Empty streets in Shanghai after police ‘arrest people in Halloween costumes’

Young people in Shanghai were bracing themselves for a big party on Halloween night, but a police crackdown on costumes has left China’s most international city with rain-sodden empty streets.

In a four-hour walk around the bar and nightclub area of Shanghai, we saw two people in Halloween costumes. They told us they had registered their outfits with the police.

The police were the only ones out in force, with half a dozen officers on every corner ensuring the streets stayed quiet with no raucous revellers.

This all kicked off last weekend when Halloween fans started wearing their costumes out, including a couple of Spidermen, a Buddha, and a fake policeman.

According to social media footage that appeared on Chinese sites and then X, the real police then bundled the partygoers away and ordered them to take off their costumes. Dress-up was not allowed on the streets.

During last year’s Halloween events in Shanghai, the first since the country’s COVID restrictions were lifted, some people used the night to make political statements, dressing up as CCTV cameras and COVID inspectors.

In 2022 Shanghai saw the country’s largest demonstrations against China‘s COVID-zero policy, not long after the government abruptly lifted all its restrictions.

China is sensitive to crowds gathering and anything that reeks of a political statement. The government’s priority is maintaining social order and its public image.

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It’s okay to wear Halloween outfits at home or in a couple of designated areas of Shanghai, but ghosts and ghouls roaming freely is no longer tolerated in China.

In a cocktail bar on Julu Road, the owner, Zheng Yang, had her Halloween skulls and decorations on display but was expecting a quiet night.

“You can’t dress up too much and people don’t dare to go out now because of the restrictions,” she said.

“If people come out on the streets the police will say ‘you can’t wear that, you either go home now or take off your costume’.”

For China’s youth, Halloween used to be a chance to let off some steam.

“They need to vent in some way – it’s an outlet,” Ms Yang says.

“These rules will restrict you, but I think anyone who wants to party will find a way to do it.”