Shanghai Authorities Crack Down On Halloween Goers; Halloween Revelers in Costume Face Immediate Arrest

Authorities in Shanghai are reportedly planning to limit Halloween celebrations this year, including costumes and decorations, as part of ongoing efforts to curb the spread of Western culture. Under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, concerns have risen over costumes potentially carrying political messages.

U.S media outlet RFA recently cited an internal Shanghai police notice stating, “All cosplaying is prohibited, and no Halloween makeup will be permitted” in downtown areas.

The directive instructed officers to initially use verbal persuasion but emphasized that “compulsory measures must be used in cases of non-cooperation.”

Buildings are also restricted from displaying Halloween-themed decorations, such as bats, pumpkins, ghosts, coffins, and skeletons, with bans on any “horror or violence-related elements.”

A restaurant worker in central Shanghai, where young people often gather for Halloween, advised cosplayers to stay indoors to avoid potential warnings from police. The weekend is expected to see gatherings of people in the area.

Last Halloween, some celebrants dressed as Winnie the Pooh—a character often censored in China due to its association with President Xi—and officials in hazmat suits, with images widely shared on social media. Some participants were escorted away by police. Shanghai itself endured a two-month lockdown in 2022 due to COVID-19.

With these new Halloween restrictions, social media users are questioning the limitations on entertainment activities. In recent years, authorities have taken additional steps to reduce Western cultural influence, including banning Christmas celebrations in schools.

Only in Shanghai?

But it seems like the crackdown on halloween goers is only happening in the city of Shanghai. In other cities like Wuhan, everything is going on as per usual, making many questioning why is the crackdown only happening just in Shanghai?

Some are speculating that it could be that the scary costumes are scaring the normal civilians. That is why the government is banning the event?

Others think that it is because the Chinese authorities are trying to avoid the congestion of the roads. That's why they are trying to avoid the number of people who are wandering around the streets.