Beggars and panhandlers in Beijing

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Begging is not banned in Beijing though it is not encouraged. Beggars in Beijing are commonly found in public places such as street corners, underpasses, malls, popular tourist spots, where they request money using cups, boxes or hats to collect the donations.

85% beggars in Beijing are professional beggars, only 15% are really poor men. In professional begging, using a child for panhandling is quite popular. It is said professional beggars are the members of a kind of beggars'organization, a large, complicated organism.

Beijing local government has provided homeless shelters on a voluteer basis for the homeless and beggars, which is aimed at reducing any survival need for begging. But most of the professional beggars are not willing to use the homeless shelters. The reason is very simple - they make more money outside on the streets, even richer than an office worker. Their motto is "it is easier to beg for it than to earn it".

So it is unfare for those who are truly poor and in the need of help from others because people find it hard to distinguish the fake beggars from the poor, the visibly handicapped, or the blind . It is these fake beggars who have taken advantage of people's kindness. When coming across true beggars, most of the people would take no notice of them due to the fact that people are afraid of being fooled.

Whether to Give Money to Beggars

To give or not give is a frequent question on our mind when we meet beggars on the streets. My advice is that if not sure whether the beggars are true or not, you just ignore them. At least, not giving beggars money discourages them to remain on the street begging otherwise they have good reason not to look for a job. If you feel the beggars are really poor and in need of help, you are advised to give them something to eat instead of money. If you really want to donate to help the poor, you are recommneded to give more to organisations like Red Cross in Beijing China. They have checkable accounts on the work they do with the money they collect.

You are strongly advised not to give any money to child beggars. Some child beggars may be linked to the adult beggars ( parent-child relationship), but some child beggars are said to be stolen from some parts of China and made into physically handicapped child beggars in order to easily beg more money from passers-bys. If you give money to child beggars, you may have the risk of getting a swarm of them.

You may find some beggars with unsightly deformities cruising around on the streets, which make you feel very sick. In my opinion, it is a blackmail. They should be banned in a capital city like Beijing.

Finally I also feel sorry for those fake beggars. If they have a decent job, why begging? In begging, they have no personal dignity. Though sometimes we are unhappy with their deceptive panhandling, I still feel sorry for them.

Have a happy travel in Beijing!

Beijing Rescue Centers and Contact Details

Beijing Rescue Centers ( refuges for homeless and beggars) in 16 districts and 2 counties in Beijing:

1.Dongcheng District Rescue Center Tel: 64043861，64043689 Add: Wudaoying Hutong 81, Dongcheng District Zip Code 100007

2.Xicheng District Rescue center Tel: 62210944、62219884 Add: Gaojin Hutong 16, Xineidajie, Xicheng District Zip Code: 100035

3.Chongwen District Rescue Center Tel: 67160805、67165292 Add: Waitaoyuan Dongli 6, Chengwen Disrict Zip Code:100075

4.Xuanwu District Rescue Center Tel: 63464201、63329190 Add: Xiaohongmiaojia 11, Guangwai, Xuanwu District Zip Code:100055

5.Chaoyang District Rescue Center Tel: 84333463 Add: Jinzhandajie 8, Chaoyang District ） Zip Code: 100018

6.Haidian District Rescue Center Tel: 82774128、82774171 Add: Siyiqu, Tangjiaxilingcun, Dongbeixiang, Haidian District Zip Code: 100094

7.Fengtai District Rescue Center Tel: 83884107 Add: Dahuichanglu 88, Fengtai District Zip Code: 100074

8.Shijingshan District Rescue Center Tel: 88912274、88912274/2283 Add: Beixingannancha 149, Shijingshan Zip Code: 100041

9.Daxing District Rescue Center Tel: 80234938 Add: Backyard of Andingzhen Almshouse Daxing District Zip Code: 102607

10.Tongzhou District Rescue center Tel: 89597911、69547433 Add: Welfare Centwe of Yongshui Township, Tongzhou District Zip Code: 101100

11.Shuiyi District Rescue Center Tel: 69471156、69445221、81483948 Add: Nanfaxin Township, Shuiyi District Zip Code: 101302

12.Changping District Rescue Center Tel: 69779744、69742386 Add: The former home for the aged in Nankou, Changping District Zip: 102202

13. Huairou District Rescue Center Tel: 60697046 Add: The Home for the aged in Miaochengzhen, Huairou District Zip Code: 101400

14.Mentougou District Rescue Center Tel: 69842174、61891128 Add: Zhongmensi Dajie, Longquan Home for the Aged, Mentougou District Zip Code: 102300

15.Fangshan District Rescue Center Tel: 69374371 Add: Liangxiang Xilu 10, Fangshan District Zip Code: 102488

Miyun County Rescue Center Tel: 6904274、69042744 Add: Rescue Section of Civil Affairs Bureau in Miyun District Zip Code: 101500

17.Yanqing County Rescue Center Tel: 69184119 Add: Guancheng Home for the Aged, Yanqing County Zip code: 102100

18.Pinggu District Rescue Center Tel: 69960316 Add: Fuqian Xijie 8, Pinggu District Zip Code: 101200

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