🚩 Local Scams · Shaoxing
Last verified 22 Jul 2025
1 Scam Spotlight Table
"Huangjiu Tasting" Trap
Lu Xun Native Place lanes · Cangqiao Straight Street
How it works: Free sips turn into a "tasting set" bill (¥168–¥388) or pressure to buy "aged" rice wine at luxury prices.
🛡️ Avoid: Taste only at posted-price shops; ask quán-jià ma? (全价吗, all-in price).
Wupeng Boat "Extended Route"
East Lake · Old canal quays
How it works: Boatman quotes canal cruise, mid-river adds fee for "long route/photo stop."
🛡️ Avoid: Pay at official kiosk; keep stamped receipt before boarding.
"Combo Ticket / Skip-the-Line" Hawkers
Lu Xun Native Place entrances
How it works: Sellers pitch "priority" or "three-site combo" for zones that are free or use real-name QR only.
🛡️ Avoid: Book via official mini-programs; street "combos" = red flag.
Blue-Dye (兰亭蓝染) Bait-and-Switch
Kuaiji Mountain craft streets
How it works: "Hand-made" cloth is factory printed; price marked per 0.1 m, not per m.
🛡️ Avoid: Confirm unit and origin; look for on-loom demo + invoice.
Taxi "Station Flat Fare"
HSR exits & hotel ranks
How it works: Driver at Shaoxingbei (North HSR) refuses meter, quotes ¥80–¥120 to Yuecheng.
🛡️ Avoid: Use DiDi; insist on meter + e-receipt if you hail.
"Lu Xun Calligraphy" Upsell
Lu Xun Memorial area stalls
How it works: "Free name writing" ends as ¥199 framed "authentic brushwork."
🛡️ Avoid: Decline freebies; pay only for pieces you order with a clear price.
Canal-Boat Photo Fee
East Lake docks
How it works: "Photographer" hops aboard, shoots 10 frames, demands ¥50–¥100 at landing.
🛡️ Avoid: No onboard services unless pre-agreed; say no before casting off.
QR Phishing Stickers
Cangqiao cafés · Yuecheng alleys
How it works: Fake payment QR over café/menu codes; drains wallet.
🛡️ Avoid: Scan only printed codes on cashier stands; verify URL domain before paying.
2 Why It Matters
Shaoxing's brand is rice wine + canals + literature – exactly where hustles anchor: tastings, boat rides and "Lu Xun" souvenirs.
Most traps exploit ambiguous pricing – unit switches, add-ons or unofficial ticketing that tourists unfamiliar with local practices may fall for.
3 Pro Tips
1
Official only – Keyan/East Lake/Lanting use verified mini-programs; kiosks print receipts with a red chop.
2
Unit check – cloth, fans, calligraphy: confirm "per item or per meter."
3
Ask for quán-jià (全价) before boarding boats or tastings—locks total price.
4
Know taxi meter – city meter starts at standard local flag-drop; anything "flat fare" at stations = walk away or DiDi.
5
Hotlines – Police 110 · National tourism 12301 · Consumer complaints 12315.
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Keep Shaoxing about canals, huangjiu and Lu Xun—not surprise bills. No Tourist Traps. No BS.