Beggars, Beijing

by easyoar
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Inside the Forbidden City

The first thing I did in Beijing was throw my bags into my hotel room and head off to the Forbidden City. Within minutes of the taxi dropping me off, I had a Chinese girl come up to me and ask if she could practice her English. "Sure" I said, but I'm going in there (Pointing at the Forbidden City). It soon turned out that she was an "Art Student" and wanted me to look at her paintings (which as they weren't in the Forbidden City I never got to see ;-) ). I was accosted numerous times by "Art Students" - one even got me INSIDE the forbidden city (her boss had a display inside). The conversations soon went like this: "Hi, can I practice my English with you" "OK" "What do you do..." "Let me guess what you are, are you an Art Student?". This normally worked out as a very polite way of getting rid of them!


	Beggars: Child Beggars	Tip Rating:

Updated By Hojusaram

on September 16, 2004

by Hojusaram
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Beggars

A lot of people will tell you that the begging rings in Beijing are this and that. I have no reason to doubt them. But these kids are running around until all hours of the night trying to get cash out of people and it is just plain sad. Don’t give them money, but be nice to them. Buy them some food or something and make sure they sit with you while they eat it and THEN send them away. Don't just be a prick to them. They are just kids after all. If you can communicate with them, they have some great stories to tell.


	Beggars: Nice girl, pretty girl, massage yes?	Tip Rating:

By easyoar

on November 25, 2004

It was not uncommon (especially at night if I was wandering around alone), for guys to approach me with lines like "Nice girl, pretty girl, massage yes?" I'm not sure on the legalities of this in China, but can imagine that there may well be lots of opportunities to get fleeced if you were to go along with any of these propositions.


	Beggars: how to keep children beggars happy	Tip Rating:

Updated By RiddiM

on May 20, 2004

as you may have read in other posts, when goin to beijing you will no doubt at some point encounter some children beggars, if you give them some money more will arrive very quickly, if these beggars happen to be somewhere where you walk daily it can become quite costly and/or annoying, i found the best way to deal with it was by buying a big bag of sweets in the super market keeping some loose in my bag or pockets and handing them out when approached the kids are far more happy it seemed than giving them money because they could actually keep this for thereselves, they never after this pestered or insisted for money, just ran off with beaming smiles stuffing sweets down there neck. i bought three of the kids a cornetto each once, they nearly lost there minds! :)


	Beggars: Annoying Artists	Tip Rating:

on May 21, 2004

In and around Tiananmen Square you will be approached by young people claiming to be students. They tell you they are learning English and like the practice. After some talking they try and pursuade you to come and look at their art display. They want you to buy their work. If you like artwork done by students it is worth looking at one but remember the prices they are asking are high for what it is. There are many people trying to sell the same type of art all over the town. I found the easiest thing to do when approached is to point out that I am happy to chat with the locals but I will not look at any art displays. If you don't tell them where they stand you will spend your whole day chatting with people who only want you to see their art.


	Beggars: Beggers	Tip Rating:

By Applelyn

on January 21, 2006

As I walked down the streets, I saw many beggers and decided to spare a coin or two. When I gave to a little girl, a gang came up to me and begged for money. I was very frightened and went into my hotel asap. From the receptionist, she told me that they operated as a gang and would pester any easy target.


	Beggars: Begging Childeren	Tip Rating:

By brideauj

on February 17, 2003

The most difficulty I had in Beijing was walking the street. Women would walk with thier childeren of but mayby five or six and follow you for miles chanting in mandarin. Locals warned me to avoid giving as you may be targeted again by more and more beggers as they often netowork and will harass westerners known for giving. Watch your watches and wallets as they will hurd and literally start climbing on you untill you figure out how to remove them. The hardest part is some of them actually need the money, but you will never know who.


	Beggars: After 9:00pm, you will see...	Tip Rating:

By CLOUD282

on September 8, 2002

After 9:00pm, you will see some ragged-dressed kids touring around the main streets. They won't let you go if you don't give them money. Yes, you may take pity on them. Yet remember that all the monies you give them will not be theirs. They are orphans and picked up by gangs for a begging business. The guys give the kids place to sleep and eat while these kids work as beggars for them. If you give money to one of the kids, you will find that 3 seconds after he/she leaves you, more will come up to you to ask for money. My advice is that, walk straight forward and just let the kids follow you until you go back to your hotel. They can't go into the hotel with you.


	Beggars: Sellers and beggers is found...	Tip Rating:

By monica78

on September 7, 2002

by monica78
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Sellers and beggers is found everywhere. The sellers often will try to cheat you for money...and the beggers often use their kids to beg to get money...


	Beggars: There are alot of beggars that...	Tip Rating:

By Bluereptile

on August 25, 2002

There are alot of beggars that crowd around the entrances of tourist attractions. Just be aware that pick pockets will watching out for supposedly rich tourists in famous attractions such as the; Forbidden City, Beijing Zoo, Summer Palace and Lama Temple.