 | Beijing Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 200 |  |
Maybe it is not 100% a tourist trap. Maybe from now on, it is not the best time to visit the Forbidden City. Why? Because from now one they have really started to do some restore works, and like these many of the beautiful buildings in the Forbidden City are completely covered by bamboo scaffoldings and by green cloths. And if it is the first time that you visit this beautiful site, then it is kind of pity that you can not admire the Forbidden City in al its beauty Of course they want to restore it all before that other important event which will happen in 2008: The Olympic Games in Beijing.
There is not much you can do. Of course there are many buildings and they are not all covered by those ugly green cloths. Leave a Comment
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 | |  |  | Tour Scams: China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
The tour I took made a quick and unscheduled stop on the way back from the Ming tombs. Every tour takes you someplace as part of a paid advertising thing. Most of the time it is "the Marco Polo store" where you have lunch and do a little shopping. That I am ok with. this trip was different. We stopped by the China Academy of Traditional Cinese Medicine, Imperial Family Expert Clinic and Tong Ren Tang Pharmacy. We were taken down a long hall and shown into a little room where we were given an explanation of traditional chinese medicine. Then we were taken to another room where a guy tapped on our wrists and looked deep into my eyes and told me that I drank too much and had a bad liver. Soon, I was prescribed two bottles of little pills that looked like peppercorns or rabit raisins, and bearing the taste of an equivalent of the later. Not being a big drinker, an occasional beer when I eat Korean food, I was a bit skeptical. I was soon given 2 bottles and told that this clinic had been the one to serve all the leaders of China, including Mao, and that it would be an insult not to buy them. I was soon out 20 bucks. My friend came out and amazingly enough had the exact same liver problems. Funny, he never drinks.
If you get stuck going there, just try to hide out in the hall, or politely decline the examination when offered. That will save you a world of trouble later on.
Most of the time, the driver for the tours hangs out in the bus. Tell the tour guide that your legs are hurting and you would like to just sit in the bus and rest. Or if possible, politely tell them you are not interested and move on. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Shopping: Shopping - those fake brands. "Cheaper for you!!" | Tip Rating: | | | | |
I get more e-mails on this topic than any other. From CDs to DVDs to T-shirts to boots and jackets. It's all here. Everywhere. Nowhere is cheaper or beter than anyone else, no matter what any China shopping guru tells you. However, there are some points worth remembering. Those of us who live here generally stock up on decent clothing, DVDs, CDs, T-shirts, boots and jackets when we travel overseas. The reason? Simple. 1) The quality of the fake stuff you buy here is crap. Seriously bad. Watches that are 30 minutes slow within 3 hours of purchase. Boots that are peeling apart within 24 hours. Socks that wear through on the second outing. A suitcase which fell to bits on the way back to the hotel, 80 metres from the shops. 2) It is really difficult to find places to buy 'ordinary' gear, and damn near impossible to buy proper CDs and DVDs within 1,000km. Be warned that the 'savings' on all the fake stuff are largely an illusion. Especially if you pay anywhere above 15% of the initial asking price. Even then it's marginal. Also be aware that bringing fake goods into many countries is now a criminal offence and you can face heavy fines or worse. The clothing (especially) looks good but, trust me on this, it falls to pieces fast. Real fast. I do ot have a single item of clothing bought in China that is worth the cheap rice I paid for it. Caveat emptor. Customs officer emptor.
Buy unbranded gods if you want cheap goods. Let's face it...why are you spending precious holiday time buying cheap copies of $120 sneakers? Is it really that important? DVDs? Yep. Buy 50 of them here. 45 will be unwatchable (low DVD production quality), and the other 5 will be unwatchable (low film production quality). CDs? The sound quality is poor. The choice is poor except for music that a Chinese CD-making middle man in a backstreet shop in Xiamen thinks you will like. He, by the way, thinks that Kenny G, Richard Clayderman and Yanni are great. He thinks you do too.
Buy original stuff at home if you want value. Buy fakes in China is you are a cheapskate but are keen to impress people with a Rolex or a Omega watch. Do have your excuse ready when people ask where it is a month later when it has fallen apart though. Leave a Comment
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| | | | Don't see anything you like? Just keep walking. | Tip Rating: | | | | |
IT seems to me, these people are hanging around the well known tourist areas, trying to sell anything they can. IF you want to purchase something, always remember to bargain. IF you are not interested in what these people are selling, DON'T say a word, don't smile, don't laugh, or make eye contact....anything that will attract their attention. They can be quite aggressive, and are very persistent. They will stand in your way and pull at your clothes, if they think you have the slightest interest in what they are selling. Personally, didn't have it happen to me, but have observed other people in situations. Just keep on walking....eventually they will stop hounding you and move on to their next victim. Leave a Comment
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