A video circulating on social media shows a man unfurling anti-Chinese Communist Party banners in a busy commercial area of Beijing, in what appears to be a rare public protest in the capital.
The footage, first posted on March 18 by an X user identified as “YiFeng Su,” shows a man dressed in black standing on the second floor of a building, where he hangs two large banners facing the street below. One banner reads: “The nature of the Communist Party is anti-humanity and anti-human. It will bring endless disaster to China.” The other calls for political change, including the legalization of opposition parties, free political competition, and free elections, as well as the establishment of a system based on freedom, human dignity, and the rule of law.
The man is also seen using a loudspeaker to address people gathered below, though the audio is unclear. Several onlookers appear to be watching and recording the scene on their phones. A separate image shows individuals removing the banners shortly afterward.
Online users identified the location as a commercial building in the Taikoo Li South district in Sanlitun, a popular shopping and nightlife area in Beijing’s Chaoyang district. The site includes venues such as CASA BACARDI and the Shan Ju Man Long restaurant.
The protest is believed to have taken place on Oct. 25, 2025, two days after the conclusion of the Chinese Communist Party’s Fourth Plenum that year. Another X user, posting under the name “Yesterday,” shared the same video on March 19 and said the protester has not been heard from since.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Online reactions have centered on concern for the individual’s safety. Some users compared him to Peng Lifa, also known as Peng Zaizhou, who staged a widely known protest on Beijing’s Sitong Bridge in October 2022. Peng displayed banners calling for political reform and criticizing China’s leadership before being detained by police.
According to information circulated online, Peng was later sentenced to nine years in prison on charges including “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” and arson, following more than two years in detention. Reports indicate he was transferred to prison in early 2025.
Since the Sitong Bridge protest, similar incidents have surfaced intermittently across China, often appearing first on overseas platforms due to domestic censorship.
In April 2025, banners were displayed on an overpass near a bus station in Chengdu, calling for political reform and criticizing unchecked Party power. A person claiming responsibility later said the action was linked to frustration over a labor dispute and the lack of effective legal recourse. Reports later indicated the individual had gone missing.
In August 2025, anti-Communist slogans were projected onto a building in Chongqing for more than 50 minutes. The messages called for freedom, an end to authoritarian rule, and the removal of the Communist Party. Police later traced the projection equipment to a hotel room. The individual behind the act reportedly left a note urging authorities not to assist wrongdoing, warning that those benefiting from the system could one day become its victims.
Videos of these incidents have been widely shared on overseas social media platforms. Within China, discussion of such events remains tightly restricted.
Public protests of this kind remain rare in China, where security controls and censorship limit open dissent. Similar incidents in recent years have largely been documented through videos and images shared outside the country.
By Cai Siyun
Editor’s Note: This article is based on social media posts, online videos, and accounts shared by overseas users. The details of the incident and the individual involved have not been independently verified.
