During a backstreet excursion about one week ago, I stopped to admire a series of cartoons encased in glass - cautionary tales, courtesy of Beijing's municipal authority.

I've posted photos from and translated two of the cartoons below.

Neither references the 2008 Olympic Games directly (most signs here do). Still, I think they're worth a look.

I found the cartoons in a middle-class Beijing neighborhood.

"Keep an eye on things": "Street-corner swindling"

"Aunt, I've come to the city for work and I need to rent a room. Do you know of any?"
"Yes, I do. How many are there of you? Come in a have a look."

"You can't rent this house now. Its 'fengshui' is poor. You don't want bad luck."
"Really?!"

"Amida Buddha! It's really bad - all the signs are odious."
"Oh mister, I'm begging you to help. See if you can fix what's wrong. I'll give you money to burn as a sacrifice."

"Rental 'fengshui' fraud: a swindler finds your house for rent, says its 'fengshui' is poor, agrees to perform a ceremony and takes your money. This crime is generally perpetrated by two middle-aged men working together. One-story houses and older persons are at risk."

"Aunt, do you know the way to the post office?"

"You look like an honest person - no need to keep secrets from you. I moved here for work and found eight gold coins at a construction site. Mailing them isn't convenient - I'm afraid they'll get stolen. If you could keep them in your house for a few days - until it's time for me to travel home - I could come fetch them. I'd be grateful."

"Ok, I'll keep them for a few days in my home. Grateful or not, you better hurry back to fetch them."
"According to the people from the cultural relics department, gold coins from the Ming Dynasty are worth several tens of thousands of yuan. Aunt, I'm begging you, please keep these for just a few days. I'll thank you."

"Aunt, I'm scared of being swindled. Before I leave the coins with you, pay me a deposit - 1000 yuan each. Ok? When I return, I'll pay you back and let you keep one of the coins."
"Ok. It's not easy being an independent woman - I'll help you. And pay you a deposit like you said."

"Thanks for your help. I'll leave the eight coins here, take your 8000 yuan and return next month."
"Eight thousand yuan! I want to help you, and you're counting on me - but it sure is hard to be kind. Are you a swindler or not? Even if you are, I suppose I don't have to worry - you're leaving the coins with me. If you don't return to fetch them, it'll be your loss, not mine."

"Oh! These coins are just copper knock-offs and two months have already passed. She'll never come back. My good intentions have backfired. Oh! I really should die!"

Migrants show up in both cartoons, which isn't surprising. Nearly one in three Beijingers belongs to China's "mobile population."

In the first cartoon, a homeless migrant worker sets up the scam. His sob story is convincing because it's all too common. Beijing real estate values have soared (42 percent in three years), trapping workers in a kind of 'Catch-22.'

Most migrants work in construction/demolition. In other words, they're paid to pulverize Beijing's affordable housing. Olympic organizers call this beautification but it's tough on migrant workers. What pays the rent today may leave them homeless tomorrow.

The second cartoon features a stereotyped migrant worker as well. She's young, troubled and alone. She's come from a construction site. She's not to be trusted.

In both cartoons, innocent, friendly Beijingers get burned.

The city is changing, Beijing wants its grandmas and grandpas to know. Buildings are shooting up. Traditions are fading away. Migrants are pouring in.

Most migrant workers, of course, pose no real danger. But excitement breeds anxiety. It's December 2007; Beijing is buzzing; and the Olympics are eight months away.

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