Beijing clothing shop refuses to accept Chinese shoppers

A clothing shop in Beijing, China has stirred up controversies, as it put up a sign banning Chinese citizens to enter it. Chinese daily Huanqiu Shibao reported Wednesday various media outlets had been tipped off that the shop located in the Chaoyang District in the Chinese capital put up a notice declining entries by Chinese citizens except for its employees.

One of the shop`s employees said that it was because foreign customers often get their wallets stolen at the international clothing mall where the store is housed. Another worker said the shop had decided not to do business with Chinese customers because they often tried on clothes they would not buy.

China`s state-run media have joined public criticisms about the shop for the sign that many Chinese citizens found unpleasant. Fueling the controversies were Chinese people`s sad memories about an entry ban on Chinese nationals.

When China was suffering from the encroachment of Western powers in the 19th century, a park in Shanghai had a sign reading, "No dogs or Chinese allowed." LI Xiaodong, a professor at China University of Political Science and Law, was quoted as saying that the sign at the clothing shop seemed to look down on Chinese people and that it was culturally inappropriate.