East Asia·China·Updated May 3, 2026

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.

Risk Index

6.2

out of 10

Scams

13

documented

High Severity

0

0% of total

6.2

Risk Index

13

Scams

0

High Risk

Hangzhou has 13 documented tourist scams across 7 categories in our database. Scam activity is rated moderate. The most commonly reported risks are Fake Longjing Tea Scam, Fake Longjing Tea Plantation Guide Overcharge, Airport Taxi Overcharging.

Editorially reviewed — sources cross-referenced before publishing. How we verify →

Traveler Context

What Travellers Should Know About Scams in Hangzhou

Hangzhou carries 13 documented tourist scams in our database — none classified high severity, but the volume of medium-severity reports (11 of 13) reflects an active tourist-fraud environment that travellers should know in advance. Street-level scams accounts for the largest share (4 reports), led by 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. Travellers familiar with Tokyo or Seoul will recognise the broad shape of the risk environment in East Asia, though the specific local variations in Hangzhou are what catch first-time visitors out.

Specific documented risk areas include 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; Longjing Road tea farms between Shifeng Mountain and Meijiawu Village, informal farm entrances along Longjing Road, and the pathway between the China National Tea Museum and Meijiawu tea village; Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport arrival halls and the pickup area outside the international terminal. A separate but related pattern is Airport Taxi Overcharging: Taxi drivers and unlicensed drivers at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport regularly overcharge tourists, particularly those arriving on international flights. The single most effective protection across these patterns: 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.

How It Plays OutMedium Risk

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.

This scam type is also documented in Tokyo and Seoul.

Key Risk Areas

Where These Scams Are Most Active

Specific areas and landmarks with the highest concentration of documented incidents in Hangzhou.

Fake Longjing Tea Scam

Street Scams

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

Fake Longjing Tea Plantation Guide Overcharge

Street Scams

Longjing Road tea farms between Shifeng Mountain and Meijiawu Village, informal farm entrances along Longjing Road, and the pathway between the China National Tea Museum and Meijiawu tea village

Airport Taxi Overcharging

Taxi & Transport

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport arrival halls and the pickup area outside the international terminal

West Lake Restaurant Overcharging

Restaurant Scams

Restaurants along Nanshan Road, Hubin Road, and the eastern shore promenade of West Lake in Shangcheng district

Overpriced Tea House Ceremony Pressure Sales

Restaurant Scams

Tea houses near Lingyin Temple, along Longjing Road, and in the tea village area of Meijiawu

Wuzhen Water Town Ticket Scalping

Tour & Activities

Wuzhen Water Town main entrance ticket plaza, the road leading from the Wuzhen bus drop-off point to the scenic area gate, and parking area touts near the East Zone entrance

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

4 documented street scams target tourists near major attractions. Unsolicited approaches, "free" gifts, and distraction techniques are the main patterns.

Safety Checklist

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.
  • Agree on all prices in writing before beginning any tea tasting or guided walk. Legitimate Longjing tea farms near Meijiawu post standard prices per gram for their varieties. If a guide approaches you without a price board, politely decline and visit only registered tea farms with visible menus.
  • 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.
  • 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.

FAQ

Hangzhou Safety — Frequently Asked Questions

What scams target tourists in Hangzhou?
The most frequently reported tourist scams in Hangzhou are Fake Longjing Tea Scam, Fake Longjing Tea Plantation Guide Overcharge, Airport Taxi Overcharging. Most scams operate near transit hubs, tourist attractions, and busy markets. Reviewing each type before you arrive significantly reduces your risk of being targeted. Similar patterns are also documented in Tokyo and Seoul.
Are taxis safe in Hangzhou?
Taxis in Hangzhou carry documented risk for tourists — 2 transport-related scams are on record. 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. Where available, verified ride-hailing apps (Uber, Grab, or local equivalents) are generally safer than street taxis.
Is Hangzhou safe at night for tourists?
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. After dark, extra caution is advised near 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. Use app-based transport at night and avoid unsolicited approaches from strangers.
Which areas of Hangzhou should tourists be most careful in?
Documented scam activity in Hangzhou is concentrated in high-traffic tourist zones. Based on reported incidents: 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 (Fake Longjing Tea Scam); Longjing Road tea farms between Shifeng Mountain and Meijiawu Village, informal farm entrances along Longjing Road, and the pathway between the China National Tea Museum and Meijiawu tea village (Fake Longjing Tea Plantation Guide Overcharge); Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport arrival halls and the pickup area outside the international terminal (Airport Taxi Overcharging). These areas are safe to visit — knowing the common setups in advance makes them far easier to recognize and avoid.
How can I avoid being scammed in Hangzhou?
The best protection against scams in Hangzhou is preparation — knowing the specific tactics used here before you arrive. Key precautions: 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. Always confirm prices before agreeing to any service, use official or app-based transport, and slow down if anyone creates urgency or distraction — that is almost always the setup.

Hangzhou · China · East Asia

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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 →