An Italian’s man energy, stubbornness, and determination are being cheered on by the Chinese public. In August this year CCTV ran a program called ‘foreigners in China’, in which they documented “Uncle Beard’s” fight against illegal construction, specifically an illegal glass house on the roof of his apartment block, thus bringing his plight to the attention of the masses. The recent slew of reports of illegal roof constructions has been angering netizens across China, but we doubt many have remained as dedicated in their complaints as this particular foreigner.

Seven years ago Uncle Beard, as he has been affectionately nicknamed due to the unusual length and style of his beard, moved into an apartment in Nanjing’s Moerte District. Not long after the move he noticed that someone had been building a glass house on the roof of his apartment block. Uncle Beard had lived in Nanjing for six years already, and had a very good grasp of Chinese, so he took his complaint about the illegal construction to the local chengguan. Unsurprisingly, they didn’t take much notice of this irritated foreigner. Uncle Beard then proceeded to go every other day to complain about the construction. Six years later he and his complaints have become infamous.

For most of us, if we were going to be this dedicated to something we would leave it at a single mission, but not Uncle Beard. He has taken it upon himself to fight against other forms, as he sees it, of uncivilized behavior, including but not limited to complaining about cigarette butts in his pipes, neighbors having fights with him, and bus drivers speaking on the phone when driving. Some matters he even takes into his own hands, such as breaking down exit doors if they have been locked, or marching door-to-door salesmen to the security guards.

Uncle Beard has grievances, if he doesn’t like what he sees he will do something about it…even if it takes six years. We suggest not getting in his way!

Source: online.sh.cn

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Keywords: Uncle Beard Illegal construction in China