Common Scams & How to Avoid Them in Chang’an, Hunan, China

All Topics about Chang’an All Cities in China

1. Chang'an Taxi Scams

Avoid overpriced taxi rides by agreeing on the fare before starting your journey. Be aware of taxis that refuse to use the meter.

Meter Refusal: Some drivers may refuse to use the meter, increasing the chances of being overcharged.
Fare Agreement: Agreement on the fare before starting your journey is essential to avoid disputes.
Unmetered Rides: Be cautious when traveling in unmetered taxis, as they pose a higher risk of overcharging.

Avoid buying souvenirs from street vendors without verifying their authenticity. Stick to authorized shops for genuine items.

Street Vendors: Counterfeit goods are commonly found in street vendor stores.
Authorized Shops: Official shops sell genuine and authentic souvenirs.
Verification: Verify the authenticity of items before making a purchase, especially when buying from street vendors.

Purchase tickets for attractions only from authorized ticket booths. Be wary of ticket sellers outside official entrances.

Official Entrance: Tickets bought outside the official entrance may be fake or overpriced.
Authorized Booths: Always purchase tickets from authorized booths for authenticity and price assurance.
Ticket Sellers Outside: Be cautious of ticket sellers outside the official entrances, as they may try to sell counterfeit or overpriced tickets.

Avoid restaurants that do not display prices clearly. Be aware of menu items with no price listed.

Lack of Clear Prices: Restaurants without clear pricing may attempt to overcharge unsuspecting customers.
Menu Items with No Price: Be cautious of menu items with no listed price, as they might be expensive or hidden charges.
Ask for Prices: Always ask for prices before ordering to avoid any surprises when the bill arrives.

Only hire licensed guides through reputable tour agencies. Be wary of individuals offering guide services on the street.

Licensed Guides: Always choose licensed guides to ensure you receive professional and informative services.
Reputable Tour Agencies: Book your guide through reputable tour agencies for peace of mind and high-quality service.
Street Offers: Be cautious when offered guide services by individuals on the street, as they may not be licensed or professional guides.

Exchange currency only at authorized exchange centers or banks. Be wary of street exchange vendors offering unfavorable rates.

Street Vendors: Street exchange vendors may offer unfavorable rates, resulting in lost currency.
Authorized Exchange Centers: Exchange centers and banks provide fair exchange rates and secure transactions.
Unfavorable Rates: Street vendors may offer exchange rates that are less favorable than those at authorized exchange centers or banks.

Purchase sim cards only from authorized retailers. Be wary of street vendors offering sim cards at low prices.

Street Vendors: Street vendors may sell unregistered or faulty sim cards that do not function properly.
Authorized Retailers: Purchasing from authorized retailers ensures you receive a functional and registered sim card.
Low Prices: Sim cards sold at extremely low prices may be unregistered or faulty, making it essential to purchase from authorized retailers.

Book accommodation through reputable online booking platforms or hotels directly. Be wary of unregistered lodgings that offer extremely low prices.

Online Booking Platforms: Reputable online booking platforms verify the accommodation before listing, ensuring quality and safety.
Hotels Directly: Booking hotels directly ensures you are receiving authentic services from registered accommodations.
Extremely Low Prices: Accommodations offering extremely low prices may be unregistered, posing safety and quality concerns.

Purchase transportation cards only from authorized vendors. Be wary of counterfeit or expired cards sold on the street.

Street Vendors: Street vendors may sell counterfeit or expired transportation cards, resulting in travel inconveniences.
Authorized Vendors: Purchasing from authorized vendors guarantees you a valid and operational transportation card.
Counterfeit or Expired Cards: Be cautious when purchasing transportation cards on the street, as they may be counterfeit or expired.

Avoid bars that do not display prices clearly. Be aware of menu items with no price listed and watch for hidden charges.

Lack of Clear Prices: Bars without clear pricing may attempt to overcharge unsuspecting customers.
Menu Items with No Price: Be cautious of menu items with no listed price, as they might be expensive or hidden charges.
Hidden Charges: Be aware of hidden charges such as service fees, cover charges, and minimum spend requirements that may not be clearly displayed.

Read multiple reviews of accommodations to get a well-rounded idea of their quality. Be cautious of overly positive or suspicious reviews.

Multiple Reviews: Reading numerous reviews helps discern the general consensus about an accommodation's quality.
Overly Positive Reviews: Be wary of overly positive or suspicious reviews, as they may be fake or biased.
Suspicious Reviews: Reviews that are too specific, have identical phrasing, or lack detail may indicate fakery or bias.

Purchase transportation tickets only from authorized vendors. Be wary of counterfeit or expired tickets sold on the street.

Street Vendors: Street vendors may sell counterfeit or expired transportation tickets, resulting in travel inconveniences.
Authorized Vendors: Purchasing from authorized vendors guarantees you a valid and operational transportation ticket.
Counterfeit or Expired Tickets: Be cautious when purchasing transportation tickets on the street, as they may be counterfeit or expired.

Book tours only through reputable tour agencies. Be wary of individuals offering tours at unrealistic prices or with excessive promises.

Individual Offers: Be cautious when offered tours by individuals, as they may not be legitimate or offer realistic prices.
Reputable Tour Agencies: Booking through reputable tour agencies ensures you receive high-quality and reliable services.
Unrealistic Prices or Promises: Tours offered at extremely low prices or with excessive promises may be fraudulent.

Buy local products only from authorized shops or markets. Be wary of street vendors selling goods at unusually low prices.

Street Vendors: Street vendors may sell counterfeit or low-quality local products.
Authorized Shops or Markets: Buying from authorized shops or markets ensures you get authentic and high-quality local products.
Unusually Low Prices: Be cautious when encountering unusually low prices, as the product's quality may suffer.

Use ATMs located at banks or reputable establishments. Be wary of poorly maintained or unusual-looking ATMs.

Poorly Maintained ATMs: ATMs that appear neglected or damaged may pose a higher risk of fraud.
Unusual-Looking ATMs: Avoid using ATMs that look unusual, as they may be tampered with or unauthorized.
Banks or Reputable Establishments: Using ATMs located at banks or reputable establishments reduces the risk of fraudulent transactions.