Warning! Came for a good time sightseeing... LOL, NO. 😢
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I just went through the exact same scam today. The only difference was we actually went in with the guide. Once inside, we were somehow forced to pay another 30 RMB for tickets. After a few of us paid, they herded us into a shop to buy flowers and lanterns, insisting it was mandatory. My companion, who's usually very frugal, ended up buying five flowers and some lanterns, spending 700 RMB. The whole Lingyin Temple trip cost us nearly 1,000 RMB.
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What I did afterward was collect evidence and file a complaint with the platform, using pretty strong language and stating I'd report them to the Hangzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau and the Consumer Council. The platform manager then refunded all our in-trip expenses and even offered an additional free tour. However, I'd completely lost trust in them, so I only accepted the refund. You could try reporting to the platform first.
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Didn't that 'long-time Hangzhou resident' you know warn you about joining tour groups?...
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She's usually busy with work. I actually just had a sudden two-day break and decided to visit Hangzhou since it was nearby. I didn't do much planning or give her a heads-up. Being quite introverted, I didn't want to trouble her to go out of her way to show me around. Later on, I really enjoyed exploring by myself, just taking the bus route around the lake.
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Next time you want to 'really enjoy your trip,' you don't necessarily need a tour group. You can be your own group! Just find a private guide to take only you (and your family). —From a guide who often leads private tours for families and individuals.
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Why even bother with a tour group in Hangzhou? Just spend a few minutes on Xiaohongshu to check out some guides. They clearly list what to avoid and what's recommended.
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Tours from Meituan or Ctrip? They're absolutely terrible.
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Lingyin Temple tickets are personalized and non-refundable. You can just visit the temple and then take a bus back down the mountain. Smart travelers never join tour groups; they go wherever they please. With a smartphone, how could you possibly get lost?
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I've been to Hangzhou countless times, always on my own. There's really no need to join a tour group for any destination.
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Was this by any chance near the boat dock? The kind where they approach you right as you get out of a taxi, claiming their tour is cheap? I said I'd go in and check it out first, but he kept insisting there were no attractions inside. I almost fell for it. Luckily, I didn't go with them.
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These days, with Gaode Maps for navigation, Xiaohongshu for travel guides, and Ctrip for booking flights and hotels, there's absolutely no need to join a tour group. The only time you might need one is for a guided explanation.