Street Scams in Hangzhou, China
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Hangzhou — 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
8
Total in Hangzhou
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
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.
See all scams in Hangzhou
8 total warnings across all categories