Chinese Comedy Star Guo Degang Investigated Over Revolutionary Song Parody

In late July, Guo Degang—widely regarded as China’s most influential stand-up comedian—was reported to Wuhan’s Culture and Tourism Bureau for altering the lyrics of the revolutionary song “Playing my beloved pipa.” The bureau said the unsanctioned adaptation may violate the Regulations on the Administration of Commercial Performances and public-morals standards. An investigation was launched, and several upcoming shows, including a scheduled performance at Xi’an Chanba Poly Grand Theater, were cancelled.

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Guo is credited with reviving Xiangsheng (crosstalk) and co-founding the Qilin theatre company to promote traditional Chinese arts. He performed abroad in London on April 27 2024. The song he altered commemorates guerrilla fighters from the Sino-Japanese War and was highlighted in the 1950s film *Railroad Guerrillas*; it was also selected among 100 songs for the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in 2019. Recent years have seen heightened ideological control under “Xi Jinping’s Thought,” with other comedians penalized for perceived infractions—Li Haoshi fined 14.7 million yuan in 2023 and banned, and Li Bo fined 50,000 yuan in 2022.

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The Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau confirmed the investigation remains ongoing and declined to provide a timeline for conclusions. A staff member at Xi’an Chanba Poly Grand Theater said ticket holders would receive automatic refunds. Guo’s representatives have not issued a comment.

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The case quickly dominated Chinese social media. Some users argued that altering a communist song warrants punishment, invoking the principle that “art serves the people.” Others described the authorities’ response as “oversensitive,” highlighting concerns about shrinking space for artistic expression.

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The bureau has not announced when—or if—the investigation will close, and no date for Guo’s possible return to the stage has been set. Refunds for cancelled tickets are being processed, and the broader cultural community continues to monitor the outcome.

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