Investigation and Cancellations
Guo Degang, one of China's best-known performers of traditional xiangsheng comedic dialogue, is under investigation by local authorities in the central city of Wuhan, according to local media reports. The probe follows an incident last month when Guo altered a lyric of the revolutionary song "Playing My Beloved Pipa" during a show, changing "it is quiet along Weishan Lake" to "it is quiet in the Forbidden City."
The Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau said the adapted portion was not included in the materials submitted for prior approval and is suspected of violating regulations governing commercial performances, as reported by The Paper, a Shanghai-based news outlet. The bureau confirmed to CNN that the investigation is ongoing, though no timeline for results was given.
Several of Guo's performances have been affected. His show on Friday in the northwestern city of Xi'an was canceled due to "venue issues," according to a statement on ticketing platform Damai released by his promotion company. The company offered refunds for tickets as well as travel and hotel expenses. The exhibition center hosting the Xi'an performance, which also cited "venue issues" on Wednesday, said the show had been "postponed" without giving a new date. A worker from Xi'an Chanba Poly Grand Theater told CNN that "there is no date or plan for a possible return. Ticket holders will be refunded automatically." Local media reports also indicated that several shows scheduled in August across various cities were canceled.
Neither Guo nor his promoter responded to emails from the Associated Press seeking comment.
The Song and the Lyric Change
The song in question, "Playing My Beloved Pipa," originates from the 1950s film Railway Guerrilla, which depicts Communist-led guerrillas fighting Japanese forces during World War II. In 2019, it was selected by the Chinese Communist Party's Publicity Department as one of 100 songs recommended to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The original lyrics read: "The sun is about to set in the west; all is quiet on Weishan Lake." Guo changed the second line to "all is quiet in the Forbidden City" and performed the song in a comedic style, according to reports and videos shared on social media.
The Forbidden City, once home to China's emperors for hundreds of years, is now a museum attracting over 10 million visitors annually. Its mention could be politically sensitive due to its historical association with imperial power, as noted in one report.
The complainant who reported Guo to the Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau accused him of having "not only distorted and vulgarized a classic revolutionary work, but also violated public morals and accepted standards of conduct," according to a screenshot of the letter published by The Paper.
Broader Context
This incident has become one of the most discussed topics on Chinese social media, with some users calling for Guo to be punished for altering the song, while others suggested officials were being "oversensitive," as reported by CNN.
The case is seen as highlighting the stricter controls and censorship in China's entertainment and arts industries, where performers navigate an environment with often unclear and shifting "red lines." Guo's trouble underscores the delicate line comedians must tread in a highly censored environment, especially as the ruling party steps up its ideological drive to align media and celebrity culture with "Xi Jinping's Thought."
Guo is widely credited with bringing xiangsheng closer to younger generations and founded the Qilin theatre company with several renowned Peking opera artists. The investigation comes amid a broader pattern of scrutiny on comedians. In 2023, comedian Li Haoshi, known by his stage name House, sparked controversy after describing dogs chasing squirrels with a military slogan; the company he worked for, Xiaoguo Culture Media, was fined 14.7 million yuan (about $2.13 million), and Li has not appeared in public performances in mainland China since. In 2022, comic Li Bo was fined 50,000 yuan (about $7,400) for joking about the COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai and teasing teenagers.
Perspectives
Authorities
The Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau has stated that the adapted portion of Guo's performance was not part of the materials submitted for approval and is suspected of violating the Regulations on the Administration of Commercial Performances. The investigation is ongoing, and no further details have been released.
Comedians and Performers
The case illustrates the constraints faced by performers in China, where improvisation that deviates from approved material can lead to regulatory action. The broader context of recent fines and bans on comedians for similar infractions points to an environment where the boundaries of acceptable expression are tightly controlled and subject to change.