When I went to Shanghai for my trip.
I was freaking around near Peoples Square. It is the most attractive place in shanghai with lot of tourists and huge crowd.
Near the Subway, there was a promotional campaign was going on about the tennis rackets and bat. those tennis rackets/bats were very nice quality but Chinese made product.
I was tempted to buy one so I asked the price and I was told that it 1racket cost 318RMB i.e $47USD. I tried to bargain the price as everything in China needs to be bargained lol.
But all in vain the seller was not dropping his price and there were many miscommunication because I hardly could speak Chinese.
At this barging scene, there came 3 Chinese 2 girls and 1Guy who said that they were student. They asked me whether I could speak chinese and helped me to bargain the Tennis racket price. But again everything in vain and the finally I didnt bought the tennis racket.
Later these 3students kept following me and asking about my whereabouts.
1girl said that she was majoring Japanese language and other girl was majoring French and the guy was a newly graduate.
As I can speak Japanese I tried to converse with the girl in Japanese.
The conversation went very smoothly, friendly and nice.
I was heading to the Baoshan electronic market but these 3students told me that they were heading to the Special tea ceremony about the Chinese minority. I was tempted to go so I joined them.
Later I was taken to a plaza which seemed very near from Peoples Square but it was all dark.
We went on 2nd floor where I was escorted to a nice Chinese traditional Tea house which actually looked like an office from outside but inside was all very traditional furniture.
I wanted to take some pictures but they didnt permitted me saying that the minority people will get angry, or hurt their feelings and blah blah blah......
But still I couldnt resist and I took 1 picture secretly.
They performed the tea ceremony for 30minutes.
Later when the bill came my jaw dropped after seeing the price.
They charges me 1100RMB i.e $161USD. I was shocked to see it.
The charges were for room service, tea testing and some tea which I bought.
I refused all the charges to pay. This made the 2 girls bit nervous. Their attitude changed towards me. They were no more nicer, friendlier to me. I finally settled down all the prices to 200RMB i.e $29USD.
The guy seemed to be nice and he bought a gift for me. He gave me the chinese traditional cups. If you put the hot water the clor of the dragon on the cup changes.
I saw he paid 300RMB i.e $43USD.
I have no idea whether this was also a part of the game. But it was very much fun to play this game. They neither harmed me, nor forced me for anything.
I knew it was their part of business and the chinese way of earning money. II hate myself for not at all reading any tourists guide information and just barging into any place.
AT the end I took the picture with those 3 students. Next time if you see them around Peopels Square in Shanghai asking for any tea ceremony please be aware of it...
At the end the Guy was very friendly and nice but the 2 girls were keeping distance and finally they all made an excuse of having a lunch with their friends and left the scene.
I neither regret that and nor do I blame those 3 students. In fact I learned a lot and got very nice chinese tea and beautiful cups for cheap price. A unique experience, should be experienced if you are in Shanghai......Just be careful...
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