Shanghai’s Halloween festivities were met with a heavy police response over the weekend, raising concerns about a crackdown on public gatherings and freedom of expression. Witnesses reported seeing officers dispersing crowds of costumed revelers, with images of apparent arrests circulating on social media.
Although authorities have not issued an official statement prohibiting Halloween celebrations, rumors of a potential crackdown had begun to circulate earlier this month. This comes in the wake of last year’s Halloween events in Shanghai, where participants donned costumes that mocked the Chinese government and its policies, including outfits resembling surveillance cameras and Covid testers.
This year, social media footage depicted attendees in seemingly harmless costumes—such as Batman and Deadpool—being escorted into police vans. Some individuals claimed they were compelled to remove makeup at police stations. The specific criteria for police intervention remain unclear, as many others dressed in costumes appeared to be unaffected.
According to eyewitnesses who spoke to BBC Chinese, a significant police presence was observed on Julu Road in downtown Shanghai on Friday, where costumed individuals were asked to leave. On Saturday, similar dispersal efforts were noted at Zhongshan Park. One local resident described the atmosphere in the park as festive until around 10:00 PM local time, when police began cordoning off areas. “As we left the park, we were told to take off all our headgear,” the individual recounted, indicating that those exiting from a particular point could not remain in costume.
Another resident noted that the number of officers documenting the identities of costumed party-goers seemed to exceed that of the revelers. “Shanghai is not supposed to be like this,” they lamented, recalling the city’s history of tolerance.
Prior to the celebrations, some local business owners received notices discouraging Halloween events. Around the same time, unverified messages surfaced online, allegedly from a government chat group, suggesting a ban on large-scale Halloween activities. Reports also emerged of warnings issued by universities, urging students to avoid gatherings. One Fudan University student described receiving a call from a counselor inquiring about their participation in Halloween activities and cautioning them not to reveal their university affiliation if they attended.
The crackdown on Halloween celebrations is not unprecedented in China. In 2014, Beijing authorities threatened arrest for individuals wearing Halloween costumes on public transport, citing potential crowding issues. However, this year’s events follow the White Paper Protest movement that emerged in November 2022, when spontaneous gatherings in Shanghai turned into widespread demonstrations against Covid policies, posing a significant challenge to government authority.
As authorities remain silent on the recent enforcement, the implications for public expression and celebration in Shanghai are drawing scrutiny from residents and observers alike.
