seems like a bargain, the tea is not authentic. Watch your purchase being packed from the same batch you sampled.
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Hangzhou · China · East Asia
Open map →📍Where These Scams Are Most Active in Hangzhou
Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents.
Fake Longjing Tea Scam
Tea shops along Longjing Road in the Longjing Village area, souvenir shops on Nanshan Road near West Lake, and street vendors along the Su Causeway
Overpriced Tea House Ceremony Pressure Sales
Tea houses near Lingyin Temple, along Longjing Road, and in the tea village area of Meijiawu
Airport Taxi Overcharging
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport arrival halls and the pickup area outside the international terminal
West Lake Restaurant Overcharging
Restaurants along Nanshan Road, Hubin Road, and the eastern shore promenade of West Lake in Shangcheng district
Unofficial West Lake Boat Tour Operators
Along the eastern and southern shores of West Lake, particularly near Broken Bridge (Duanqiao) and Yuehu Lake area
Counterfeit Hangzhou Silk Products
Souvenir shops along Nanshan Road and Hubin Road near West Lake, tourist-facing silk shops near Hefang Street
These areas are safe to visit — knowing the setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
Street-level scams are most common in Hangzhou
3 documented street scams target tourists near major attractions. Unsolicited approaches, "free" gifts, and distraction techniques are the main patterns — confidence and pace help.
✅Quick Safety Tips for Hangzhou
Key precautions based on the most frequently reported scams here.
- ✓Purchase Longjing tea only from government-designated stores with official certification, or from the Longjing village cooperative shops with origin labels. Genuine first-grade Longjing is expensive — if the price seems like a bargain, the tea is not authentic. Watch your purchase being packed from the same batch you sampled.
- ✓Set a firm budget before entering any tea ceremony experience and state it clearly at the start. Legitimate tea houses will have fixed, published ceremony prices. If hosts begin pressure-selling after the demonstration, it is acceptable to decline all purchases. Book through your hotel for vetted experiences.
- ✓Use only metered taxis from the official rank outside arrivals, or book via DiDi from the designated pickup area. The metered fare to Wulin Square area should be approximately 100–130 RMB. Insist on the meter before entering the vehicle; if refused, take the next taxi.
- ✓Review the menu carefully and ask about pricing units before ordering — especially for fish, seafood, and specialty dishes sold by weight. Check the bill item by item before paying. Restaurants one or two blocks back from the lake typically charge fair prices for the same Hangzhou cuisine.
- ✓Book West Lake boat tours only through the official ticket booths clearly marked along the lakeside, or through your hotel. Official boats have standardized pricing and set routes. Decline all approaches from individuals at the water's edge offering private boat tours.
How it works
Longjing (Dragon Well) tea is Hangzhou's most famous product, and fake or low-grade tea sold as premium authentic Longjing is the city's most prevalent tourist scam. Sellers in shops near West Lake, at tea villages, and along Longjing Road present cheap machine-rolled tea or tea from other provinces as hand-picked, first-flush authentic Longjing, charging prices 10–50 times the actual value. Some sellers show genuine samples but pack a different, inferior product.
How it works
Tea houses near Lingyin Temple and around West Lake offer traditional tea ceremonies that begin with a reasonable cover charge but escalate into aggressive upselling of expensive tea products. Hosts present multiple premium varieties and apply social pressure to purchase, with final bills reaching hundreds of dollars for tea purchases visitors feel obligated to make after the ceremony.
How it works
Taxi drivers and unlicensed drivers at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport regularly overcharge tourists, particularly those arriving on international flights. Common tactics include claiming the meter is broken and offering a fixed fare, taking unnecessarily long routes, or stopping short of the destination and demanding extra payment. The city center is approximately 30–35 km from the airport.
How it works
Restaurants bordering West Lake, particularly along Nanshan Road and Hubin Road, apply tourist pricing substantially above menu rates or present bills with items not ordered. Some menus list prices per 50g for expensive dishes without making this clear, resulting in bills many times what visitors expected. The lake-view premium is used to justify inflated charges.
How it works
West Lake boat tours are popular and officially managed, but unofficial operators approach tourists along the lakeside and offer private boat rides at prices comparable to or slightly above official rates, delivering a shorter or lower-quality experience. Some unofficial boats lack life jackets or safety equipment and are not licensed for passenger transport.
How it works
Hangzhou has a historic reputation for silk production, and many tourist-facing shops sell synthetic or blended fabrics labeled as pure Hangzhou silk at genuine silk prices. Machine-printed patterns are presented as hand-woven, and polyester scarves are sold alongside genuine silk without clear distinction. The price gap between genuine and synthetic silk is substantial.
How it works
Young people claiming to be students at the China Academy of Art (located in Hangzhou) approach tourists near Lingyin Temple and West Lake, showing artwork portfolios and inviting visitors to a private gallery or exhibition nearby. The gallery sells mass-produced prints at vastly inflated prices, with the student earning a commission. Social pressure is applied throughout the visit.
How it works
Souvenir stalls near West Lake and at Hefang Street give incorrect change, particularly when transactions involve larger denomination notes. The confusion of tourist environments and the social awkwardness of counting change publicly are exploited. Overcharges of 10–50 RMB per transaction are common.
Hangzhou Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
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Filter scams in Hangzhou by category, or read our worldwide guides for each scam type — taxi scams, street scams, restaurant scams, and more.
If you're visiting more than one destination
Similar scam patterns are active across the East Asia region. Before visiting Shanghai, Macao, and Taipei, review each city's guide — tactics vary and local setups differ even for the same scam type.
Editorial note: Scam warnings for Hangzhou are compiled from government travel advisories (US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australian DFAT), verified news sources, travel community reports, and traveler-submitted incidents. All entries are reviewed for accuracy and local specificity before publication. Read our full methodology →