Shenyang Mall Explosion: A Warning to Xi Jinping Heard in Zhongnanhai

On January 26, videos of an explosion near the Dadong Wholesale Food Market in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, circulated on overseas social media platforms. (Video screenshot)

[People News] On January 26, a powerful explosion occurred near the Dadong Wholesale Food Market in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, leaving multiple people injured and bleeding on the ground. The incident drew particular attention because it happened just three days after Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping visited the market. Authorities quickly moved to block information about the explosion. Some netizens commented that the timing of the explosion, right after Xi's visit, was a warning. Others noted that an explosion of this scale right before Lunar New Year is a bad omen, and the government’s attempt to suppress the news suggests Xi Jinping himself was the most shocked by the incident.

Several videos circulating on Chinese social media show the explosion occurring around midday on January 26 at Dongshuncheng Street in Shenyang's Shenhe District, outside the "Dadong Wholesale Food Market." The area was bustling with people when a loud bang suddenly erupted, followed by smoke and fire. Shrapnel flew in all directions, and people began fleeing in panic. Amidst cries of "Explosion! Explosion!" were the frightened screams of children. Many people were left with head injuries, bleeding, and lying on the ground.

Since the explosion occurred at a location Xi Jinping had inspected just three days prior, many videos of the scene quickly spread online. However, authorities swiftly moved to censor the footage. By the day after the incident, searches on platforms like Weibo and Baidu yielded no results related to the explosion.

An eyewitness told Dajiyuan, "The explosion happened right outside the Dadong Wholesale Food Market, near the bus stop. At a glance, many people were injured. One little girl’s down jacket was torn open, but luckily, she wasn’t hurt too badly because her father shielded her. Otherwise, it would’ve hit her face… Now, all related videos have been taken down, and posting them is not allowed."

Many netizens speculated that the explosion was directed at Xi Jinping. Comments online included: "Xi just inspected the place, and now it’s blown up." "The mission to remove Xi hasn’t succeeded yet; comrades still have work to do." "If 2024 was frightening, 2025 starts with a bang. Has the situation escalated to this extent? It feels like an economic crisis might recreate the prelude to another world war." "This makes it hard not to suspect someone’s trying to harm Xi. This is also a warning." "The myth of safety has been shattered. Hua Chunying, time to connect with reality." "Creative new approaches for rebellion." "Now they can use EV batteries for explosions and uprisings."

According to Radio Free Asia, Shenyang resident Mr. Xu believes: "This is different from the car attack in Zhuhai or the stabbing of a Japanese national. This explosion wasn’t random or targeting innocent people. It strongly signals dissatisfaction with the top leadership. The political intent is very clear—it’s another warning to the ruling elite, who only protect the Party and the upper echelon’s interests while the people live worse than livestock. Just trying to petition for basic rights leads to arrests. There’s judicial injustice, social injustice, and a lot of public anger."

Commentator Chen Pokong pointed out that while incidents like knife attacks, car crashes, and revenge against the government due to economic hardships are common, this case is different: "Xi Jinping had just visited the site, and then the explosion happened. The perpetrator deliberately chose a location Xi had recently been to. When Xi visited, security was tight, so the person couldn’t act then. Although the explosion occurred in Shenyang, its reverberations were felt in Zhongnanhai. Happening so close to Lunar New Year, on the eve of Chinese New Year, it’s an ominous sign. The government’s censorship shows that the person most startled by this is Xi Jinping himself."

U.S.-based commentator Cai Shenkun analyzed that this explosion was a way of leveraging Xi’s recent visit to vent dissatisfaction. He did not rule out the possibility that Shenyang and the broader Northeast, facing economic downturns, widespread unemployment, low incomes, and hardships, have seen people take extreme actions as a form of social revenge. Ordinary people, having no other recourse and feeling hopeless about their lives, resort to such desperate measures. For the Chinese Communist Party, creating a festive and jubilant atmosphere during the Lunar New Year is critical. Therefore, such explosion-related news is sure to be censored, as it might spark widespread negative discussions.