Danish tourists fall victim to unlicensed pedicabs in Beijing hutong   

丹麦游客游故宫遇到黑三轮 被拉至胡同宰600元

本说好两辆车费6元，行驶到僻静胡同立刻改口要600元，车主拿到钱上车就跑。昨天，来自丹麦的Allan H.Jensen对在故宫北门坐三轮被宰客一事还很气愤，表示已报警求助。东华门派出所表示，此事正在受理中，并提醒游客故宫北门多是非法运营的“黑”三轮，建议最好远离。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- A Danish tourist has called local police after being swindled by two pedicab operators into paying exorbitant fees at a Beijing hutong, the Beijing Morning Post reported on Monday.

Allen H. Jense from Denmark said he and his 14-year-old son wanted to go to Tian'anmen Square from the north gate of Forbidden City on Saturday afternoon. "I know it is not far between them, but I didn't know how to get there," he said.

Then two pedicab men came and told them in poor English that they would only charge three yuan ($0.48) to take them there. Thinking the price reasonable, father and son got on pedicabs.

But after turning into a lonely hutong, Jense and his son were asked to get off. Two pedicab men pulled out a small card with "300" on it and asked them to pay 300 yuan ($48.24) each.

Jense recalled that he didn't know where they were and there was no one he could turn to for help. "The strong man who stood near my son put one hand into his jacket," he said. "And I was afraid that he might be carrying weapons and hurt my son."

Jense gave 600 yuan to the men, who then drove away. Jense took photos of their backs with his mobile phone and then reported it to local police.

"We then encountered a third pedicab man who had a similar 300-card," he said angrily.

Han, a local police officer, said they are investigating it. He also advised tourists not to take pedicabs from the north gate of Forbidden City, as all pedicabs in that area are unlicensed.