The Forbidden City Palace Museum has denied rumours of an assault, after a video of security men allegedly attacking a tourist went viral, China Daily reports.
According to the museum, the victim is an illegal tour guide. The man, alongside his sister, had been punished several times before by police for criminal activity.
The Forbidden City attracts 15 million visitors every year, and is a haven for those wanting to dupe unsuspecting tourists out of some cash, including guides and vendors. In a statement, the museum said "these activities not only pose a safety risk to visitors and the museum, but also damage the image of the city".
The Forbidden City last year clamped down on unlawful enterprises in and around the museum, ridding the streets of more than 14,000 illegal pamphlet distributors and almost 3,000 illegal tour guides. More than 180,000 fliers and about 200 fake certificates were confiscated, and a surplus of 600 people handed over to the police. However throughout the last three months alone, illegal vendors have beaten and threatened security guards on five occasions, highlighting a continuing problem.
"Having a security team inside the Forbidden City will allow us to create a safer and more orderly experience for the visitors," the museum's curator, Shan Jixiang, told China Daily.
[Image via Wikipedia]
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