Police in multiple Chinese cities have issued pre-emptive notices stating that no official New Year’s Eve countdowns will be held at popular landmarks, as they prioritise public safety and order ahead of the holiday.
This coordinated messaging, consistent with recent years, emerged through a flurry of police notices issued on Tuesday and Wednesday. It reflects a cautious strategy by authorities to prevent a recurrence of tragedies like the 2014 Shanghai stampede.
Authorities in major Chinese metropolitan areas have either cancelled flagship events or issued stern warnings that no official countdowns will occur, detaining several people for spreading rumours of non-existent fireworks displays and mass celebrations.
Advertisement
In Guangzhou, police said that landmarks including Canton Tower, Pazhou, Taigucang and the Wanbo business district had not organised “any form of large-scale mass activities, including New Year’s Eve countdowns”, a local newspaper reported last week.
On Tuesday, Dongguan, another city in southern Guangdong province, announced that its business districts would also have no large-scale mass activities or countdown events.
In the northern city of Xian, Shaanxi province, police stated that the popular Bell and Drum Tower area would not host countdowns, light shows, commercial promotions or any other activities.
Advertisement