The Shanghai government recently put up English posters near major clothing and gift markets warning foreign tourists against buying counterfeit goods, as the city tries to improve its reputation internationally.

A foreigner walks past an English poster warning tourists against buying counterfeit goods at the Xiangyang Road Clothing and Gift Market in Shanghai yesterday.

The posters, which were released in Chinese last October, lists 40 of the world's top brands, which are not allowed to be sold in any small markets around the city. It also indicates that violators will be prosecuted.

The Shanghai Administration of Industry and Commerce also issued circulars on Thursday to local travel agencies, asking them to dissuade tourists from buying counterfeit goods.

"Although we've spent much effort on reducing the availability of fake goods by attacking the vendors, we now realize it is also necessary to change consumers' attitudes," said an officer surnamed Chen, with the administration.

Chen said although the government is trying hard to improve protection of intellectual property rights, domestic and foreign tourists crowding in the Xiangyang Road Clothing and Gift Market, and other similar markets around the city, to hunt for counterfeit versions of the world's top brands gives Shanghai a negative image.

"Most foreign visitors will go there themselves, thanks to the fame of the market. We seldom take tourists there, unless they ask to go," Wu Shilin, deputy general manager of Shanghai Airlines Tours International Co Ltd, told Shanghai Daily yesterday.

The Xiangyang Market, a must-visit shopping paradise, is famous for selling fake versions of luxury brands, from Gucci sun glass to Louis Vuitton bags.

"That's why I'm here," said Oona Vels from Finland, yesterday at the market.

When told that the city government exerts efforts to wipe out the fake goods, a shopper from Denmark said, "It's good to protect IPR, but anyways I do enjoy buying cheap things here."

The Shanghai Administration of Industry and Commerce seized 8,890 articles on Thursday which are suspected of being counterfeits, and encourages city residents to report vendors of fake goods to the administration by calling 12315.

(Shanghai Daily August 22, 2005)