Beware: Top 9 Tourist Sites in China for Being
Swindled
Epoch Times Christine Ford and Gisela Sommer
2013-10-05
Oct 04 -- The Chinese website Nine
Headlines recently published a blog post listing the top nine money
swindling tourist spots in China. The information was based on
comments and reviews provided by Chinese
netizens.
1. Shaolin Temple Scam: Money Up in
Smoke
The Shaolin Temple on Mount Song in Henan
Province, founded in the fifth century, is reputed to be “the
Number One Temple under Heaven.” It is famous for its association
with Kung Fu martial arts and is a UNESCO world Heritage
Site.
According to netizens, this Buddhist temple
is no longer as sacred as it used to be. At the main hall of
Shaolin Temple, the thinnest stick of incense found in the incense
burner has a diameter thicker than a man’s arm, and the biggest
stick of incense has a diameter wider than a large bowl and is
about four foot tall. “It’s obvious that they are not burning
incense, but burning money,” the review said. “After signing your
name, the head monk allows you to light up a stick of incense. You
will be shocked to learn that one stick costs between 600 and 6,000
yuan (US$98 – $980).”
2. Yangshuo Special: Sugar’n Spice Not
Always Nice
Yangshuo County in northeastern Guangxi
Province, known for its picturesque landscape, is one of China’s
most popular tourist destinations. However, male visitors should be
wary about friendly encounters with attractive local
women.
According to netizens, going for a “special
drink” at a Casino with a beautiful woman may sound innocent
enough, but you may be taken to the cleaners. The special drinks
are generally a mix of Sprite and Coca Cola, with a price tag of
100 to 200 yuan (US$16 – $32). In addition, there are special
service fees ranging from 600 to over 3,000 yuan (US$97 – $490),
and you won’t be able to leave without paying.
3. Mt. Emei: An Expensive
Blessing
Mount Emei is one of the Four Sacred
Buddhist Mountains of China. It is located in Sichuan Province and
is the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China. It is
also traditionally regarded as the place where Bodhisattva
Samantabhadra attained enlightenment.
But like Shaolin Temple, the sacredness of
Mt. Emai has been contaminated by commerce and greed in recent
years. Small three inch Buddha statues are sold for the so-called
consecration ceremony for 80 yuan.
If you want a consecration ceremony, you
need to first burn incense, which costs 60-190 yuan. There are also
people who offer to take pictures for you at 15 yuan per picture or
90 yuan for a set. After you finally enter the Hall and meet the
“Master” monk, you need to pay another 50 yuan per person. After
paying, the “Master” monk will tell you to kneel and wait for the
blessing.
This so-called “free” consecration ceremony
has actually cost 700-800 yuan (US$115 – $130). A family may easily
pay 2,200 yuan (US$360) for the experience.
4. Laoshan Luck: Donation to the Daoist
Priests
Laoshan Mountain, also called Mount Lao, is
situated east of Qingdao City, near the East China Sea. It is
famous for its majestic scenery and its long affiliation with
Taoism. Many temple structures have been built at this
site.
If you travel there, be on the watch for
fake tour guides as you may be taken astray and end up in a room,
surrounded by seven or eight “Taoist priests,” who will give you a
blessing, telling you that you will have prosperity in the future.
If you accept the blessing, you will need to pay a bit. They will
present a donation book containing names of donors and the amounts
they donated–no less than 1,000 yuan (US$163). You will be asked to
add your name in the book and also make a
donation.
Don’t want to donate? The priest will not
be happy, and the outcome may not be good. You may suddenly realize
the benefit of the saying, “Losing some money to avoid a
disaster.”
5. Xishuangbanna: Don’t Get Taken On the
Bridal Path
Xishuangbanna is an area in the south of
Yunnan Province, noted for its tropical rain forests and rare
plants and wildlife. It is the home of numerous ethnic groups,
including the Dai people, who still live by their village
traditions and adhere to their folk custom ways.
Netizens say that tourists are often tricked or
even dragged into so called bridal chambers, and you won’t be able
to leave without paying. From 50-100 yuan is the norm. They also
won’t give any change, so make sure to give them the exact
amount.
These days folk customs are often turned
into traps, netizens said. Tourists visiting Xishuanbanna learn
that bridal chambers shouldn’t be entered
casually.
6. Ming Dynasty Tombs: Pay to Enter and Pay
to Exit
Located 30 miles north of Beijing are the
thirteen Ming Dynasty imperial tombs, dating from the 15th century.
The site was carefully chosen by Emperor Yongle in accordance to
feng shui principles to keep evil spirits away. A road named Spirit
Way leads to the complex.
Netizens lamented that even in the Imperial
City you are not safe from tour guides taking advantage of you.
They tell you that since you are entering the Imperial Tombs, your
presence might disturb the spirits there, and burning incense will
assure safety and peace. But you need to buy incense for everyone
in the family, and it’s 100 yuan per person.
7. Dali: All That Glitters Is Not
Gold
Dali City in Yunnan Province has an ancient
history. Its old city dates to the Ming Dynasty and has many
historic sites.
Dali is also famous for the many types of
marble it produces, which are used to make many decorative objects
as well as jewelry. But be careful when buying jewelry in Dali.
Many cunning salesmen try to befriend tourists, then con them into
buying fake jewelry and objects. These items can have price tags in
the tens of thousands of yuan, but turn out to be fake and worth
only a couple of dollars.
8. Bashang Plateau: Getting Off the Horse
Can Be Hard
The Bashang Plateau in Hebei Province is
part of Inner Mongolia. Horseback riding is the most popular
tourist activity on the vast, flat, grassy plateau, but the cost
can be steep.
The basic cost is generally around 40 yuan
(US$6.50) per hour, but the time starts ticking before you even
touch the horse. When you finally mount the horse, 10 minutes have
already lapsed. The horse owner will then lead the horse very
slowly. If you want the horse to run, you pay extra. Also, it’s
often hard to get off the horse, as the owner will lead the horse
and you around for 2-3 hours before returning. It’s not unusual for
a tourist to be charged hundreds of yuan for the
ride.
9. Taishan Mountain Men: Don’t Argue With
Them
Taishan Mountain, also known as Mount Tai,
located in Shandong Province, is one of China’s “Five Great
Mountains.” It has been a place of worship for thousands of years,
but the locals can be quite fierce.
As a tourist on Taishan, you need to be very
careful. Taishan locals may demand money from you if you take
pictures. Arguing with them is considered disrespectful, and you
may be scolded or threatened. There are many reported cases of
tourists having been beaten and injured. The same can be said for
some hotels and inns on the mountain, and you are advised to pay
what is asked for and not argue, or else there may be unpleasant
repercussions.
It is such a shame that three religious
sites are on the list.