'No Dogs and Chinese allowed'

It was the kind of sign that humiliated Chinese during the semi-colonial era before 1949. Signs in foreign-run concession areas would sometimes say: “No Dogs and Chinese allowed.”

Those days are long over. China is a proud nation, with much to be proud of.

But there are certain places that continue to be restricted for Chinese. And I happen to be smack dab in the middle of one. Our office is in what is called the Qijiayuan Diplomatic Compound. It no longer is just for diplomats. While there are some diplomatic missions here, any foreigner with some currency can rent, I believe, and Chinese employees or family members are welcome. At the gates, People’s Armed Police guards stand smartly at attention. They often stop Chinese and ask for identity cards to see if they indeed have jobs here or are part of families residing here.

All this is a long wind-up to say my office assistant, Fan Di, arrived in tears this morning. She’d been stopped at the gate, apparently rather rudely, and it got her dander up. So she refused to pull out her identity card. She told the guard he’d seen her enter countless times and why was he harassing her? So I asked her to write up her impressions. That's her in the photo below, by the way. Here's what she wrote:

There were two soldiers standing there this morning. As usual, I was rushing directly to the doorway of our building when suddenly one of the two soldiers stopped me with his arm.

"Show me your card," he said.

"I work in this building," I replied confidently, hinting that I should be recognized since I have worked in this building for more than half a year and I was sure that I didn't look like someone who came here for the first time.

"This is an embassy and anyone should show their card if they want to get in," the soldier said.

"Oh really?" I questioned. "Why do you never ask for cards from foreigners?"

"Because this is a FOREIGN compound," he emphasized most arrogantly.

Okay, had he not said such words, I would have shown him the card. But this is not the first time that I heard such words spoken from their mouths. What he said irritated me and I decided that I would never show it to them. Do foreigners have priority in the foreign compounds? Is it logical?

"How do you know that I'm not a foreigner?" I asked.

"I should check your card before I know whether or not you are a foreigner," he said.

"I'm not giving you my card," I said. "I would give you my card if you checked everybody. But you don’t. Now I'm late for work and I'm going in."

Maybe the soldier had never seen a Chinese girl as tough as me. He was obviously angry and stretched out his arms to block me. When I was managing to get out of his control, the other soldier, who never said anything before, now came to help his comrade. He also stopped me with his arms. They were forcing their arms against me really hard.

"Let us try and see whether you can get in (without my permission)," shouted the first one as if he had great power superior to mine. The stalemate lasted for half a minute and finally I broke free.

As I was running to the doorway, that guard still couldn't stop shouting: "I'll remember you. You wait and see!"

During the whole process, another two guards were just standing there 10 meters away, laughing.

As I got into the elevator, tears just came from my eyes. I was angry not only because I was treated unfairly, but also I have experienced how some Chinese still make foreigners seem superior, and I felt pity for the guards. I think the other soldier must know that I work here. He still watched his companion give me trouble. They treat any foreigner better than their compatriots. The only standard they judge people is by the color of their skin. Should this be the way that they are educated? Don't they understand there might be more Chinese who work in the foreign compound and should be respected for who they are? AND, what are they here for? Supervising Chinese? In that way, they can even smile to a foreign terrorist!

At noon, I told another office worker about this and she asked why I didn't speak English to them to avoid trouble. Why should I? I don't want to pretend that I am a foreigner. I've never felt as a Chinese that I’m lower than a foreigner. I am just who I am.

Comments

[teflonjedi]

Sadly, I see this out my way as well. My wife is a local, and she's seen it a few times I'm sure.

[bemis]

Sad Lesson for the Day: DRESS CODE. It is important to be "appropriately dressed", especially Office Workers. Surely the Guard should act, if he suspected hanky-panky occurring on regular 9-5 basis? Stranger things have happened. What far-fetched resemblance is there, to hoary, old Dog Story? Just TJ's crap: on a slow-day, bash China -- safe way to earn a living as journalist.

[Bill]

Racism is alive and well, especially those who can't face the facts. If it is information from a foreign source, it is China Bashing.

[A B]

BRAVO!

Encore! Encore!

Standing ovation.

[Pffefer]

Truly sad and outrageous. Yes China is a racist country where foreigners are deemed superior (especially the whites). The Chinese need a slap in the face!

[Jay]

There's just one small problem. The sign about "no dogs or chinese allowed" is a mere myth. The subject was covered over at Peking Duck about three years ago.

http://pekingduck.org/archives/002522.php

[lysol]

Fan Di,
Pity the Chinese that the deep rooted inferiority complex is hurting themselves and make a mockery of their own people and culture!
My observation is that in China and to many Chinese, any thing and every thing from the West is superior to any thing and everything Asian-with the possible exception to Japanese.
My conclusion is if you are some how connected to any thing Western -be it in your job, education, relationship...etc,- you are 'made'. That's how it works over there.
Racism? NO, this is not. This is Inferiority Complex to the Nth degree!

[NX]

Since it's impossible for a foreigner to obtain Chinese citizenship, there's no point in checking their IDs.

[Gahori]

I think in India at a town called Mousourrie they still have the colonial era wooden plank saying "No dogs and Indians Allowed" in the Mall area.

Bravo Fan Di. I don't know whether its a racial prejudice or gender prejudice, but you did the right thing :)

[nanheyangrouchuan]

Part of the reason for segregation is the CCP does not want average Chinese getting their thoughts "polluted" by too much exposure to foreigners.

That is why Chinese kids are not allowed to attend foreign schools.

An eyewitness on BBC world said that the PAP/PLA cordoned off areas with riots even while Han Chinese were allegedly being attacked.

Was this done to allow Han to be killed and therefore justify a deadly crackdown by the military as well as stir up more Chinese nationalism?

[Stan]

Your assistant is a bit of a whimp. Perhaps she should shed some tears about certain current events.

[Pffefer]

Nh, I knew you were disgusting, I didn't know you were THIS disgusting.

Chinese kids are not allowed to attend foreign school? Says who? I know a few Chinese kids who are attending an American school in Beijing.

The Chinese government deliberatedly allowed Han Chinese to be killed by Tibetan mobs to justify the crack down? Wow, nh, ni ya zhen ta ma bian tai!

[chriswaugh_bj]

Indeed, as Jay points out, the "No dogs or Chinese" sign is a myth, and the sign in your photo comes from the Bruce Lee film "精武门" (Fist of Fury?).

[donna]

Reminds me of how sad I am to fly anywhere these days in the U.S.

Sick of this emphasis on security over personal rights -- EVERYWHERE.

[Youssef Massef]

Soldiers are not normal people and their actions follow only their chain of command, current orders, and boot camp indoctrination. Fan Di did a dangerous thing and whoever posted her picture also did a dangerous thing. Oy vay!

[Youssef Massef]

One more thing, Fan Di is cute! That might cheer her up!

[A B]

Maybe the sign should read:

"No Running Dogs and Chinese"?

[tim J]

Interesting point, Jay. I just read through the Peking Duck posting and am still not entirely clear if such a sign existed at Huangpu Park after 1890 or not. I thought I remembered reading in Paul French's excellent book on Carl Crow that such signs did exist in Shanghai. Also, my assistant is probably similar to many Chinese in affirming emphatically that such signs did exist.

[TS]

The picture is indeed from the Bruce Lee movie (you can see the clip on youtube), so I think at least a correction is in order.

Also, wikipedia claims that the park did not have this sign, though it did have a rule allowing only foreigners in, and cites the following as a source:

Robert A. Bickers and Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom. "Shanghai's 'Dogs and Chinese Not Admitted' Sign: Legend, History and Contemporary Symbol." China Quarterly, no. 142 (1995): 444-66.

[nanheyangrouchuan]

"Chinese kids are not allowed to attend foreign school? Says who? I know a few Chinese kids who are attending an American school in Beijing."

Kids whose parents are hai gui? With foreign passports? An "American school" as in SAS or one of those hybrid foreign/chinese schools? There is a world of difference.

[the tank man]

gosh, look at this ugly chick .i'm gonna vomit....no wonder those two soldiers would stop you

over.it's quite dangerous and inhospitable to have someone like you to work for our NOBLE LOFY YET

ENDANGERED RARE SPECIES in China. It's inhuman....
hey Tim (tit in mouth or sth ),did you make this happen, see she is so pathetic and strikes me she

had to constantly inject some testosterone to withstand your abuse,oppression and degradation on

her.you must timmed her for quite a days long,huh? don't you ?

sorry Fan babe,i'm just telling what i'm thinking of in my mind. if you don't like to work for this

bastard, come over to HK.
and btw tim, isn't the freedom or democracy you honky journalists are crusading for in China?
but I'm wondering what are you trying to get at with this blog? are you trying to stire up another

Tibetan crisis within Han Chinese or sth ? and If what you are advocating makes any sense. I DARE YOU LEAVE THIS COMMENT REMAINED.

[Y]

I believe the writer (or the so-called professional journalist, or he has been assuming he is) believes a title like is new and a great attack to other people.

This actually shows how a frustrated and desperate journalist lose his/her manner and cool. There are many such kinds of losers all over the world --- when they cannot achiev anything to draw attention, they attack like a dog.

By the way, the ``dog and chinese not allowed" thing has been in the history textbook of chinese high school for many years. And I think it is one of the things thatput the modern chinese society together.

[Kirk]

Thanks for leaving up the wide range of comments.

[TriStar]

She deserved for challenging authority. She think she's above most Chinese just by working for a foreigner. The guards vent their anger at foreigner or compatriot working for foreigner from the Tibet riots. Random security check is normal, what is the big deal.

[bemis]

Sorry TJ, that TAR is off-limits to you. Since you will be staying put in Beijing, PULEEZE keep us posted on your little scheme of "Divide-and-Rule-the-Hans-Tibetans-Muslims-Everybody-in-China": Please post updated photos of your curious Assistant: has she learnt the lesson of PROPER DRESS CODE for Office Workers now!?