Top xiangsheng star Guo Degang investigated after altering revolutionary song lyric

Wuhan’s culture and tourism bureau has launched an investigation into Guo Degang, the country’s most prominent xiangsheng comedian, for modifying a line of the 1950s revolutionary song “Playing My Beloved Pipa” during a recent show. He replaced the original phrase “it is quiet along Weishan Lake” with “it is quiet in the Forbidden City,” a change that was not approved by local authorities. Following the incident, his promoter announced the cancellation of a performance in Xi’an, citing venue issues, and refunded tickets along with travel and hotel costs; other August dates in several cities were also dropped.

The episode highlights the increasingly opaque censorship regime governing China’s entertainment sector. Guo’s act had previously received official clearance, suggesting the lyric tweak breached commercial performance regulations, according to reports from The Paper. This is not the first time a Chinese comedian has faced punitive measures; in 2023, Li Haoshi’s employer, Xiaoguo Culture Media, was fined 14.7 million yuan after a routine that invoked a military slogan. Both cases illustrate the precarious environment for performers navigating China’s shifting cultural “red lines.”