In the King's Joy hostel - in Beijing - my sharp eyes noticed a warning sign, which immediately caught my attention although it was still early morning. The night before I had my first evening walk in the streets of Beijing.
'Be carefull when people invite you for a tea, there is a chance they want to poisin you.'
- The following events take place in the year 2012, September 16, in People's Park, Shanghai. -
Today on the bucket list are visiting People's Park, People's Square, Yu Yuan Garden and the famous Huxinting Tea House. All very close to each other, so one day must suffice to visit just these few beautifull spots Shanghai has to offer.
It's around 10.30 in the morning and I walk upstairs from the underground subway, taking the exit which leads me directly into People's Park. It's already quite busy here, more tourist centralized on one spot wasn't seen by me before during my 12 days in China. On Sunday they have the Marriage Market in People's Park. Parents are placing their - still single - children in the offer by hanging a paper, which describes why their child protudes above the thousands others on the dozens wall. If you are not into online dating, than this huge dating site might be something you want to try out.
My eyes did not yet recover fully from the change of light - from underground subway dusk to bright sunlight - or two girls - one Chinese, the other Korean - jumping in front of me and ask in quite understandable English if I they can have a picture with me. Already used to this kind of celebrety life I am living here in China - even straight 40 year old men are getting overexcited and almost start dancing around when I pass by and ask me for a picture. It looks a bit as if a 13 year old superfan spots Justin Bieber completely unexpected - so I agree and let them capture this unique moment for life. Polite as I am I participate in the small talk conversation they try to set up following to the photoshoot with obvious questions such as: Where are you from? What do you do in China? What are your plans today?
They probably think my day sounds boring and invite me for some tea tasting. That suddenly rings a bell in my head and I remember the warning sign from my first hostel in Beijing and I feel that my heartbeat starts pomping extra blood through my body. Time to spice up this day a bit. I always wanted to know how this tea tasting scam works and this is my chance. Because I've heard the most crazy stories I check what my chances are in case something goes wrong.
In my advantage:
- running shoes
- shorts
- original Belgian jersey, thanks to my friends for that
- no pain in bad knee, no pain in good knee
So I can run the hell out of there if necessary.
In my desadvantage:
- passport and money on me
- camera and Go Pro in backpack
So if they rob me, it's not gonna be a fun day after all. I decide to go for a cup of tea with the girls. We walk out of People's Park into a mall nearby. This is not the place where I expected they would take me. The original scam takes place close by Peoples Square - in the open - where loads of people and tourist pass by.
We take an elevator to the second floor and walk through a narrow alley. I only notice on guy in front of a door, a big guy, the type of guys you see in front of clubs and check you out before you enter. This one is not checking me at all when we pass him into a more narrow alley.
The atmosphere is not the same as a few minutes before. No more small talking with the girls, I just keep on following them and try to trackback my escaping route. We step into a small room. I see a candles and the smell of incense fills the room. A small table with some tea in the middle and the girls take place. All elements for a relaxed afternoon tasting are present, but it doesn't touch me at all.
With their magic spell - Come, come, take place at the table and drink some tea with us - they try to decoy me. I still didn't enter the room and suddenly a bigger woman assists me. I take my camera but the big woman starts shouting some Chinese words. Apparently it is forbidden to take pictures because they are a minority group. Seriously, I am surrounded by locals and they are the minority?
Even before entering the room and drinking one sip of tea, I leave the place and walk back to People Square.
To make a long story short...after People's Park I went to the Yu Yuan garden. Walking towards the garden, again two girls want to have a picture with me. Same old, same old.
Close to Ya Yuan you have the famous Huxinting Tea House. You pay to much for tea but at least you get some good fingerfood and no annoying people who try to scam you. I enjoy me tea with a beautifull view on Yu Yuan.
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