Performance Approval · Full chronicle and history

On October 21, South Korean girl group Hearts2Hearts announced the cancellation of a fan-signing event originally scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, citing force majeure, without specifying the reason.

On October 8, a group chat notice circulated online stated that, having received a notice from the Public Security Bureau and the local police station, all content by Times Fengjun and TFBOYS cannot be published, and some of Zhang Hanrui's large-scale light shows and light projections also cannot be published normally.

On October 6, the Global Times reported that lawyers explained that concerts with more than 1,000 attendees are large-scale mass events and require a safety permit to be applied for according to law; if the organizer allows someone to take the stage temporarily without authorization, it may constitute a violation of the approved event content, and audience members who force their way onto the stage may be punished under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law.

Taiwanese singer Cyndi Wang held a commercial concert at the Harbin International Convention and Exhibition Center Stadium, and told the audience during an interaction that both going on stage and going down into the audience seats require prior approval.

On October 3, singer Cyndi Wang held a commercial concert at the Harbin International Convention and Exhibition Center Stadium. During interaction with fans, she said she could not come down, and fans were not allowed onstage without prior approval.

On October 3, Cyndi Wang said “cannot take the stage without approval” at the Qunxing Concert in Harbin, Heilongjiang, and the remarks sparked discussion and mockery among netizens.

On September 29, the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism issued a notice regarding Na Ying paying tribute to Liu Huan at her concert and adding the song "The Curved Moon" on the fly, stating that it was a fragmented performance during an audience interaction segment, that the song was not performed in full, and that it did not constitute a case of changing the program and re-submitting it for approval.

On September 26, Na Ying added a performance of "The Curved Moon" to her Chengdu concert to mourn Liu Huan. Netizens are hotly debating whether this move was pre-approved and if she will face fines, lamenting the tightening cultural environment.

Beijing time, September 11, 2026 — According to China Digital Times (CDT), Wuhan authorities punished the relevant theater and the event organizer because crosstalk comedian Guo Degang sang “red songs” during a performance without prior approval. It remains undecided whether Guo Degang will be allowed to continue performing crosstalk or Peking opera. Outside observers believe that the authorities’ prolonged silence over whether to permit his performances is itself a statement.

The Wuhan Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau determined that Guo Degang altered the performance content without authorization and distorted anti-Japanese War songs; the organizer's illegal gains were confiscated and a fine of ten times the amount, totaling more than 480,000 yuan, was imposed, and Wuhan Zhongnan Theater and the related performances were penalized.

The Qilin Opera Troupe's 10th anniversary tour show in Xi'an, originally scheduled for the evening of August 15, was reported the day before the performance because Guo Degang had previously changed "Weishan Lake Is Quiet" to "The Forbidden City Is Quiet" during a show in Wuhan. It was placed under formal investigation by the Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau and officially cancelled.

When Guo Degang of Deyun Society performed a Peking opera in Wuhan with adapted lyrics from red songs, he was reported by netizens. The Wuhan Municipal Culture and Tourism Bureau has formally opened an investigation in accordance with the law on the grounds that the performance content had not been filed in advance.

The Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau issued a response regarding the incident of Guo Degang's performance lyrics not being reported, avoiding the controversy over disrespect and adapted content, and initiating filing procedures on the grounds of failure to report as required.

According to an RFI report on June 8, the French Cultural Center in Beijing suddenly canceled all film screenings for June, which outsiders suspect is related to the removal of Pride Month films.

When Guo Degang performed “Great Skill, Timid Heart” at the Beijing Exhibition Center, he satirized state-run art troupes, after which members of the public filed complaints through the 12345 hotline; the Xicheng District Culture and Tourism Bureau summoned the organizer and demanded that the script be rearranged.

Chen Peisi's Dadao Culture Company launched its first stage play, "Tuo'er," which achieved great success on its nationwide tour, with cumulative box office earnings of about 40 million yuan, marking its successful move into the stage play market.