China investigates comedian after he altered a revolutionary song lyric onstage

One of China’s most well-known comedians is currently under investigation and several of his performances have been canceled after he altered the lyrics of a revolutionary song onstage. Guo Degang, the country’s most prominent performer of traditional xiangsheng, a style of Chinese comedic dialogue, is under investigation by local authorities in Wuhan, central China.

Guo’s show in the northwestern city of Xi’an was canceled due to "venue issues," and the company offered refunds for tickets, travel, and hotel expenses. The exhibition center hosting the performance in Xi’an also cited "venue issues" on Wednesday, but said the show had been "postponed" without providing a new date. Local media reports indicate that several of Guo's shows scheduled for August across various cities have been canceled.

The investigation highlights China's stricter controls and censorship in the entertainment and arts industries, where performers must navigate ambiguous and shifting "red lines." Guo was reported to Wuhan's culture and tourism authorities after he changed a lyric from "it is quiet along Weishan Lake" to "it is quiet in the Forbidden City" during a performance in Wuhan last month, according to local media reports and social media videos.

The Forbidden City, a former imperial palace now open to the public, is a major tourist attraction in Beijing, with over 10 million visitors annually. Neither Guo nor his promoter responded to inquiries regarding the incident.