Urban management authorities (城管) in Liuyuan Subdistrict ((留园街道) in the city of Suzhou in China’s Jiangsu province recently issued an order requiring all small-time peddlers (商贩) of various foodstuffs and wares to purchase “convenience carts” (便民小推车) from which to sell their product. The carts are being sold by the Liuyuan Subdistrict for 3,300 yuan, a costly sum for most small-time peddlers coming into the city, and urban management authorities have said that those not operating with the designated carts will not be permitted to do business. In this cartoon, posted by artist Shang Haichun (商海春) to QQ.com, a peddler is chained to his “convenience cart” as he sells candied fruits that presumably bring in precious little revenue.
David Bandurski
CMP Director
