China's 'Free' Tea Ceremony: My Wallet Says 'WTF Was That?!' #ScamAlert
-
Wow, this morning I was taking the subway and passed by the entrance of Mini World (a super famous miniature landscape park in Shenzhen). Even at such an early hour, there were already crowds of people everywhere; both the subway station and the tourist attraction square were packed. By their accents, I guessed that they must be visitors from a province somewhere in China. I had no other intention, it just occurred to me that they were so numerous – young and old, men and women!
-
I once heard about how they recommended "one-day tour" packages for tourists in Shenzhen: outrageous!
* Although I understand that people come to make a living and earn money, the idea of treating everyone as an easy target is downright unscrupulous.
* For example, they would brag and say: one day you can go through Ethnic Village (a park that showcases culture of various ethnic groups of China), Mini World, Shamian Street (a special commercial street bordering Hong Kong due to historical reasons) the Dapeng New Beach (a very popular beach in Shenzhen), and even Dongtou Overseas Chinese Town (super large mountain resort with several individual theme parks)!
* Uninformed tourists will naturally think, wow, there are so many attractions! Sounds like a perfect deal!
* But we who have lived in Shenzhen for quite some time know, it is impossible to cover that much in a whole day! Unless you're a superhero! Otherwise, you'll be running from places or constantly on your way. -
Now at the entrance of each scenic spot, there are loudspeakers broadcasting reminders warning against “low-priced packages”.
- However, there are always people ready to take advantage of "small benefits". You try to gain from them, but they’re looking at your wallet for free spending opportunities.
- Think about it, these people travel all the way here with their families, did they come to do charity work? They want to squeeze more out of you, don’t you think?
- Even if you complain afterward, it's not clear whether it will help much, but you sure wouldn't have any good mood left to enjoy your trip. It might also leave you with a bad impression of this city.
-
In my past, I thought that with the current advanced network technology, looking up reviews, or consulting travel guides should help avoid being cheated.
* But once the scammer is right in front of you, he can be very persuasive and manipulate you with just a few sweet words, turning even a cautious visitor into an easy target.
* He would skillfully manipulate your emotions, making you feel “oh, what a warm reception”, “this is indeed a precious chance”, and then...
As the habitual planner of my own trips and someone connected with tourism in my career, I have encountered scams before.
Important Reminder & Tips for Avoiding Traps:
- Do thorough research before departure: Look up online guides, check the comments of previous tourists, have a plan in mind.
- Avoid falling into price trap: If a “one-day tour” sounds cheap and includes massive numbers of attractions, be cautious, for there must be a catch. Remember, one always pays the price for cheap deals.
- Select official channels: If you lack the effort to plan on your own or you are not familiar with Shenzhen, consider joining a one-day tour through a legitimate travel agency or booking on recognized websites, apps.
- Be wary of honeyed tongues: when greeted at tourist attractions entrance or at metro stations with sweet promises and compliments, exercise caution.
Having resided in Shenzhen for more than a decade, I consider myself helpful (disclaimer: I am not from a travel agency, and cannot provide group trips).
If you happen to visit Shenzhen and need advice on tour planning or route design, feel free to contact me privately.
If circumstances allow, guiding you around is not entirely off the table.
My principle is this: helping you save every penny, avoiding unnecessary detours, preventing unnecessary spending! -