Beijing 'Awakened Lion' (Xingshi) Travel? More Like 'Awakened My Inner WTF!' – Steer Clear!
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The very next day, over ten more people joined our tour. It was initially promised as a small group of 3-5 families, but suddenly there were 30-40 of us! Plus, during visits like the one to the Forbidden City, the guide only catered to those who paid extra, ignoring the rest of us. On the third day (our last), it was the typical end-of-tour shopping. We had two shopping stops, each lasting about two hours. At one jade shop, an 80-year-old lady was left standing for over an hour, and they wouldn't even give her a stool when we asked. This also squeezed our time for other attractions, so we ended up just rushing through them.
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Thank goodness I saw this! I was just about to pay.
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Don't go with this agency. I'd recommend you switch to a different one.
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This 'Xiaobei' seems to be quite infamous lately; everyone's flaming them.
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Oh, that's just fantastic. Their way of doing things is clear for everyone to see.
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Oh my god! I just got scammed. I'd just arrived at the hotel and paid, and now I'm in the middle of a dispute trying to get my money back.
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You're already at the hotel and arguing for a refund? What happened?
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Can anyone recommend a good travel agency in Beijing? I was just about to pay the deposit, but thankfully I checked Xiaohongshu first to get some information.
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I really wouldn't know. I can only speak for the one I've used; I haven't tried others, so I can't say.
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I saw the contract today – it's from this same agency. I'm actually heading home today. In a few days, I plan to post my own warning about them, but let me quickly share a few points. First, when we initially talked, they said it was a small group of 12. But when I got on the bus, there were about 30 people. Second, after arriving at the hotel and signing the contract, they then informed us that everyone needed to pay a 60 yuan insurance fee. I asked if it was mandatory. They didn't use the word 'mandatory,' but they heavily implied it was. Third, on the bus, once we were moving, the guide started by talking about attractions, then gradually shifted to saying things like 'we need to respect the majority' and 'have team spirit,' and then asked for 400 yuan per person, claiming it was 'voluntary'.
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When I said I wouldn't pay, his expression soured, and he lectured us about 'team spirit,' saying if we didn't pay, the others would do their thing, and we'd just be left aside, basically just following the bus. When I asked him what specific activities we would miss if we didn't opt-in, he just vaguely told us to 'stick with the group' and wouldn't specify, essentially playing dumb. It felt very coercive. (What really got me was that the itinerary given by the first person I contacted on WeChat was completely different. This guide basically added these unscheduled stops, causing me to waste time on things I hadn't planned for.) Fourth, the shopping stops. He took us to two: one was the place the original poster mentioned, and the second was some 'antique appraisal' place at Tianqiao Department Store.
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I had already inquired about everything. Thank goodness I found this on Xiaohongshu!
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Be sensible.
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Next time, consider checking out our agency, OCT Travel Agency (Huaqiao Cheng Travel Agency). We sign a formal contract before departure, and we clearly explain the pricing and inclusions for all our tour packages. 'One family, one small group' is what we consider a private custom tour. For our private custom tours, if extra people are added mid-trip without agreement, we offer a full refund as compensation.
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Sounds good! I'll look you up next time.
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After I paid, they said I could get a refund anytime. Now, it turns out I can't go, but when I try to contact them on WeChat, there's no response.
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So, it's all just their usual tricks.
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I also paid a 100 yuan deposit. Now I've decided not to go and have requested a refund, but their customer service hasn't responded at all. Does anyone know how to resolve this?
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It seems like you can't get it back. I also wanted to cancel before, and they refused to refund my deposit.