🚩 Local Scams · Haikou
Last verified 23 Aug 2025
1 Scam Spotlight Table
Seafood "per-catty" maths
Xinbu Island seafood rows · Qilou (Arcade) Old Street side lanes
How it works: Quote looks cheap, but they weigh after cooking or use doctored scales; adds "processing fee" per dish.
🛡️ Avoid: Weigh before cooking; photo the scale; ask "全价吗？" (all-in price).
Duty-free "quota rental"
cdf Haikou International Duty Free City
How it works: Strangers offer cash to use your cdf duty-free allowance; you buy → hand over → risk blacklist & fines.
🛡️ Avoid: Never "help" daigou. Purchases are personal-use only; keep receipt + ID match.
Scooter / car-rent deposit trap
Meilan Airport area
How it works: High deposit; on return, claim "existing scratches" to keep ¥800–¥2,000.
🛡️ Avoid: Video all sides at pickup/return; mark dings on contract; choose shops with printed invoices.
Unlicensed water-sports
Holiday Beach · Xixiu Beach
How it works: Jet-ski/banana-boat touts sell cheap rides, then demand "fuel/insurance" fees or stage damage claims.
🛡️ Avoid: Use resort/park counters only; check posted insurance; avoid cash-only beach touts.
Coconut & fruit swap
Qilou snack streets
How it works: Price given for "king coconut" or mangos; after payment, swap to cheaper stock or water down juice.
🛡️ Avoid: Point & confirm item after it's bagged; keep small notes; refuse "machine broken—cash only" upsells.
Airport/rail taxi long-haul
Meilan Airport
How it works: "Fixed fare" to downtown or scenic detours via West Ring Road.
🛡️ Avoid: Take the official taxi queue or DiDi; meter must start at city base fare; ask e-receipt.
Fake "Volcano Park" packages
Online groups · hotel lobbies
How it works: WeChat agents sell bus+ticket bundles to Haikou Volcanic Cluster Global Geopark with add-on shopping stops.
🛡️ Avoid: Buy in the park's mini-program or at the gate; avoid street QR links.
Pearl/volcanic-stone "authentics"
Qilou antique rows
How it works: "Local pearl" or "lava gem" at huge discounts; certificates are printed in-house.
🛡️ Avoid: Skip uncertified jewelry; reputable stores allow third-party testing or easy returns.
QR-code phishing
Share-bike docks · coffee shops
How it works: Stickers over bike or café codes lead to fake Pay pages.
🛡️ Avoid: Scan only branded codes on handlebars/cashiers; verify URL domain.
2 Why It Matters
Seafood-first and duty-free central – Haikou is seafood-first and duty-free central—two ecosystems where price games and "help me buy" requests thrive.
Beach risks – Beaches add unlicensed water-sports risks that end in surprise "fuel/repair" bills.
3 Pro Tips
1
Order in grams – say "先称一下，一斤以内" to cap quantity before cooking.
2
Receipts or no deal – duty-free, rentals, and tours should issue fapiao or e-receipt tied to your ID.
3
Beach safety – if there's no life-guard tower or printed insurance board, skip the ride.
4
Hotlines – Police 110 · Tourist 12301 · Consumer 12315 · Maritime rescue 12395.
5
Cash buffer – carry ¥100–¥200 in small notes; never hand over passport as "deposit".
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Keep Haikou about reefs, arcades and coconuts—not invoices—No Tourist Traps. No BS.