Here’s a shot of a street fight I witnessed by Jishuitan subway. Guilty as charged: I was in the circle which inevitably forms around such fights, secretly hoping things escalate so we can get our cheap gladiator thrills.
The fight simmered more than sizzled, with a lot of writhing on both men’s part to get past those trying to hold them apart – and the occasional blow thrown when they succeeded. The whole business went on for thirty odd minutes after I arrived until the police took both away: no-one seemed to have any clue what the grievance was.
The fighters are, in the foreground clump of heads, far left (obviously) and fourth from left.
'Who said my man-purse was effeminate?'
Alec Ash
I studied Mandarin in Beijing, where I began writing this blog in the Olympic summer of 2008