🚩 Local Scams · Hangzhou
Last verified 26 Jul 2025
1 Scam Spotlight Table
"West-Lake Boat Upgrade"
Lakeside Hubin Rd. piers 3 & 5
How it works: Hawker sells "private lake cruise" for ¥300; puts you in same ¥55 public boat, pockets difference.
🛡️ Avoid: Buy at West-Lake ticket window or scan official QR on pier fence.
"Tea-Farm Tour with Free Tasting"
Longjing bus stop · Leifeng Pagoda exit
How it works: Minivan tout drives to Meijiawu village, then pressures you to buy "Emperor Longjing" at ¥4 000 / 500 g (low-grade leaves).
🛡️ Avoid: Take bus Y4 to Hangzhou Tea Museum; buy pre-priced tins at co-op.
"Broken-Meter Taxi"
Hangzhou East Railway Stn & HZ Xiaoshan Airport
How it works: Driver covers meter, quotes "Old-Town flat ¥150" (real fare ≈ ¥40).
🛡️ Avoid: Use official queue; plate starts "浙A-T"; insist on e-receipt.
"Silk-Shop 'VIP Discount'"
Hefang St. side lanes
How it works: Guide leads group to "National Silk Museum Store", claims 70 % off; bolts closed door until purchases made.
🛡️ Avoid: Shop inside the actual China Silk Museum (open ticket-free, posted prices).
"Alipay QR Phishing"
Nanshan Rd. cafés · Metro Line 1 elevators
How it works: Sticker on coffee table offers "¥1 West-Lake Latte"; opens fake Alipay page, drains wallet.
🛡️ Avoid: Scan codes printed on cashier stand only; verify .alipay.com URL.
"E-Bike 'Helmet Fine'"
Qiandao Lake Greenway · West-Lake loop
How it works: Uniform-looking person stops shared e-bike riders, demands on-the-spot ¥200 for "no helmet".
🛡️ Avoid: Real police issue digital receipt & QR code linked to gov.cn domain—refuse cash.
"Free Calligraphy Name"
Qinghefang pedestrian street
How it works: Street artist writes your name, then insists ¥150 "ink fee".
🛡️ Avoid: Ask price before letting brush touch paper; usual fee is ¥20–30.
"Hotel 'Tour Deposit'"
Cheap inns around Wushan Square
How it works: Budget hostel "concierge" asks ¥300 cash deposit for West-Lake Impression show tickets; tickets never delivered.
🛡️ Avoid: Buy show QR through official West Lake Impression mini-program; no deposit required.
2 Why It Matters
Free attractions mix – Hangzhou's mix of free public sights (West Lake) and high-value local products (Longjing tea, silk) makes "upgrade" and "authentic souvenir" pitches common.
QR code dependency – Many scams hinge on unofficial middle-men or QR codes—easy to avoid once you know the patterns.
Cultural politeness – Scammers rely on tourists' politeness and rush to tick off sights—knowing the patterns means you keep your yuan for authentic tea, not tourist traps.
3 Pro Tips
1
Official mini-programs only – West-Lake boats, Impression show, and Longjing farm buses all have blue-check accounts in WeChat; street QR = red flag.
2
Know the meter – Legit taxis start at ¥11 + ¥2.5/km; anything higher or "flat fare" to West-Lake is bogus.
3
Ask quán-jià ma? (全价吗) – Locks tea-farm meals or boat rides into an all-in price before you sit.
4
Carry small bills – ¥10–20 notes limit risk if QR fails or vendor claims "POS offline".
5
Hotlines – Police 110 • Zhejiang tourist helpline 12345 – store both numbers before hitting Hefang Street.
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Stay sharp and keep Hangzhou about West Lake, tea gardens, and silk culture—No Tourist Traps. No BS.