An "fully equipped" alms-seeking "backpacker."
On the first day of 2012, a young man dressed as a backpacker begged on Wuxing Pedestrian Street in Liuzhou. Some believed the man was engaging in "performance art," while seasoned backpackers questioned his identity.
Reporters at the scene saw that the begging man was tall, wearing a baseball cap, a "Jack Wolfskin" windbreaker, and carrying a bulging hiking backpack. He squatted on the ground, resting on a trekking pole, with what appeared to be a hiking watch on his wrist—truly "fully equipped." In front of him was a map with words written: “Traveling to your locality, temporarily in difficulty, please help (give) a few dozen yuan for food and transportation.”
The man’s begging in this getup was indeed somewhat shocking, but many passersby still believed him and gave money. However, others commented nearby: “That gear must be worth quite a bit—hardly worth begging.” “Could this be performance art?”
Mr. He, a senior backpacker and outdoor trip leader from Liuzhou, also came to the scene. After seeing the man, he pointed out four major suspicious points about the backpacker-dressed beggar: First, the gear looks fake. Most outdoor backpackers invest heavily in their gear, which could be sold or pawned for a good amount even in emergencies—for example, the cheapest Casio hiking watch costs over a thousand yuan, and a set of windbreaker pants can cost a thousand yuan or more. Yet this beggar's "equipment" might all be counterfeit, otherwise why would someone with such pricey gear end up begging? Second, the backpack is too light. The man crouched for a long time without even taking off the bulging backpack. Unless it was empty, is he practicing some kind of skill? Third, the gear is too new. All the man's "equipment" looked brand new and clean, with almost no signs of long-term wear on the backpack or trekking pole, which doesn't match the typical rugged look of backpackers. Fourth, no phone or bank card? Is it really necessary for an over-equipped backpacker to resort to begging?