🚩 Local Scams · Xiamen
Last verified 26 Jul 2025
1 Scam Spotlight Table
"Fast-Track Ferry" Ticket
Dongdu & Lundu Ferry Terminals
How it works: Tout sells screenshot QR or paper stub for "immediate boarding"; fails at Gulangyu gate—must re-buy.
🛡️ Avoid: Purchase only in "厦门轮渡有限公司" mini-program (opens 07 : 00, 15 d ahead).
Seafood "Weight Switch"
Zengcuo'an snack street · Huangcuo beach stalls
How it works: Restaurant weighs live crab, swaps for smaller one after cooking, adds "processing fee".
🛡️ Avoid: Insist on seeing weight after cooking; ask "全价吗?" before order.
Oolong-Tea "Gift"
Zhongshan Rd. & Huangdao Rd. tea lanes
How it works: Friendly shopkeeper pours tiny sample, then claims you bought 500 g premium Dahongpao for ¥880.
🛡️ Avoid: Stick to posted-price shops (UnionPay accepted); decline "special friend price".
E-Tricycle "Island Tour"
Huandao Rd. seafront & Nanputuo exit
How it works: Driver quotes ¥30 circuit, then demands ¥200 halfway for "entrance roads & scenic stops".
🛡️ Avoid: Ignore curb touts; use DiDi Blue e-bike or metered taxi.
Gulangyu "Boutique B&B" Swap
Gulangyu Longtou Rd. alleys
How it works: Street agent shows photo of sea-view room, walks you to back-alley hostel, keeps deposit.
🛡️ Avoid: Book only on major apps; verify property name & address before payment.
"Bird-Feed for Photos"
Shapowei Art Zone pier
How it works: Vendor hands pigeon feed for "free", then demands ¥50/packet after you shoot pics.
🛡️ Avoid: Politely refuse unsolicited feed; feeding birds is banned in core parks.
QR-Code Phishing
Main-island BRT shelters
How it works: Sticker on bus-stop timetable offers ¥0.5 ride; opens fake WeChat Pay page.
🛡️ Avoid: Scan only QR codes printed on bus LCDs; check URL prefix.
"Pearl Factory" Detour
Group tours sold at cruise dock
How it works: Day-tour bus stops 1 h at seaside "factory outlet"; guide pockets kickback; pearls are plastic.
🛡️ Avoid: Skip cheap "all-inclusive" tours; hire DiDi or legit agency with no shopping stops.
2 Why It Matters
Xiamen's ferry quotas and seafood reputation attract ticket resellers and bait-and-switch menus. QR-only payments make phishing stickers easy to miss. A little vigilance keeps your yuan for peanut-brittle souvenirs, not "processing fees".
3 Pro Tips
1
Ferry timing – Regular seats drop 07 : 00; choose night-view return (￥35) for emptier decks.
2
Seafood math – Live weight × posted price × 1.05 (legal 5 % cook loss); any extra is fluff.
3
Use metered taxis – Flag-drop ￥10; e-tricycles are unregulated.
4
Say bú yào, xièxiè (不要，谢谢) to free samples you're not ready to pay for.
5
Emergency lines – Police 110 • Xiamen tourist hotline 12301—save them before island-hopping.
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Stay sharp and keep Xiamen about piano-island sunsets, oolong aromas and flame-red seafood feasts—No Tourist Traps. No BS.