Every day, hundreds of business people from over 20 African countries look for goods in the neighborhoods of Xiaobei and Dengfeng in the city of Guangzhou. Locals now call this area, "Little Africa." But how many African expats are actually in Guangzhou? Some media outlets put the number as high as 200,000, but an official from Guangzhou's police department said that is a gross exaggeration. 

Pang Bo, deputy director of the Guangzhou Entry-Exit Administration, told CGTN, over 500,000 entries and exits are done by Africans via all ports in Guangzhou every year. 

But the number of Africans who have lived in the city for over half a year has risen from around 3,000 to more than 6,000. "Every country has the same problem of illegal immigration. This is a test for our government. Our police department will continue to research and take effective measures to protect legal expats and punish the illegal workers."

But beneath the surface, it is reported that a number of Africans traders have used fake identities, or overstayed their visas to continue their business in Guangzhou. 

We tried to interview some of them, but most were reluctant to be filmed. At last with the help of a local African community leader, we met a Nigerian business owner named Jonathan. "Because I am using a card from another country, not Nigeria. (Which country?) Gambia, (Gambia?) Yeah. This is not my true identity, it comes from a relative's Identity. It's not legal, but my identity will not let me live the life I am looking for. So I have to look for other means which I have been offered."

Others can't afford this expense and have simply taken the risk of overstaying their visas. Gabriel, another business owner, said when he failed to get a visa extension, he was left with no choice but to overstay. "Nobody wants to overstay. You know when you overstay, it gives you many problems. If you overstay, maybe you hear the police is coming, your heart breaks, you are afraid, you are scared."

He does his best to hide from authorities., and runs the risk of deportation if he is caught without the proper documentation.

Ojukwu Emma has lived in Guangzhou for over 15 years. As the president of the Association of Nigerian Community in China, he says the amount of African expats is a controversial issue. He said "Because so many of my citizens use a Congo passport, use a Ghana passport, use a Cameroon passport, [they] use so many different countries. And some Cameroonians use a Nigerian passport. How can you count?" 

 "When you are talking of the percent, I would tell you that almost all of the people that overstay and people using different countries' passport, is almost 70% out of 100," Emma added.

It’s hard to tell if Emma's count is correct. Guangzhou police say that from January to August in 2016, they caught over 400 African traders who overstayed their visas. Like any big multicultural city, Guangzhou has its problems making everyone feel at home. Authorities say China welcomes foreigners. But a valid passport and visa are necessary to visit or do business, and the police are working hard to make the city, and its African community, stay safe for everybody.