Here's my little story to tell....
Its my first time to Beijing and China in fact, Ive traveled to most places around Asia including Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong etc... so I usually know the deal with scams etc.. but Beijing caught me off my guard..
Walking down the street near Tienanmen Square
and a pretty girl come flying over the street to speak to me, she was having tea outside a tea shop.. She explained she came from another city in China and was travelling alone around Beijing and wanted some company to do some sightseeing and practice her english in the process..
<snip>
Did a bit more sight seeing then a couple came over to me.. started the old routine about practicing English, then would i like a beer.. I knew it was a scam but just to humor myself I went along with it.. took me to a selected bar in the middle of nowhere.. sat down.. I said.. water for me thanks.. their heads turned.. started speaking Chinese all confused
.. Then he said, they don't sell water, I
said I don't want to buy water, only drink for free, he said impossible, we can only drink beer or tea.. I said I better leave then, they said ok, bye without a fight, I think they knew I was onto them..
<snip>
2 days later I went back to the tea-shop, sat down, asked for the manager, i got a piece of paper, wrote down 150rmb... and demanded I want my money back now and I wasn't leaving without it
, explained how I knew about the scam.. I said feel free to call the police and remove me because I'm sure they'll be interested how foreign tourist are being cheated.. anyway, after 20mins of arguing some tourists came in and I said to them.. don't get anything here and explained the story.. they said ok, and left..
I said to the manager, this is what I'll do all day til your quids down.. it went all quiet.. then loudly said.. OK OK.. and pulls out 100rmb, I said, that'll do.. took the money and left..^
