Causing Trouble in Jiuzhaigou

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I spent two days exploring Jiuzhaigou park. One day solo, one day with my friend M. The first morning, the taxi driver who drove me to the hotel I stayed at showed up at the hotel at 7:00 am to take me to the park entrance. I had casually mentioned that I planned to go to the park at 7:00 am, but didn't ask for him to take me. As I got out of the cab that morning, he asked when I was going to go back to the hotel. I thought this was a bit odd of a question, considering that he has better things to do than especially take me back to my hotel. Then he said, "don't forget to pay the balance of your hotel bill." Umm? The day before, I only paid for one night since I didn't have that much cash on me. I told the hotel I would go to the ATM the day after and pay the balance the next day. I thought this was an odd comment for the driver to make, and I thought, "What's it to you?" Sigh. Of course he gets a kickback for taking me to that specific hotel. I took me around 4 hotels that were either all booked or too expensive. Anyway, it makes sense that the cab drivers get a commission. I can accept that - this how they do business. Nonetheless, I did feel gypped.

However, at 4:00 pm, I was still walking around the park, and my cell phone rings. I pick up and it's the driver. I was a little surprised and asked how he got my number and he said that "I gave it to him yesterday." Umm? Hello? Of course I would never do that. I told him I was 120% sure I didn't give him my phone number and that he got it from the hotel. I told him to please never call me nor bother me again. Maybe I over-reacted.... but I was on the phone next to a park attendant, and he told me that I should report it to the Jiuzhaigou Tourism Police, which is outside the park entrance.

I was upset that someone invaded my privacy and that someone would be that unprofessional to the extent of personally bothering a customer. It was the hotel's fault for giving out my information and his fault for being stupid.

I decide to explain my story to the Tourism Police and tell them that this was not acceptable to me. Since my Chinese is poor, I didn't feel that I could handle this complaint on my own. The Tourism Police said that indeed that this is a violation and they drove me back to my hotel and came with me to complain to the manager of the hotel. The police explained what happened and told the manager to apologize to me. The manager profusely apologized and said it wouldn't happen again. She also called the driver and told him that I switched hotels. Then she said, "Oh, I thought you were friends with the driver." Hello? I went off on her about how she can't make those assumptions and why the heck would I be friends with a middle-aged male taxi driver? I told her she should use her common sense! I told her that my safety could have been at risk and it would be the hotel's responsibility. Sheesh.

Anyway, my point is that I thought the Tourism Police was very helpful. The listened patiently to me and took my complaint seriously. Again, this is another instance where China drives me crazy. I feel the urge to have to complain or argue with someone to impose my expectations. Maybe for a local person they wouldn't feel violated..? Either way, the hotel needed to know that they made a mistake in the eyes of a foreigner.

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Comments

[christina]

the tourism police! too bad you didn't know about them eariler! you could've complained your heart out! haahaha. good for you!

[tf]

wow. there's a tourism police? thank goodness!!! this just gets them ready for the 2008 olympics!