Real life in China

Today we shopped one of the major markets here. We bought everything from watches to belts to luggage. All "name" brand.

All at once we saw a woman shout out and then a guard walk briskly through. They were announcing the arrival of the police. The vendors quickly closed up cases, put away trays and hid all the name brand merchandise. Shoppers continued to shop and mind their own business and a few minutes after the police passed, business resumed. It was a strange thing to see and it was the first time I'd seen it. The vendors said it happens about once or twice a week.

There's just no way for the government to police pirated merchandise. It's too wide spread. The one thing they do really prosecute is items with the logo of the 2008 olympics.