Cinema VinesGuo Degang, China’s most famous xiangsheng comedian, is now under investigation by Wuhan’s local authorities after he altered a line in a revolutionary song during a recent performance. The change, from “it is quiet along Weishan Lake” to “it is quiet in the Forbidden City,” was made onstage in Wuhan last month and has sparked a crackdown that has led to the cancellation of several of his shows scheduled for August across the country.
Following the incident, Guo’s Friday performance in Xi’an was called off under the pretext of “venue issues,” according to a statement released by his promotion company on the ticketing platform Damai. The company offered refunds for tickets as well as travel and hotel expenses, while the exhibition centre hosting the show also cited “venue issues” and said the event had been postponed without a new date. Local media reported that other shows in the northwestern city were also cancelled.
The investigation highlights China’s tightening controls over the entertainment industry, where performers must navigate shifting “red lines.” Guo’s lyric change was not approved by Wuhan’s culture and tourism authorities, even though his performance had received prior clearance. The alteration may have violated regulations governing commercial performances, according to The Paper, a Shanghai-based outlet.
The song in question, “Playing My Beloved Pipa,” comes from the 1950s film Railway Guerrilla, which tells the story of Communist guerrillas fighting the Japanese during World War II. The piece has long been popular, having been performed at the CCTV Spring Festival gala in 1998 and selected by the Communist Party’s Publicity Department in 2019 as one of 100 songs to mark the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Guo, who has been credited with bringing xiangsheng to a younger audience, has faced similar scrutiny before. In 2023, comedian Li Haoshi, known as House, was fined 14.7 million yuan after using a military slogan to describe dogs chasing squirrels onstage. The current case underscores the delicate balance performers must maintain between artistic expression and state censorship in China.
