Shanghai: Over the weekend, Shanghai police intensified patrols across downtown areas to curtail Halloween festivities in China’s most cosmopolitan city. Authorities seemed determined to avoid a repeat of last year’s gatherings, where costumed revelers filled central Shanghai, some using their outfits to satirize topics like the stock market, youth unemployment, and COVID-19 restrictions.
This year, the combination of police presence, social media posts warning of potential crackdowns, and continuous rain dampened most Halloween activities. According to Reuters witnesses, police in Zhongshan Park detained at least half a dozen costumed individuals on Friday night.
Though there was no official city-wide Halloween ban, local district authorities issued notices to businesses encouraging family-oriented celebrations while advising against costume activities for adults. One bar and restaurant owner in Shanghai’s popular Jing’an district said he was required to sign a district authority-issued agreement to forgo organizing costume contests or related activities to “maintain social order and a positive public image.” Reuters reviewed a copy of the signed agreement.
Jing’an district police did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
A reveler dressed as a skeleton on Friday night recounted being detained by police, taken to an administrative office, and asked to remove his makeup. Citing privacy concerns, he declined to be identified.
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By Saturday, Shanghai’s Halloween crackdown had become a trending topic on Chinese social media, including Weibo, where one user remarked, “Even in relatively open Shanghai, the boundaries of freedom are constantly shrinking.”
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Despite these restrictions, officially approved Halloween events continued as planned at popular venues like Shanghai Disney Resort and Happy Valley Amusement Park.
