Don’t get scammed: The four big pitfalls of Beijing’s one-day group tours — sing “It’s Not That Simple” to intimidate spending

▲China’s National Day Golden Week brings huge crowds of tourists (Photo / Eastday IC)

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Reported by Jiayun Yu / Compiled from international news sources

Normally, if you’re just shopping, taking more time to compare prices can indeed help you snag a good deal. But if you encounter a low-priced one-day tour group in Beijing, not only will you not get to visit the attractions on the itinerary, but you might also fall into all four traps and suffer a serious hit to your wallet.

According to mainland media reports, illegal one-day tour groups in Beijing boldly solicited tourists during the National Day holiday, advertising all-inclusive itineraries with food, fun, and activities for as low as 50 to 100 RMB. A reporter from China National Radio, posing as a student, joined a one-day group that included stops at the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. The operator claimed the tour covered transportation, tickets, lunch, and even hotel pick-up and drop-off. The one thing most tourists dread—shopping stops—was promised to be non-compulsory.

After confirming the itinerary, the first trap was a blurry contract with an unidentifiable company stamp, no invoice included, and vague terms. Once the tour started, the bus broke down nine times during the six-hour drive, stopping and starting along the way. It wasn’t until the reporter checked the license plate that they realized the bus had already exceeded the mandatory retirement age—an immediate second pitfall.

Upon arrival, what greeted the tourists was not the agreed-upon Badaling Great Wall, but instead the Mutianyu (Shuiguan) section. The time allotted for sightseeing was cut down to just half an hour, giving visitors barely enough time for a cursory glance. No doubt—this is the third trap of Beijing’s one-day group tours.

In the evening, when the bus arrived at a local souvenir shop, the tour guide suddenly changed their friendly demeanor and sang “It’s Not That Simple,” hinting to passengers that going home empty-handed would be far from easy. One song completely overturned the earlier promise of a “no forced shopping” tour. The guide stood next to the cashier, checking receipts one by one. Those found without purchases were warned not to move forward (toward the bus) and were even told, “Don’t leave empty-handed—that’s not manly.” This blatant form of forced shopping is the fourth pitfall that drains your wallet on a Beijing one-day tour.