3 Bans and 4 No's for the Chengguan

by Jeff Kennel


"Don't be so chengguan!" is becoming a common expression in China if you're being overly aggressive or a bully. It has found it's way into the popular lexicon thanks to the steady stream of excessive abuse, and even death in a few cases, inflicted on street vendors around the country by the Urban Inspection Force or Chengguan. The government agency includes 7,000 urban management officers and 6,500 security guards and their main duties involves busting illegal street vendors. 



In China, selling fruit, slippers or cell phone cases on the street is their only means of survival.
General public opinion in China is that they act as thugs, criminals and bullies. According to the first Chengguan Image Analysis Report that released in May of 2011, the Chengguan image "has been demonized among internet users due to their conflicts with civilians over the past several years." The report goes on to say that this demonization is due to bad PR and public prejudice. 



The Chinese government has been desperately trying to change that image, resorting to changes in uniform color (to a more friendly hue of blue in some cities) to hiring pretty women on rollerblades.


But their image seems to be a bit better in Beijing than it does in other parts of China. Liu Xing (left) is a college drop out from Tonghua, a small town in northeast China. He runs an illegal business on an overpass in northwestern Beijing selling and installing LCD screen protectors for cell phones and other devices. "The Chengguan here are my friends," he explains. "They come around several times a month. We talk and they tell me I have to leave. There is no trouble. They don't make me pay and they aren't abusive."

Maybe the bad apples have spoiled the bunch because the government is looking to reign in the powers and abuses of the Chengguan. The Beijing Evening News reports that the government has instituted what is known as the "three bans and four no's." From now on there will be no forceful temporary seizure of goods, no forceful check on vehicles, no chasing vehicles and no chasing people on foot. No mention if chasing them by rollerblades is allowed. The three bans include a ban on beating, abusing or insulting the other party, a ban on taking goods and ban on giving advance notice of any action. That should clear things up nicely. No doubt that was confusing before.

The Beijing Urban Management Authority Chief Li Runhua told the Beijing Evening News however, that they will crack down on violent resistance from vendors in order to protect the rights of the Chengguan. How violent those crackdowns will be will likely shape the Chengguan's image much more than 3 No's and 4 Ban's on paper.