Amidst the ongoing high pressure of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) politics, the economy is also experiencing a downturn. Despite the CCP’s efforts to prevent young people from gathering, for mainland Chinese youth, events like Halloween in Shanghai, night bike rides in Kaifeng, and underground music concerts known as “wild parties” are their way of resisting the increasingly restrictive society imposed by the CCP.
Analysis suggests that in China, any form of gathering has the potential to spark a volcanic eruption, which could lead to a domino effect challenging the CCP’s authority.
According to the Associated Press, underground music concerts known as “wild parties” are spreading in the corners of some cities in mainland China, providing a rare space for freedom and symbolizing resistance against the rigid societal norms.
In an abandoned air raid shelter in Changchun, a group of young people is participating in a “wild party.” The organizer of this gathering, Xing Long, works in an office of a state-owned enterprise during the day and organizes music events at night.
For young people like 31-year-old Xing Long, these gatherings are a way to escape the monotony of their daily lives. “My job doesn’t make me feel fulfilled,” he says, “It’s like executing a pre-written program.”
“I love underground electronic music because it’s real, I can hear things I genuinely enjoy,” he adds.
The earliest known instances of such phenomena in China can be traced back to the mid-1980s when Cui Jian’s song “Nothing to My Name” resonated with many Chinese youth, becoming a cultural symbol of resistance against the CCP’s authoritarian rule.
In recent years, facing bleak economic prospects, Chinese youth are filled with frustration and despair, reflected in movements like “lying flat” or “do-nothing” which highlight their current predicament.
Chinese-Canadian writer Sheng Xue told The Epoch Times that young people are full of vitality and dreams, with strong expressive and creative abilities. However, in today’s China, apart from simple pleasures, almost all platforms for young people to express themselves freely are closed off. Any expression must align with the CCP’s ideology, which is unbearable for many intelligent individuals.
“Of course, young people must find ways to express themselves, to release their frustration. This is the simplest and most instinctive form of rebellion,” Sheng Xue added.
Looking back at the late 1970s and early 1980s, during the period of reform and opening up in China, there was a sense of liberation as young people engaged in activities like family dance parties and disco.
However, under Xi Jinping’s regime, the entire society and population are viewed as enemies, leaving people to seek any small crevice to breathe, allowing them to let off steam. Young people naturally gravitate towards activities that do not appear politically sensitive or threatening, such as playing and having fun.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic at the end of 2019, the CCP has continuously used the public health emergency as an excuse to restrict personal freedoms and control public opinion. During lockdowns, basic citizen rights in China were stripped away.
Under political pressure, “political depression” became a key term in mainland China in 2022, reflecting a sense of helplessness among individuals who feel they cannot control their destinies. Statements like “Is effort worth it? Nothing will change anyway” and “I don’t dare to hope, the worst will happen for sure” became common.
After the pandemic restrictions were eased, political control only tightened further. Even economic discussions, which previously enjoyed relative freedom, have now been restricted, with China’s national security apparatus acting as gatekeepers of economic discourse. The sense of suffocation for most Chinese citizens is intensifying.
According to a 2022 report on the social attitudes of young Chinese netizens by Fudan University, among over 5,000 respondents aged 14 to 35, more than half reported anxiety issues, nearly 30% were at risk of depression, and close to 10% had a high risk.
In June of this year, Professor Lou Dongyan from Tsinghua University mentioned on Weibo, “A striking symptom is that the number of students suffering from depression around me has noticeably increased.” Blaming personal lack of discipline and effort is actually a way of indirectly aiding those in power.
Under comprehensive political and economic repression, culture could have served as an outlet. However, recent years have seen intensified scrutiny of music concerts, performances, and other cultural activities. Songs must pass pre-approval processes and focus on patriotism and CCP ideology themes, narrowing down creative and cultural spaces in mainland China.
In fact, as early as 2014, Xi Jinping called for artists to uphold the so-called “core socialist values.” Subsequently, music festivals became increasingly challenging to operate, and many foreign bands had their performances canceled.
Popular talk shows, loved by young people, have been criticized by state media as “not tamed wild horses.” In May last year, mainland comedian Li Haoshi’s performance in Beijing was banned due to its military-related content, leading to reports of bars canceling performances by all foreign artists.
Under increasing pressure, many independent bookstores and creative spaces have closed down, outspoken public intellectuals have gone silent, and official media is filled with false narratives contradicting common sense.
An alternate form of relaxation for young people is engaging in creative gatherings and activities that share common values and goals, stimulating public passion and potential for involvement in public affairs.
“I wouldn’t dare alone, but as a group, I feel empowered,” said a university student who participated in night bike rides in Kaifeng. However, even these entertainment activities, devoid of political implications, were deemed too large in scale by the CCP, leading to the halt of night bike rides in Kaifeng.
Back in October, some universities in Shanghai notified students not to engage in Halloween gatherings, especially disallowing role-playing events on Julu Road and Changle Road. Some described Shanghai authorities’ response to Halloween as overly vigilant.
Sheng Xue stated that the CCP, as an authoritarian regime, has become so fragile that it cannot tolerate young people demonstrating their vitality. Any form of gathering, speech, or collective action is viewed as a potential challenge to its rule, leading to crackdowns on any sign of dissent or resistance.
“In reality, for young people in China today, the country is a desert in terms of ideology, and a black hole in terms of freedom of speech. You never know when you might encounter danger,” she warned.
Sheng Xue continued, mentioning cases where young people who express themselves online risk being reported and subsequently detained or punished. “I knew a young person on Twitter who suddenly disappeared. Later, he told me he was arrested for a post on Twitter and ended up with a broken hand after arguing with the police at the station.”
Unlike official vetted music events, underground music concerts currently exist in a grey area. They operate away from public scrutiny, bypassing formal approval processes to some extent, evading government suppression.
A 26-year-old participant named Loong Wu mentioned that criteria for attending these events include no cameras, security personnel, or nearby residents. However, even these measures do not guarantee safety as local police have previously disrupted events in her city.
Sheng Xue cautioned, “I believe such gatherings may not be entirely safe. While these ‘wild parties’ have no political agenda, lower-level law enforcement officials, seeking credit, may categorize them as targets for crackdown.”
“As Xi’s regime has a fixed ruling pattern, no officials at any level dare slack off. The slightest misstep could lead to being held accountable higher up, resulting in loss of official position, and all privileges,” she added.
Sheng Xue emphasized that the CCP itself is aware that any form of gathering could potentially trigger a volcanic eruption. There is a sense that public discontent is building up in all sectors and across all levels of society. Therefore, the CCP is extra sensitive to any social dynamics since a volcanic eruption could lead to a domino effect.
Mr. Lu, currently residing overseas, expressed that gatherings like the university student night bike rides in Kaifeng are unfamiliar to the CCP, and they are uncertain of the outcomes. They can manage relatively controllable activities like square dancing or underground music concerts.
He explained that resistance in the post-totalitarian era has distinct characteristics: unconscious, decentralized, and sudden eruptions. Just like the Jasmine Revolution where a street vendor was humiliated and eventually committed suicide, leading to widespread discontent among the public and the revolution in some Middle Eastern countries.
Many believe that China’s poor economic situation is a sign of the CCP’s weakness, but Lu disagrees. The downfall of the CCP is not directly related to economic factors but rather to its inherent evil nature. When this realization permeates the public consciousness, it will be the decisive factor in its collapse.