Street vendors set up shop on an overpass in Shanghai. Photo: IC

The three street vendors hurried to secure their merchandise and jumped on their flatbed tricycles on Wujiang Road one evening last week. They rode off grinning, coasting down the cobblestones as a lone urban management officer (chengguan) strode into their wake. The officer paused on the spot where the vendors had temporarily set up shop. With hands planted on his hips, he stared as the vendors, very slowly, fled.

Over the next 30 minutes or so, the scene replayed itself again and again. Vendors would arrive, open up the cases on the backs of their tricycles and begin selling wares. Then, without any obvious warning, they would ride off.

This is how the illegal street vendors operate in Shanghai. On the good days, they set up shop in a high-traffic area to sell scarves, hats and other accessories. When it rains, baskets of umbrellas appear outside subway station entrances. On the bad days, the vendors engage in the world's lamest game of cat and mouse. The chengguan arrive, the vendors flee, rinse, repeat. Sometimes, a squad of chengguan will park a truck next to a problem area. As long as they sit there, the vendors won't appear. Occasionally, they manage to catch a vendor and confiscate his goods.

The authorities have their reasons to try to curb the street vendor trade. The vendors are unlicensed. They can block traffic. And their presence might hurt the reputation of the city.

The city government has tightened the screws on trade by classifying some of the city's most famous spots as "vendor-free." The areas include the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, People's Square, Xintiandi and Zhongshan Park, according to a report in the Shanghai Morning Post. The vendor-free regulations cover 26 areas and 90 roads. Individual offenders face fines ranging from 50 yuan ($8.10) to 500 yuan.

Although the regulations specifically target vendors who set up stalls in these areas, we wondered what expats think of the street traders. The Global Times set up shop where there was a lot of foot traffic and asked foreigners if they thought street vendors should be allowed to sell where they please.

Yulia, maternity leave, Russia

The street vendors don't bother me. I think they are sweet. You know, they usually don't bother people too much and they don't approach you if you don't want to buy something. If they want to sell something and business is good, why not let them do it? I shop at them sometimes, just for simple things or presents. Usually they don't sell anything expensive, so I've never really felt cheated. I speak Chinese too so they can negotiate easily with me.

Jonas, finance, Switzerland

In my opinion, there are too many shopping centers here with Gucci and Louis Vuitton and brands like that, so I actually like the street vendors. They offer other choices and are a part of real China, I would say. I've shopped at these vendors, I've eaten street food, I've bought umbrellas and other stuff that I've needed. You should always check quality, of course, so you don't get cheated when negotiating a price, but that's part of the fun.

Theo, intern, France

I'm fine with it. And that's where I buy most of my stuff, because that's where it's cheaper. Even food, like street food. That's what I buy most. All kinds of electronic stuff as well. I know the quality is bad. When I'm not really looking for good quality, then I don't really care. If I'm looking for good quality, I'll go into a real shop. Mostly, I'm fine with it. It's not a big issue for me.

Deji Odunlami, teacher, the UK

I'd like to say there shouldn't be (limits on vendors), because I like the idea of being in a city that's bustling and different from where I'm from. But I think I understand why the government has to make the moves it's making. I like being able to just wander up to someone and buy an umbrella or whatever else I need, but I see the government tightening up on how the city works. Like anywhere when things get more bureaucratic, you start to need licenses to do things. You don't want a free-for-all where people can just pitch up anywhere they like … And especially when it comes to food, there have always been big concerns in China about safety and some food vendors obviously don't have licenses to do what they're doing.

Personally, I would be quite sad if it came down to a total ban on vendors, but I still understand why the government may be moving in that direction. I see vendors as part of the character of the city.

I've been here four years, and the city has changed a lot over those four years. I'm not bothered by vendors, but maybe that's because it's not as bad now as it was back then, when you maybe couldn't come out of a metro station without having to climb over them. I still buy things from vendors, although I've stopped buying food.

Alex Centeleghe, wine trade, Switzerland

I think it's part of the city actually to have all these little vendors on the street. All these kinds of food, like the kebabs, are part of it. When it's raining, you have these people suddenly coming - you don't know where they come from - with their umbrellas. It's part of the atmosphere of China, I think. So I'm not against it. 

I buy things from street vendors like umbrellas when it's raining. I don't really have concerns about the quality because they're so cheap. Like the umbrella, maybe you can use it twice and then you replace it. Or you lose it. 

Ruta, intern, Lithuania

These vendors are part of the city. You can't guarantee the quality of the things they sell, so maybe sometimes you are taking a risk. I can't say if there should be more restrictions placed on them because I don't know what restrictions are placed on them now. The city shouldn't be sanitized though. Street vendors make Shanghai distinctive, at least from Western cities.

Ivonne Escovar, Peru

Street vendors don't pay any taxes and the quality of the products they sell is normally very poor, so I think they should be controlled. I've never shopped from them, but I'm still quite new to the city.

Gianmaria, architect, Italy

I don't think more regulations will change anything. I also don't think they are a problem. They are part of the city. It would be sad, actually, if street vendors were banned. When I came to China, I expected to see China - not Europe - and I think street vendors are a typical part of life here. I think they are absolutely a minor problem and I would never want them to go away just because of minor annoyances.

Andy Griffiths, golf professional, the UK

I actually live a bit outside of Shanghai, so for me every time I come into the city I quite enjoy knowing that things are going to be anywhere and everywhere. I imagine that if I lived here and saw this every day, my opinion might be a bit different. I'm probably a bit impartial, but I like seeing people be wherever they want to be.

But, that being said, I would quite enjoy the idea of seeing what the city could look like without a ton of vendors all over the place. I would be in favor of certain limits on vendors, although it might not be feasible to tell one person they can do something while another can't.

James, marketing, the UK

Restrictions on vendors should be within reason, but if I were in charge of deciding these things I would give them quite a lot of latitude. I don't think they are a nuisance. Generally speaking, it always seems like they are there because people want them to be there.

Arno Schwendenwin, chemical industry, Austria

I think restrictions on vendors don't really matter, because people don't really follow the rules. You can ban vendors but they will still come. Actually, I think they don't really bother anyone. I think they add to life - they are part of the picture of life in Shanghai. The vendors with their carts are quite amusing to watch sometimes. They are really harmless, although I never buy anything from them.

Global Times