Recently, in the streets of the ancient city of Dali in Yunnan Province, a group of young people have been spotted sitting on the road with a cardboard sign that reads “Need food”. Some of them hold signs that say “Need rice”, while others display signs claiming to be “professional beggars”. Some have even formed a “begging group” with around 80 members.
On social media platforms, many netizens have shared photos of these individuals begging. In the comment sections, some express admiration while others express confusion, calling it “abstract”.
According to a report by “Xiaoxiang Morning Post”, Mr. Yang, who has participated in the begging activities, mentioned that they have a “begging group” with around 80 members, some of whom work in Dali, while others are residents or visitors. When Mr. Yang goes out to beg, there are usually five or six people in the group. After sitting by the roadside for about ten minutes, the number of participants swells to over twenty, with even passing tourists joining in.
Mr. Yang shared that passersby sometimes offer them cigarettes, beer, drinks, snacks, but they never accept money. He mentioned that occasionally, members of the group would display QR codes, and some people would donate amounts like 5, 10, or 100 yuan, to which they don’t object.
Why do they hold up signs asking for food? Mr. Yang explained that in the streets of the ancient town, anyone can set up a stall, whether it’s a liquor stall, fortune-telling stall, or tarot card reading stall, and their begging activity is just another form of business.
Mr. Yang believes that begging is a somewhat rebellious act, challenging traditional values. He stated that people with conservative values might view their behavior as deviating from the norm, but in reality, they are just challenging conventional thinking without harming or deceiving others.
According to Mr. Yang, many people on the streets are engaging in this activity, and all it takes is to type “begging” on their phones, sit down, and start.
“This was not organized by us, it naturally came about,” Mr. Yang emphasized.
Officials from the Dali Ancient City Conservation and Management Bureau acknowledged this phenomenon and have established a special counseling team to provide guidance and advice.