Shanghai’s Spooky Split: How Halloween Went from Wild Carnival to Lockdown Nightmare
Halloween in Shanghai: from carnival to lockdown – News – Rti China Central Radio
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Time: 2024-10-27 10:52
- News citation: RFI, Comprehensive Report
- Writing Editor: News Editor
Strictly prevent people from cosplaying on the streets, and police are on alert near Julu Road in Shanghai. (Weibo)
Shanghai Halloween has always been famous for its diverse and creative costumes, but this year’s scene is completely different. Shanghai police have tightened control and banned any cross-dressing activities in many places, disappointing many citizens.
Last Halloween, Julu Road in Shanghai became the center of a drag carnival, attracting many citizens and international attention. People dressed up as various characters, some of which had obvious political satire, such as “Dabai” who imitated the epidemic prevention worker, Lu Xun holding a sign that read “Studying medicine will not save the Chinese”, and the white paper symbolizing the White Paper Movement. These cross-dressings reflected the social atmosphere at the time and people’s dissatisfaction with the epidemic containment policy and social phenomena.
However, this year’s Halloween, the Shanghai authorities apparently learned from last year’s “lessons”, deployed police forces in advance, and strengthened the control of cross-dressing activities. Major areas such as Julu Road were blocked on the 26th, any cross-dressing was prohibited, and even bars were prohibited from holding Halloween activities. Police patrolled the streets to persuade or take away anyone who tried to cross-dress, and even live broadcasts were interrupted. Some citizens said they encountered police and fences on their way to Julu Road and felt a sense of solemnity that was incompatible with the festive atmosphere.
Although the authorities have tightened control, many citizens still choose to gather in Zhongshan Park. They dressed up as various characters, including the Statue of Liberty, Chen Duxiu, Lenin and Stalin. In Zhongshan Park, people shouted “Freedom” and raised their mobile phones to take pictures of the Statue of Liberty. However, as crowds gathered, the authorities eventually announced the closure of Zhongshan Park.
Shanghai authorities’ blockade of Halloween has sparked criticism from many netizens. Some believe authorities overreacted and stifled the city’s vitality. Some people also question why the authorities are so afraid of cross-dressing by citizens. They believe that Halloween should be a relaxed and joyful holiday, but excessive control by the authorities has caused the holiday to lose its original meaning.
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