In recent years, while Westerners typically only dress up in costumes on Halloween, Chinese people have been taking to the streets dressed as various characters a few days in advance. This has become a way for them to express their dissatisfaction with the government. However, this year, they started celebrating a week early, prompting the Chinese authorities to take strict measures to ban Halloween activities.
As Halloween approached on October 31st, bustling streets in cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Hefei saw a significant increase in police presence to prevent young people from gathering to celebrate Halloween.
In Shanghai, known for its vibrant bar scene on Julu Road and Changle Road, large numbers of police officers were deployed to set up barricades, conduct checks, disperse crowds, and even arrest individuals engaging in cosplay on the streets. Some cosplay enthusiasts were banned from taking the metro, and law enforcement officials inspected life-sized dolls outside businesses to ensure no one was hiding inside.
Despite the efforts of Shanghai police to disperse or arrest these young people dressed in elaborate costumes, they fearlessly continued to celebrate Halloween, with some engaging in playful games of cat and mouse with the police. Even now, young people in Shanghai are choosing to participate in related activities at night.
Previously, young people in Shanghai had relocated their activities to Zhongshan Park, where they meticulously dressed up as various characters to express their thoughts. They performed, sang, took photos, and recorded videos, creating a lively atmosphere in the park.
Some standout cosplay enthusiasts were taken away by the police, and individuals dressed in traditional Chinese costumes in the area were also subjected to inspections. Characters related to religious beliefs were detained for questioning but posed for photos upon leaving the police station, commemorating their experience of being detained by the authorities.
Videos circulating online showed police officers forcibly removing cosplay enthusiasts near the Jing’an Temple in Shanghai, compelling them to remove their makeup and costumes inside a house. Two young women dressed as “black-faced sheep” were forced to remove their makeup, and their sheep costumes were nearly confiscated. However, they expressed that it was fun and vowed to return the next day.
After reveling in Halloween festivities at Zhongshan Park in Shanghai, the park was sealed off by authorities. An abrupt announcement on October 26 declared that the park would close at 2 p.m. on October 27, with reopening times to be announced later. Currently, a large number of police officers are onsite controlling the area, preventing ordinary visitors from entering, and conducting strict checks at the entrance to Zhongshan Park subway station.
On October 27, Jinjiang Park in Shanghai issued an online notice stating that they would not be welcoming visitors in costume until November 1.
Additionally, stricter restrictions were enforced in locations like Urumqi Middle Road and Red Star Road in Shanghai, where undercover officers and police officers were heavily stationed, leaving only a few ordinary citizens in the vicinity. This increased control is believed to be related to Red Star Road being the former residence of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Urumqi Middle Road being the birthplace of the 2022 Blank Revolution. Currently, photography and flower delivery are prohibited on Red Star Road, with food deliveries subject to inspections.
Apart from Shanghai, cities like Hangzhou, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Beijing also faced limitations on cosplay activities during Halloween.
On October 27, a Halloween-themed event titled “Flowing Lights Dance” in Nanjing was forced to halt its activities. Official sources attributed this decision to “adverse events during Halloween in Shanghai” causing sensitivity and scrutiny in Nanjing, leading to the suspension of activities in commercial areas due to risk management.
From October 27 to 28, individuals dressed as characters such as Fan Bingbing, Batman, and Deadpool on Zhongshan North Road in Hangzhou were taken away by the police.
On October 29, venues like Wanda Plaza, Water Kingdom, and Joyland in Nanjing canceled Halloween activities, some prohibiting gatherings and removing Halloween elements from display. Additionally, Shijingshan Park in Beijing announced the cancellation of parade performances on the same day.
In Guangzhou’s Dongshankou Pedestrian Street, cosplay enthusiasts were required to remove their costumes and undergo bag searches.
On October 25, a social media influencer, “Zheyin,” who bears a striking resemblance to singer Na Ying, complained during a livestream about the strict control of Halloween in Shanghai. She recounted being taken for a chat at Yuyuan Road and cautioned locals who had already bought cosplay costumes or individuals from outside Shanghai looking to celebrate to reconsider.
Recently, Chinese networks and social media platforms have faced strict controls, with Halloween-related tags and topics extensively banned.
Searching for “Shanghai Halloween” on Douyin currently yields no results, and live streams featuring scenes from Julu Road in Shanghai were instantly suspended. Weibo has also banned numerous topics related to “Shanghai Halloween.”
Many schools and teachers using platforms like WeChat and QQ received notices from October 25 to November 1, instructing students not to participate in Halloween activities and requiring them to report any involvement on platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu.
On October 29, a university in Shanghai specifically instructed students not to wear cosplay costumes on campus during Halloween. Reports suggest that two students have been registered by the police.
Hangzhou resident Zhao Tianming (pseudonym), who attended Halloween activities over the weekend, told Epoch Times on October 30, “There have been numerous participants in Hangzhou this year, with regulations in place to prevent gatherings on the streets, though not as stringent as those in Shanghai.”
Regarding the strict control in Shanghai this time, Zhao remarked, “Shanghai experienced anti-government incidents this year, making it a politically sensitive period with stringent enforcement. However, these events aren’t widely reported in the news.”
Liu Hao (pseudonym), who works in the construction industry in Shanghai, shared his thoughts with Epoch Times on October 29, stating, “The evil CCP knows its days are numbered and tries to prevent young people from celebrating Halloween in Zhongshan Park by falsely claiming it needs renovations. They are currently in a state of mental turmoil, needing foreign funds and technology while rejecting Western cultural practices and customs, which is ultimately unfeasible.”
“Nowadays, young people are heavily impacted by internal turmoil and unemployment in their work. They simply want to express their repressed thoughts and feelings through festivals and dressing up, but they are suppressed by the CCP. The CCP fears that they will gather and resist again because many young people stay informed about external news through circumvention tools, making them more aware and thoughtful than ordinary individuals,” he added.
He further noted, “It’s not only in Shanghai and Hangzhou where Halloween celebrations are being suppressed. Hefei in Anhui Province is even stricter than Shanghai in handling Halloween issues. It dictates that businesses shut down all commercial electronic screens until the end of Halloween to eradicate any foreign festive atmosphere.”
Another Shanghai resident, Lin Dadong (pseudonym), on October 27, expressed to Epoch Times, “These holidays are rare occasions for everyone to relax and have fun. Last year, Halloween in Shanghai was highly lively, and there were no such severe restrictions. At that time, everyone dressed up as various characters and took to the streets. The government’s sudden crackdown, including traditional Hanfu attire worn for photos at tourist spots, is overly sensitive and bewildering.”
Some netizens on Weibo also complained about the CCP’s actions, calling the control over Halloween in 2024 “speechless” and highlighting their frustration with the regime for prohibiting Western holidays, labeling it as “going berserk.” Some equated the CCP’s methods to a “Halloween lockdown,” portraying it as a frightening festival, and likening it to the “Shanghai lockdown” during the pandemic.