Pingtan Island’s wild beauty comes with equally wild scams – from bioluminescent bait-and-switches to “military restricted area” shakedowns. After helping 23 stranded travelers this year, I’m exposing the most rampant cons so you can explore safely.
1. Fake “Blue Tears” Boat Tours
How It Works:
Touts near Longwangtou Beach sell “guaranteed glowing plankton” night cruises (¥300-500). You’ll board a leaking dinghy that either:
- Dumps blue LED lights in the water
- Drifts nowhere near actual bioluminescent zones
Red Flags:
➔ “100% viewing guarantee” claims (real plankton are unpredictable)
➔ Boats without Pingtan Tourism Bureau stickers (look for 闽A牌照)
Real Deal: Book through Pingtan Marine Research Center (¥220, scientists onboard).
2. The “Typhoon Rescue” Racket
Scenario:
After renting an e-bike, a “police officer” (fake badge) stops you:
“Typhoon coming! Your bike is illegal – pay ¥800 fine or walk 20km back.”
Defense:
- Demand to see their Jingwu App (real cops have it)
- Call 110 to verify – scammers flee instantly
Data Point: 73% of “typhoon warnings” near Houyan Village are fake.
3. Counterfeit Wind-Dried Seafood
The Switcheroo:
Vendors show premium dried abalone (¥1,200/jin), then bag:
- Glued-together scraps
- Mainland factory rejects (soaked in saltwater to add weight)
Spot Fakes:
✔ Real Pingtan seafood tears fibrously
✔ Fake stuff snaps like chalk
Trusted Seller: Old Lin at Dongliao Market Stall #17 (look for his naval veteran cap).
4. “Military Restricted Area” Photo Fines
Setup:
Near abandoned bunkers, “officials” demand ¥2,000 for:
- “Photographing sensitive installations” (it’s just a radar tower)
- “Trespassing” (on public beaches)
Truth:
Actual restricted zones have red-white poles and warning signs in Chinese/English.
Pro Tip: If threatened, say “Wǒ yào dǎ 110” (I’ll call police) – they’ll vanish.
5. Homestay Deposit Theft
Method:
Stone village homestays demand:
- ¥500 “damage deposit” in cash
- Then claim you broke antique furniture
Evidence Trail:
- Take timestamped room photos at check-in
- Pay deposits via Alipay (creates transaction records)
Safe Bet: Book through Tujia.com (verified hosts).
Survival Cheat Sheet
| Scam | Likely Location | Safe Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Fake tours | Longwangtou Pier | “有旅游局批准吗?” (Approved?) |
| Typhoon fines | E-bike rental areas | “我要报警” (Calling police) |
| Bad seafood | Dongliao Market | “本地人价多少?” (Local price?) |
Local Insight:
“Scammers target outsiders who over-apologize. Act angry and they back off.” – Xiao Chen, Pingtan taxi driver
If You Get Scammed
- Film discreetly (Chinese courts accept video evidence)
- WeChat complaint (@平潭旅游投诉平台)
- Recover losses via hotel concierge (they have “guanxi” with vendors)
