Opinion | China's rule enforcers say they're 'misunderstood'

An "urban management official", or chengguan, has probably one of the most unrewarding jobs in China. Short of being police officers, these municipal employees are tasked with enforcing city rules such as bans on hawking or begging. 

Frequent episodes of "excessive" and arbitrary violence against often poverty-striken migrant workers have given chengguan an image as heartless, corrupt enforcers.

Now a chengguan unit in the city of Changzhou, a two hours' drive west of Shanghai, has tried to change its image with a video that has gone viral since it was featured on Monday's Yangtse Evening Post front page.

"You only see my strict words and stern appearance," Jiang says in the clip. "But you don't see my tears and grievances."

"You can disdain our work, but we will show you who makes the city a better place," he says. 

"Chengguan is a profession destined to be controversial. We are bound to be queried and ridiculed on the streets."