Random passport checks in Guangzhou

I was in Guangzhou for two weeks recently with friends. While walking to a restaurant downtown, three cops stopped us and asked to see our passports. We didn't have them. So, we were escorted to the nearest police station where we were told to wait in an investigation room. A few other foreigners in the same predicament were also there. We had to phone around and get our passport numbers to write down, as we were told we could be deported otherwise. Then we had to pay a fine for not carrying our passports (I literally saw the cop put my money in his pocket). Anyway, just thought that people should be aware of this inefficient and blatant money-making scheme.

If he put it in his pocket you weren't fined - you got rolled.

Ya, sorry, I meant to make it more obvious that we got rolled;p Since then, my mate who is still in there, got escorted to the same police station for a drug test (????wtf????)

What?!

That's insane- I've never once been asked for one in 4 years of living and 15 years of traveling here... Must have been unbelievably corrupt!

Well, yes, I'm assuming it was unbelievably corrupt. Crazy hey? Both incidents also happened in the same area of Guangzhou.

Hi, I live in Guangzhou too and this has also happened to one of my co-workers. I think they started doing it last year around the time of the Asian games. I have no idea if they can do this but they certainly do!