Amid public pressure, the authorities in Datong City, Shanxi Province, have issued an apology letter acknowledging the negative impact caused by the recent incident of “breaking into stores to turn on lights” that was exposed. However, public opinion remains unconvinced, as they believe the official department’s apology is seen as an attempt to downplay the situation, considering the act of breaking locks and entering observed by the public as a clear violation of the law.
A video surfaced on February 3 showing employees breaking into a shop in the Gucheng Street of Pingcheng District, Datong City, because the shop did not turn on its lights as required. The CCTV footage captured multiple uniformed individuals standing outside the shop at night, with some firefighters squatting at the door using tools to force entry.
With the sound of an object being cut, the shop’s door was opened, and several firefighters stepped aside as seven people entered the shop one by one, turned on the lights, and eventually left. Finally, two employees wearing fluorescent green uniforms locked the shop door using a U-lock before leaving. The incident sparked anger among netizens upon its exposure.
However, online public opinion remains skeptical of the apology letter, criticizing the neighborhood office for trying to trivialize the issue. Media outlets like Pengpai News have commented that breaking locks to enter shops is a clear violation of the law.
An article on Caixin.com expressed that regardless of the nature of the “initiative,” specific administrative actions, and the actual execution process, the act of “breaking locks to turn on lights” is unquestionably wrong. It lacks the legality provided by laws and regulations and lacks rationality. Moreover, solely breaking locks may even constitute an illegal act, violating the property rights of shop owners.
Some netizens remarked, “The Datong officials forcibly broke into the shop and turned on the lights because the shop did not comply, then locked up the shop with their own locks before leaving. This is clearly not law enforcement but suspected criminal behavior. Mere apologies are not acceptable. What authority do they have to enforce the law? If they have none, then it’s illegal!”
Another netizen questioned, “If an ordinary person breaks into someone else’s home to turn on the lights, what punishment would they face?”
The requirement for shops to turn on lights in the ancient city of Datong originated from a “Luminous Initiative” issued by the Gulou Community of Gucheng Street, Pingcheng District on January 27.
The initiative aimed to create a festive and cheerful atmosphere during holidays by enhancing the beautification and illumination efforts from January 27 (the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month) to February 12 (the fifteenth day of the first lunar month). It mandated that interior lights should be kept on every night from 18:00 to 6:00 the next day during this period, requiring all commercial storefronts within the ancient city to ensure sufficient indoor lighting until the next morning. Signs, advertisements, LED screens, and lanterns should all be illuminated until dawn the next day.
In reality, the so-called “illumination work” mentioned in the initiative issued by Datong City is part of the “illumination project” promoted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities in major cities.
The “illumination project” aims to enhance the city’s image through the use of lighting to beautify the urban environment and improve its overall appearance, focusing on iconic buildings, shopping centers, tourist attractions, streets, and other areas with high pedestrian traffic.
According to mainland Chinese media, many city leaders personally oversee the construction of urban lighting projects and incorporate this work into the city government’s agenda. They designate specific personnel to handle the organization and establish dedicated institutions such as “Illumination Office” or “Brightness Office” to vigorously implement night lighting projects. The so-called “illumination project” is essentially a showcase project created by the CCP to boost the local economy and has become a highlight project for local officials.