Changing China
Giant on the move
Beijing’s graffiti: art or mayhem?
Beijing’s young graffiti artists use derelict buildings as the canvas to share their take on the world.
Armed with spray paint, the graffiti team known as “Beijing Penzi” enthusiastically sets to work, giving a derelict building a new lease on life.
Graffiti is not encouraged in the Chinese capital, but the street art is beginning to creep onto the capital’s streets. Debate rages over whether it’s eye-catching or just an eyesore.
In China, you can drive a car without licence plates ; you can ride a motorcycle without head gear ; you can sell Nokia if only its circuit board is original, as police only crack down on totally fake goods and they never warn you to buckle up. So you enjoy the greatest freedoms on earth and graffiti is just nothing. Do anything in Beijing with one exception “Never criticize their leaders”.