It's another typical hot, sultry Saturday night in a popular area of Beijing known as Bar Street and the area is bustling with locals, foreigners and hawkers seeking a good time or a quick buck among the numerous bars, cafes and restaurants.
But in recent months the demographics - and with it the atmosphere - have changed from one of a relaxed good time to that of intimidation. As China embraces internationalism, into the heady nightlife mix have been thrown scores of young West Africans who roam the streets aggressively peddling drugs.
Tempted by easily obtained student or tourist visas in their home nations which are often swapped for bogus work and business permits on arrival - or simply left to expire - scores of young Nigerians, Sudanese, Ghanaians and Liberians have taken up residency.
Yards from a four-storey police station, they roam solo, in pairs or in small groups offering cocaine and marijuana to passers-by. As scores of Chinese busy themselves offering prostitutes and seedy massage parlours to domestic and foreign tourists, young Africans make a beeline for westerners.
'Yo bro, you want some white [cocaine] or hash, man?' has become the common opening approach from young Africans dressed in casual, smart sportswear.
Some hand out crude business cards with their telephone numbers etched in biro. 'I can deliver,' James, from Ghana, said, squeezing his makeshift card into my hand.
In the space of 15 minutes I was approached four times by six Africans offering me drugs.