🚩 Local Scams · Zhenjiang
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
1 Scam Spotlight Table
"Blessing Talisman" Donation
Jinshan Temple gates, Beigu Hill pavilions
How it works: Robed "monk" offers a paper charm then demands a "temple donation" (¥100–¥300).
🛡️ Avoid: Real temples don't solicit on paths; donate only at official boxes or ticketed halls.
Jiaoshan "Private Boat"
Jiaoshan Ferry Pier & riverfront
How it works: Tout sells cash-only ride to Jiaoshan island; boat is unlicensed or drops you at a side dock with another fee.
🛡️ Avoid: Buy the timed shuttle at the official kiosk; printed ticket + lifejackets are mandatory.
"20-Year Cellar" Vinegar
Xijin Ferry Ancient Street
How it works: Shops refill bottles and claim decades of aging; free tasting turns into a ¥200 "premium" bottle.
🛡️ Avoid: Choose reputable brands only; look for anti-counterfeit QR & ingredients with glutinous rice / 糯米 (not "blend"). Ask full price (全价).
Photo-Op Tip Trap
Xijin Ferry stone arch
How it works: Costumed performers say "free photo," then demand ¥50–¥100 "support the art" after the shot.
🛡️ Avoid: If you pose, agree on a tip upfront or politely decline.
Taxi "Runyang Bridge" Detour
Zhenjiang South HSR
How it works: Driver claims city roads closed and loops over Runyang Yangtze Bridge, doubling fare.
🛡️ Avoid: Use the official taxi queue or DiDi; insist on meter + e-receipt (发票), refuse flat fares.
"Maoshan Wild Tea" Mark-up
Ancient Street tea houses
How it works: Tea stalls praise "Jurong/ Maoshan wild spring tea," pour tiny samples, then sell low-grade leaves at luxury price.
🛡️ Avoid: Ask harvest month & grade, buy factory-sealed tins, compare per-100 g price.
"All-in Guide" Bundle
Temple gates, hotel lobbies
How it works: Unlicensed guide offers Three Hills (Jinshan–Jiaoshan–Beigu) package cheap; drags you to shops and adds "boat/insurance" fees.
🛡️ Avoid: Hire only licensed guides (red card + QR) or book via official mini-programs.
QR-Code Phishing
Qinhuang Rd. snack lanes
How it works: Fake "¥1 snack" sticker covers cashier QR; opens a spoof WeChat Pay page.
🛡️ Avoid: Scan codes on printed receipts or counters; verify URL before paying.
"Parking Official" Vests
Jinshan & Beigu approaches
How it works: Men wave you into a side lot claiming "scenic mandatory parking," then charge exit fees.
🛡️ Avoid: Follow brown tourist parking signs; pay at the barrier booth only, ask for printed receipt.
2 Why It Matters
Zhenjiang's sights cluster around temples + river ferries + specialty vinegar—perfect for small add-ons (fake boats, "donations," tasting upsells). Most traps hinge on cash-only pitches or no-receipt claims; once you keep everything on the meter, in the app, or with an official ticket, they collapse.
3 Pro Tips
1
Official channels — Temple and ferry tickets: use on-site kiosks or verified WeChat mini-programs; avoid street sellers.
2
Price language — Ask "全价吗？" (Is that the all-in price?) before you sit, sip, or pose for photos.
3
Taxi basics — Board from station queues, watch the meter, and request an e-receipt. Any "bridge shortcut" story inside city trips = decline.
4
Vinegar shopping — Prefer factory stores; scan the bottle's anti-fake QR. Real Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar lists glutinous rice and shows a traceability code.
5
Keep small bills — ¥10–¥20 notes help if a stall claims "QR offline."
6
Hotlines — Police 110 • Tourist service 12301. Save both before you head out.
✨ Stay Smart, Stay Safe
Travel smart and keep Zhenjiang about three hills, slow ferries and fragrant vinegar—No Tourist Traps. No BS.