🚩 Local Scams · Kaifeng
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
1 Scam Spotlight Table
"Fast-Track Scroll Ticket"
Parking lots outside East Gate & South Gate
How it works: Tout sells "skip-the-line" QR for Qing-ming Riverside Park—screenshot fails at gate.
🛡️ Avoid: Buy only in the 清明上河园预约 mini-program (day / night combo ¥150).
Night-Show "VIP Cushion" Fee
Lake grandstand queue 18:30-19:00
How it works: Staffer in vest offers seat pad + "front-row upgrade" for ¥80—same view is free standing row.
🛡️ Avoid: Stand at B-zone rail; pads not mandatory.
Chrysanthemum-Tea Up-sell
Festival stalls on Gulou West St.
How it works: Vendor pours tiny free sample, then insists you bought a "deluxe pot" (¥120).
🛡️ Avoid: Check posted menu; standard chrysanthemum pot < ¥40.
Shaolongbao "Weight" Switch
Gulou Night-Market lanes
How it works: Stall quotes ¥10/籠, swaps for mini size when packing, no refund.
🛡️ Avoid: Watch steaming; pay after you see basket size.
Taxi "Floodwall Detour"
Kaifeng South HSR Station
How it works: Driver claims inner dike road closed, loops via expressway + adds ¥20 "toll".
🛡️ Avoid: Use DiDi; Kaifeng has no city-toll roads.
Costume-Rental Deposit Trap
Qing-ming Park North Ward
How it works: Song robe rental asks ¥600 deposit, claims robe stained on return—keeps half.
🛡️ Avoid: Photograph robe at pickup & return; choose shops with printed receipt.
Lantern-Boat Price Hike
Baogong Lake pier
How it works: Boatman quotes ¥60 pp, halfway demands extra ¥40 "night-lantern fuel".
🛡️ Avoid: Pay at kiosk first; official night cruise is ¥60 round-trip.
QR-Code Phishing
Gulou canal boardwalk
How it works: Sticker on canal railing promises "¥1 e-bike" discount; opens fake WeChat Pay page.
🛡️ Avoid: Scan only codes on e-bike handlebars; verify URL prefix.
2 Why It Matters
Kaifeng's ticket system is almost entirely QR-based and night-market economics run on small cash—perfect conditions for forged codes and last-minute add-ons. Knowing the typical ploys saves both yuan and patience, especially during festival crowds.
3 Pro Tips
1
Stick to official mini-programs for Qing-ming Park, night-show seats and festival passes—street QR = red flag.
2
Meter check: legal city taxis start at ¥6 and should show "空车" ("vacant") lamp before you board.
3
Ask for quán-jià (全价)—locks food vendors into an all-inclusive price.
4
Carry small bills—¥10–¥20 notes limit losses if QR fails or price inflates.
5
Emergency lines: Police 110 • Henan tourist hotline 12301—store them in your phone.
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Keep alert and enjoy Kaifeng's scroll-come-alive shows, brick pagodas and all-night snacks—No Tourist Traps. No BS.