Beijing Travel Information – Fake Money and Attractive Con-Women!

Beijing Travel Information – Having been in Beijing for a couple of years, I had relatively a trouble-free life here. Though, at times, I have been conned and harassed (usually in a bar/disco), Beijing is still considered a relatively safe city to me.

However, not everyone is as lucky as me. I have friends who have been cheated and swore that this is a “conmen” paradise.

I guess everyone has to take precautions especially tourists. And if you are a fan of the BBC TV Series “Hustle” (about conmen), then Beijing will be a good learning ground, as victims. You have been forewarned!

As some of may be first timer to Beijing, let me dispense some words of wisdom and I do hope you will keep them in your heart.

First and foremost, please remember these following free emergency telephone numbers. They are:

Police: 110

Fire alarm: 119

Medical care: 120

I am giving these numbers this early as most people do not remember them. Do not panic when bad things happen. Call the relevant authorities for protection as you are a FOREIGNER.

Now what should you worry about in Beijing and probably the whole of China. Well, these are just a few of the more common cons here.

Beijing Travel Information for Safety Tip 1

Counterfeit Money – I often wonder why the Chinese have this habit of inspecting their notes. My Beijing friend told me that there are loads of fake 100's and 50's notes and most tourists are conned into accepting them.

However, there are a few tips that you can follow to detect such fake notes.

1. Check the paper. If it’s torn, thin and/or slippery, play safe and ask for another note. It’s a common practice here so do not feel bad about doing so.

2. Check the watermark, it should blur out softly. Whenever there are hard visible corners in the watermark, do not take the notes.

3. Check the green "100" emboss on the lower left corner. If you cannot see or feel the slightly-embossed “100” figure, reject the bill politely.

Beijing Travel Information for Safety Tip 2

Another thing to be wary in Beijing and China – Strangers especially Attractive Females!

How would I know? I was a prey of one attractive con-woman/tout when I first arrived in Beijing.

During my early impressionable days in Beijing, I was lonely and was happy to have a chat with anyone. On one fateful evening, a young lady approached me coyly and asked me whether I would like to sample somem Chinese tea for the fun of it as there’s a promotion going on in a tea shop.

Well, I went as I was quite happy to have an attractive young cutie asking me on a tea appreciation exhibition.

I know I know. I was a sucker for anything with a skirt on back then (before I met my lovely wife).

When I arrived at this small tea-shop, I was the only customer. After that, I was asked to sample an array of Chinese tea. I kept asking her how much does it cost and the girl told me it’s free.

However, at the end of the tea session, a burly Chinese man came with the bill. For 1000 RMB!

I was shocked!

I told him that the girl (who was nowhere in sight now) brought me here for a sampling of tea and said it was FREE. The guy then told me to wise up and pay or else I would be in trouble with his gang.

Being alone, I paid up and left.

I related this incident to my local Chinese friend later and he told me that it's a usual con on foreigners. He said that I was lucky not to be beaten up. He told me that many incidents whereby foreigners were beaten up in a bar when they refused to pay inflated prices for their beers.

So, please beware of strangers of any kind, especially when you are alone. Most times, attractive ladies are used as lures for lonely foreigners. So, don't be tricked.

If you follow my tips, I hope it will spare you some terrifying moments in Beijing.

Be safe than sorry!