Guo Degang under investigation after improvising song lyrics in Wuhan

Cross-talk master Guo Degang is under investigation by the Wuhan Culture and Tourism Bureau following a performance in July 2026. During a production of the Peking Opera ‘Ji Gong’, Guo improvised changes to the lyrics of the song ‘Play My Beloved Ukulele’, replacing the original lines with references to the ‘Forbidden City being quiet’.

The alteration led to a report by an audience member, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into whether the performance content deviated from the officially filed materials. The incident has sparked significant debate on Chinese social media, with some users interpreting the lyrics as political metaphors, while others defend the improvisation as a standard element of performing arts.

In response to the controversy, local tourism officials in Yantai, Shandong, have announced upcoming performances by Guo’s Qilin Theater, including a play titled ‘The Emperor of Ming 1644’, signaling a different regional response to the artist's recent scrutiny.