Seneca(US)
In my first year in Guangzhou, I learned to say a few things to make people suddenly look the opposite way so that I could duck out of their sight. Raising one's finger and pointing to somewhere behind them sufficed to make them look backward.
Once I was strolling in central Guangzhou and approaching an intersection. Four men were positioned there, talking to each other. I knew they were going to size me up and down pretty soon... When I came within their line of vision I said, “Ninmen hao... this is the Guangzhou Zoo... please pay 10 kuai and get a ticket..." Three of the guys scampered off while the fourth actually gave me 10 kuai.