Tense Atmosphere in Shanghai on Halloween Eve: Authorities Ban 'Cosplay,' but 'Strange Costumes' Still Seen in Busy Streets

"Shanghai Halloween: Holding a blank sheet of paper while undergoing a COVID test." (X Platform)

People News – Halloween has traditionally been a day of revelry for young people, but this year, on the eve of Halloween, the atmosphere in Shanghai is unusually tense. The police presence has clearly intensified, and authorities have issued a notice strictly prohibiting "cosplay" on Halloween. This is in stark contrast to last year’s lively atmosphere. Despite this, in recent days, citizens have continued to challenge the authorities' limits. Observers widely believe that the CCP’s enhanced stability maintenance is linked to China’s current economic downturn and deep public discontent, and may even reflect deeper political considerations.

According to Voice of America, tension is high in Shanghai’s Xuhui District on the eve of Halloween. Videos circulating online show a heavy police presence on Julu Road and Changle Road, with police cars on alert as if facing a major threat. A sunken plaza on Julu Road is surrounded by barriers. Police frequently signal gathered crowds to disperse.

Some posts online state that certain universities in Shanghai have notified students not to attend Halloween gatherings, especially on Julu Road and Changle Road for cosplay. Some people even describe the authorities as "jumpy" in response to Halloween.

Ms. Ma, a Shanghai resident interviewed by Voice of America, said that the deployment of police is clearly targeted.

Shanghai resident Ms. Ma said: "These two streets tend to have more fashionable young people, including some foreigners who come to drink coffee and shop. The Communist Party knows that 'a spark can set the prairie ablaze,' and with so many young people unemployed and struggling to find jobs, deploying a large police presence on Changle Road and Julu Road might be because they're worried that some of these young people with ideas might use Halloween to protest the government in a playful way."

Cosplay and Horror Makeup Are Key Targets

An internal notice reportedly issued by the Huangpu District Street Office indicates that any form of Halloween attire, particularly cosplay and makeup with horror or violent elements, is strictly prohibited in the district this year. The police will follow a "see it, take them away, remove the makeup" principle, taking action to dissuade and enforce against any violations of costume regulations. Any resistance may lead to further legal actions.

Shanghai resident Mr. Wang told Voice of America that he had also seen similar "internal notices" on his phone app.

Shanghai resident Mr. Wang said: "What might happen 'inside' that makes authorities enforce control? As for the real reason, the public will never know. In today’s social environment, this kind of thing happens all the time. On holidays, they still want to keep everyone locked up – where’s the freedom in that? Where in human nature is there any 'happiness'?"

Mr. Wang finds Shanghai authorities' sudden tightening of control over costumes puzzling. He said, "What’s the harm in wearing strange costumes? In a normal, civilized society, there’s no need to worry about this at all. A hundred flowers blooming, allowing each person to express their longing for freedom, that’s what’s normal. In a truly civilized society, the police protect the safety of the people. Here, it’s quite the opposite."

Cosplayers Taken Away by Police in Busy Areas

However, some young people in Shanghai seem unfazed by the authorities' actions and orders. Videos shared online on October 26 show many young people dressed up, walking around the streets during the day. By evening, many gathered at Zhongshan Park and Zhongshan Road to celebrate Halloween in advance, drawing large crowds cheering and watching. Some people in costume were taken away by police, while others argued with the officers on the spot.

Ms. Ma believes that from her observations, these young Halloween enthusiasts have no intention of provoking the authorities, and she doubts the authorities will take further action.

Ms. Ma said, "Young people are indeed rebellious, but after so many years of upbringing and education, most Chinese young people dare not or do not know how to rebel. Will the authorities completely ban Halloween, forbidding people from celebrating at all? I don’t think so, but they will control it. They will certainly set up a lot of police in critical areas. If there’s even the slightest sign of something, they’ll put you in a police car right away to prevent escalation."

Halloween, a traditional Western holiday, has gained popularity among young people in China in recent years. Last year, after the CCP lifted COVID-19 lockdowns, people in Shanghai’s Julu Road area used Halloween to mock the authorities. Some displayed blank sheets of paper, symbolizing the "White Paper Movement," while others dressed as Winnie the Pooh to mock opposition to Xi Jinping.

Expert: Shanghai Authorities Are Taking Lessons, Tightening Control Over Holiday Celebrations

Independent Chinese political scholar Chen Daoyin told Voice of America that he observed that this year, even traditional characters like "God of Wealth" have been discouraged by law enforcement, showing that Shanghai authorities are applying lessons from last year by implementing public order arrangements for Halloween.

He said, "Last year, Shanghai officials didn’t expect these satirical costumes. Through lighthearted themes or characters, people could mock the authorities, creating a stir in public opinion, so this year, officials issued notices early on banning cosplay. This is a preventive measure, and police presence is also being intensified on site. It’s not only targeting Western cultural figures but also discouraging people from using traditional roles like emperors to make veiled references to the authorities."

Chen Daoyin believes that in today’s environment of high-pressure governance by the CCP, Halloween is gradually becoming a channel for young people to vent dissatisfaction with the government. He noted, "Most people, especially young people dressing up for Halloween, have received some exposure to Western culture, at least understanding that in Western culture, you can express yourself freely. We can voice opinions about the government if we’re dissatisfied, but they also know that in China’s current political climate, this is not possible. Everyone tacitly understands what’s going on. So, they use cosplay to express discontent with the authorities."

Control Amid Economic Strain: Authorities Likely Fear Public Discontent Surfacing on Holidays

Lai Rongwei, executive director of Taiwan’s Inspirational Association (ITA), told Voice of America that the CCP is wary of people criticizing the central government or disparaging national leaders, but the problem is that China’s economy has not recovered, and public resentment is growing.

Lai Rongwei said, "Basically, avoid criticizing the CCP or current CCP leaders, and avoid anything that distorts party history or damages the country's image – essentially, avoid anything critical of the CCP or Xi Jinping. For example, Winnie the Pooh costumes during Halloween. The worse the economic situation in China, the stricter the control. The public certainly holds deep dissatisfaction with the current China led by the Communist Party, whether it’s people, policies, or systems, given the significant economic decline."

Lai Rongwei also noted that the CCP has long used tactics like eliminating “spiritual pollution” and disparaging foreign influences to stabilize its rule.

He said, "For the CCP, Halloween is a Western product, a clear example of capitalist bourgeois culture. Since Halloween is from abroad and not something the CCP deems a Chinese or Chinese-national cultural product, it naturally falls under class struggle and should be disparaged."

Are Authorities Worried That Halloween Could Spark a Social Movement?

Some public opinions speculate that this year’s heightened security for Halloween in Shanghai is linked to the October 27 anniversary of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s death. Authorities may also fear a repeat of group incidents like the 2022 "White Paper Movement" in China.

In November 2022, a deadly fire broke out in Urumqi, Xinjiang, under strict COVID lockdowns, leading to multiple deaths and injuries. Afterward, spontaneous gatherings and protests erupted in Urumqi and other major cities and university campuses across the country, with many people holding up blank sheets of paper to protest the government’s strict lockdowns and censorship.

Taiwanese scholar Lai Rongwei suggested that the strict control over Halloween activities in Shanghai this year might be related to the anniversary of Li Keqiang's death and the "White Paper Movement."

Lai Rongwei said, "Social movements need a justified cause, and bringing up Li Keqiang is understandable. This is also what the CCP fears the most. A connected movement always needs a title. The CCP's leadership may consider this a potential social movement orchestrated by foreign forces."

However, independent Chinese political scholar Chen Daoyin believes that associating Halloween control with Li Keqiang or the White Paper Movement is overthinking it.

He explained, "Young people today... without a major incident to catalyze it, it’s unlikely they’ll start any movement. During the Urumqi fire incident, people were already under lockdown. It was a sudden outburst. So far this year, nothing major has occurred to trigger such collective empathy and emotional expression."