Ask for the price list before you order: entertainment venues must post clear prices, and you should not accept "play first, settle up later"

Moderate value
Evidence A
Saves money
Free
Takes minutes
Some willpower

In plain words

Under the rules, entertainment venues must post clear prices for services and goods, and must show you the price list on their own initiative. The so-called "sky-high drinks" almost always happen where no one saw the price list and the bill was settled afterward on a verbal quote. When you enter the room, ask for the list and take a photo. After you order, ask for a confirmed order slip. If there is a dispute at checkout, call 12315 (China's consumer complaint hotline) on the spot.

Cost: Free. Ask for the list once. The hard part is asking about prices in front of other people, which can feel awkward.
What you get: The regulations say: "Entertainment venues that provide entertainment services and sell goods shall post clear prices and show consumers the price list; they may not force or deceive consumers into accepting services or buying goods." Violations of price laws and regulations are punished by the relevant departments according to law. The so-called "sky-high drinks" disputes happen overwhelmingly in this situation: no price list was shown, and the bill was settled afterward on a verbal quote.
Notes: What to do: when you enter the room, ask for a price list, paper or electronic, and photograph it as soon as you have it. After you order, ask for a confirmed list. For "specials" and "fruit plates" that the staff recommend, always ask the price before you order. If there is a dispute at checkout, call 12315 on the spot. Don't pay first and then try to defend your rights, because after paying it is much harder to prove your case.
Evidence grade: A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.
Sources: 国务院 (2006). 娱乐场所管理条例（国令第 458 号，第二十九、五十三条）. http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2008-03/28/content_6297.htm

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 22, tip 2. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer