China and Covid19
Out of the Closet: After Protests in China, “Political Coming Out” Trend Spreads Across Social Media
Some suggest that a ‘political coming out’ is even more important than the other kind of ‘coming out.’

Published
6 months agoon

This week, WeChat groups across China have seen many discussions following an unrest-filled weekend. In the lively online discussions about the phenomenon of ‘politically coming out,’ many agree that it is sometimes more complicated to show one’s political orientation than to come out regarding one’s sexual orientation.
After a nationwide wave of protests, the word “political coming-out” (zhèngzhì chūguì 政治出柜) has become a popular one on Weibo, WeChat, and beyond.
The term refers to people showing their political position or views to those around them, usually in social media settings (“online political coming out” 线上政治出柜).
In Chinese, ‘chūguì‘ (出柜) literally means ‘to come out of the closet’ and is generally used for those coming out as gay or revealing their sexual orientation.
On Weibo, there are numerous discussions this week about ‘coming out politically.’
Chinese internet users talk about a surge in people, mostly within WeChat groups, coming out about their political orientation and views in light of recent developments. On December 1st, one Yunnan-based blogger said that it felt as if WeChat was seeing a large-scale ‘political coming out’ across friend groups, which sometimes almost seemed like a ‘personality coming out.’
Some people suggest that it is a good idea to show your political views every now and then. One popular comment said: “After all the political coming-outs happening in family, neighborhood, and business [WeChat] groups, I feel I can relax a little bit. Now we know how many people were in the closet.”
Another person agrees: “Now that I’ve come out of the closet politically, I feel so much better.”
One older, popular blogger (@好叨叨还是少叨叨) wrote:
“Every other few months or so you can ‘come out politically’ in your Wechat friend groups and use it as an opportunity to clean up your [contact] list. I’d rather not see those who will blacklist me sooner or later anyway, and it takes the pressure off of things for everyone. After all, I’m not young anymore, and I don’t need so many friends who don’t share the same principles. Of course, others will also see me like that.”
“Don’t be discouraged that parents, partners, and children do not always see eye to see – let alone friends. Even if these are close friends that you share tears and laughter with, they are still not walking in your shoes and do not experience the world as you experience it. As long as you’re armed and strong it’s ok, because along this road you will constantly separate from some people, and you will also find some true, like-minded comrades. Other than that, there is nothing you can do or need to do in these situations that you cannot entirely control.”
There are many who agree with the idea that it is easier to know who you would like to stay friends with by showing your true colors: “How to filter your friends? By coming out and by coming out politically.”
Some even suggest that ‘coming out politically’ is much more important than the other kind of ‘coming out,’ while there are also those saying that ‘coming out politically’ is much more complex and has the ability to really offend those around you, making you realize that you are so different that you might end up hating each other.
“I can personally share that coming out politically is twice as hard as coming out about your sexuality,” one blogger wrote.
STRUGGLING WITH POLITICAL ORIENTATION
Other Weibo users express that they find these times confusing. One female blogger wrote:
“I simply do not have the courage to come out of the closet politically. On the one hand, I am afraid that expressing my views will lead to an alienation with those around me, and coming out will inevitably lead to isolation or gossip. On the other hand, I am also unsure about my own orientation. When it comes to gender, there is just a few different kinds of ‘coming out’; men liking men, women liking women, and those liking both. But when it comes to politics, every person has different views on every single matter and every point, and there is no standard definition of divisions.”
There there are also those who find that it would be better not to show your political views at all if it is not absolutely necessary: “[Not coming out politically] could save mutually good relationships.”
“I can just see my Wechat groups splitting apart,” another person writes.
Amid all these discussions about the phenomenon of coming out politically, there were virtually no Weibo posts reflecting on what the different stances actually are or which topics people are referring to.
On Chinese social media, especially on Weibo, open discussions regarding the protests in Beijing, Shanghai, and elsewhere have been heavily controlled and mostly censored.
Although WeChat is also controlled, censorship is generally somewhat less visible and pervasive in private group chats, and people find various ways to still express some views that are deemed sensitive.
It is clear that a lot of people do not agree with each other when it comes to those who recently made their voices heard on the streets.
Although many supported the protesters, there were also many who did not; then there were those who believed the unrest across China was caused by evil “outside forces,” and those who believed that theory was completely non-sensical.
“I’d like to say something to these students,” one Jiangsu blogger with over 10,000 followers wrote: on Weibo “This is not a revolution. It’s not the collapse of the world. This is the fight against the epidemic.”
“We just want to live our lives,” one commenter replied.
THE OPEN-UP FACTION VERSUS THE ZERO-COVID FACTION
More than just about the protests themselves, the bigger discussion behind it evolves around those wanting the country to open up (live with the virus) versus those who advocate for anti-Covid measures.
On Chinese social media, they are often referred to as the ‘open up faction’ (开放派) versus the ‘zero Covid faction’ (清零派). Those in favor of sticking to the anti-epidemic measures fear that easing restriction could lead to many deaths, especially among the elderly and the youngest. They think they are the reasonable ones, and criticize the other side for relying on their emotions or being selfish or too naive.
The ones who want to open up, however, think the social and economic costs of the fight against the virus have become too high. They blame the other side for relying on fear rather than reason, or say that those advocating ‘zero Covid’ are careless about other people’s lives, or that they are privileged enough to still be able to get by despite strict measures and lockdowns.
Then there are those who are in the middle, seeking for halfway grounds that both sides can agree on.
On WeChat, one blogger argued that many people have some “public positions” (公开立场) that they are willing to share with others, while they also hold some “private positions” (私人立场) that they are less likely to share with others, especially when they feel their views are not shared by the majority of society.
But because so many in society keep their “private views” to themselves – perhaps for fear of rejection or because they think that expressing their views might be otherwise risky, – the commonly accepted idea of what “the majority” thinks is based on false assumptions since so many people simply choose to keep their mouths shut. This could even lead to those people actually being in the minority being conceived of as being in the majority, something that is also referred to as “pluralistic ignorance.”
This time of unrest and this important period in China’s fight against the virus have apparently created a moment when many people feel like they need to finally come out of their “closet” despite the risks. While some have done so on the streets, others are doing it on social media.
“I support ‘political coming out’,” one Weibo user writes, while some say they are still waiting for the right time.
Other netizens are just glad about adding something new to their vocabulary: “I just learnt a new word today! ‘Political coming out.’ It’s an interesting word, and I like it.”
By Manya Koetse , with contributions by Miranda Barnes
If you appreciate what we do, please subscribe here or support us by donating.
Get the story behind the hashtag. Subscribe to What’s on Weibo here to receive our newsletter and get access to our latest articles:
Spotted a mistake or want to add something? Please let us know in comments below or email us. First-time commenters, please be patient – we will have to manually approve your comment before it appears.
©2022 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.
Manya Koetse is the founder and editor-in-chief of whatsonweibo.com. She is a writer, public speaker, and researcher (Sinologist, MPhil) on social trends, digital developments, and new media in an ever-changing China, with a focus on Chinese society, pop culture, and gender issues. She shares her love for hotpot on hotpotambassador.com. Contact at manya@whatsonweibo.com, or follow on Twitter.

Also Read
China and Covid19
Repurposing China’s Abandoned Nucleic Acid Booths: 10 Innovative Transformations
Abandoned nucleic acid booths are getting a second life through these new initiatives.

Published
2 weeks agoon
May 19, 2023
During the pandemic, nucleic acid testing booths in Chinese cities were primarily focused on maintaining physical distance. Now, empty booths are being repurposed to bring people together, serving as new spaces to serve the community and promote social engagement.
Just months ago, nucleic acid testing booths were the most lively spots of some Chinese cities. During the 2022 Shanghai summer, for example, there were massive queues in front of the city’s nucleic acid booths, as people needed a negative PCR test no older than 72 hours for accessing public transport, going to work, or visiting markets and malls.
The word ‘hésuān tíng‘ (核酸亭), nucleic acid booth (also:核酸采样小屋), became a part of China’s pandemic lexicon, just like hésuān dìtú (核酸地图), the nucleic acid test map lauched in May 2022 that would show where you can get a nucleic test.

Example of nucleic acid test map.
During Halloween parties in Shanghai in 2022, some people even came dressed up as nucleic test booths – although local authorities could not appreciate the creative costume.

Halloween 2022: dressed up as nucliec acid booths. Via @manyapan twitter.
In December 2022, along with the announced changed rules in China’s ‘zero Covid’ approach, nucleic acid booths were suddenly left dismantled and empty.
With many cities spending millions to set up these booths in central locations, the question soon arose: what should they do with the abandoned booths?
This question also relates to who actually owns them, since the ownership is mixed. Some booths were purchased by authorities, others were bought by companies, and there are also local communities owning their own testing booths. Depending on the contracts and legal implications, not all booths are able to get a new function or be removed yet (Worker’s Daily).
In Tianjin, a total of 266 nucleic acid booths located in Jinghai District were listed for public acquisition earlier this month, and they were acquired for 4.78 million yuan (US$683.300) by a local food and beverage company which will transform the booths into convenience service points, selling snacks or providing other services.
Tianjin is not the only city where old nucleic acid testing booths are being repurposed. While some booths have been discarded, some companies and/or local governments – in cooperation with local communities – have demonstrated creativity by transforming the booths into new landmarks. Since the start of 2023, different cities and districts across China have already begun to repurpose testing booths. Here, we will explore ten different way in which China’s abandoned nucleic test booths get a second chance at a meaningful existence.
1: Pharmacy/Medical Booths

Via ‘copyquan’ republished on Sohu.
Blogger ‘copyquan’ recently explored various ways in which abandoned PCR testing points are being repurposed.
One way in which they are used is as small pharmacies or as medical service points for local residents (居民医疗点). Alleviating the strain on hospitals and pharmacies, this was one of the earliest ways in which the booths were repurposed back in December of 2022 and January of 2023.
Chongqing, Tianjin, and Suzhou were among earlier cities where some testing booths were transformed into convenient medical facilities.
2: Market Stalls
In Suzhou, Jiangsu province, the local government transformed vacant nucleic acid booths into market stalls for the Spring Festival in January 2022, offering them free of charge to businesses to sell local products, snacks, and traditional New Year goods.
The idea was not just meant as a way for small businesses to conveniently sell to local residents, it was also meant as a way to attract more shoppers and promote other businesses in the neighborhood.
3: Community Service Center

Small grid community center in Shizhuang Village, image via Sohu.
Some residential areas have transformed their local nucleic acid testing booths into community service centers, offering all kinds of convenient services to neighborhood residents.
These little station are called wǎnggé yìzhàn (网格驿站) or “grid service stations,” and they can serve as small community centers where residents can get various kinds of care and support.
4: “Refuel” Stations
In February of this year, 100 idle nucleic acid sampling booths were transformed into so-called “Rider Refuel Stations” (骑士加油站) in Zhejiang’s Pinghu. Although it initially sounds like a place where delivery riders can fill up their fuel tanks, it is actually meant as a place where they themselves can recharge.
Delivery riders and other outdoor workers can come to the ‘refuel’ station to drink some water or tea, warm their hands, warm up some food and take a quick nap.
5: Free Libraries

image via sohu.
In various Chinese cities, abandoned nucleic acid booths have been transformed into little free libraries where people can grab some books to read, donate or return other books, and sit down for some reading.
Changzhou is one of the places where you’ll find such “drifting bookstores” (漂流书屋) (see video), but similar initiatives have also been launched in other places, including Suzhou.
6: Study Space

Photos via Copyquan’s article on Sohu.
Another innovative way in which old testing points are being repurposed is by turning them into places where students can sit together to study. The so-called “Let’s Study Space” (一间习吧), fully airconditioned, are opened from 8 in the morning until 22:00 at night.
Students – or any citizens who would like a nice place to study – can make online reservations with their ID cards and scan a QR code to enter the study rooms.
There are currently ten study booths in Anji, and the popular project is an initiative by the Anji County Library in Zhejiang (see video).
7: Beer Kiosk

Hoegaarden beer shop, image via Creative Adquan.
Changing an old nucleic acid testing booth into a beer bar is a marketing initiative by the Shanghai McCann ad agency for the Belgium beer brand Hoegaarden.
The idea behind the bar is to celebrate a new spring after the pandemic. The ad agency has revamped a total of six formr nucleic acid booths into small Hoegaarden ‘beer gardens.’
8: Police Box
In Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province, authorities have repurposed old testing booths and transformed them into ‘police boxes’ (警务岗亭) to enhance security and improve the visibility of city police among the public.
Currently, a total of eight vacant nucleic acid booths have been renovated into modern police stations, serving as key points for police presence and interaction with the community.
9: Lottery Ticket Booths

Image via The Paper
Some nucleic acid booths have now been turned into small shops selling lottery tickets for the China Welfare Lottery. One such place turning the kiosks into lottery shops is Songjiang in Shanghai.
Using the booths like this is a win-win situation: they are placed in central locations so it is more convenient for locals to get their lottery tickets, and on the other hand, the sales also help the community, as the profits are used for welfare projects, including care for the elderly.
10: Mini Fire Stations

Micro fire stations, images via ZjNews.
Some communities decided that it would be useful to repurpose the testing points and turn them into mini fire kiosks, just allowing enough space for the necessary equipment to quickly respond to fire emergencies.
Want to read more about the end of ‘zero Covid’ in China? Check our other articles here.
By Manya Koetse,
Get the story behind the hashtag. Subscribe to What’s on Weibo here to receive our newsletter and get access to our latest articles:
Spotted a mistake or want to add something? Please let us know in comments below or email us. First-time commenters, please be patient – we will have to manually approve your comment before it appears.
©2023 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.
China and Covid19
The Hottest Place in China: How Zibo Became a Popular Tourist Destination and an Online Hit
There are even special Zibo BBQ trains now. This is how Zibo barbecue suddenly became the hottest meal of the country.

Published
2 months agoon
April 15, 2023
The old industrial city of Zibo treated students well during their zero Covid quarantine. This spring, they came back to celebrate the city. Their enthusiasm and social media posts were so contagious that the entire country now wants a taste of Zibo barbecue.
In central Shandong province, bordering the provincial capital Jinan to the west, you will find the city of Zibo (淄博). With its 4.7 million inhabitants, the old industrial and mining city was not exactly known as a trendy tourist destination. But that has all changed now. Everybody is talking about Zibo.
For the upcoming May 1st holiday, hotel bookings in Zibo went up 800% compared to 2019, making it one of the most popular destinations in Shandong. The city has especially attracted online attention since March of 2023, with hashtags and hot searches peaking over the previous week.
How did Zibo become such an online sensation, especially among China’s young travelers? The city’s hit status is widely discussed on Chinese social media apps these days. The emergence of such an overnight sensation is usually the result of various factors coming together at the right time, and this is also the case with the hype surrounding Zibo.
Zibo Barbecue
Its appealing barbecue culture is the first and main reason why Zibo is so hot nowadays. The city has been known for its barbecue restaurants for years, and creating a thriving open-air BBQ entertainment environment is also something the local authorities have invested in. They are publicizing Zibo as an ambassador city for “Friendly Shandong” (“好客山东”), the slogan the province uses to promote its image and boost tourism.
The Zibo BBQ experience includes every table having its own small stove and it has that ‘do it yourself’ factor that hotpot-style dinners also have: when the skewers are served, the diners have to grill them themselves and then wrap them in thin pancakes, usually with spring onions.

Zibo barbecue, images via social media.
As one of its tourism promotion initiatives, Zibo has set up special tourist trains and dedicated BBQ bus routes to attract groups of tourists and boost local tourism after the pandemic years. Train ticket sales for May 1st already doubled that of Spring Festival, and tickets for the Beijing South-Zibo route sold out online within a minute the moment they became available.
A Kind City in Difficult Times
Another reason for Zibo’s sudden fame was suggested by some Chinese netizens (including the popular @地瓜熊老六), who said that Zibo played a special role during China’s zero-Covid policy.
Zibo first went trending after a group of students from Jinan went there in March of this year. They came to Zibo because this was where they apparently were quarantined for a while during Covid, and they were well taken care of during their stay.
According to one Zibo local, the students also celebrated their last night in Zibo at the time with a major BBQ feast.
It is said that the students from Jinan wanted to go back to Zibo at this time and spend time there as a way to thank the city – not knowing they would start a viral sensation.
Power of TikTok
Douyin, the Chinese TikTok app, is also at the heart of Zibo’s recent success.
As reported by 36kr, Zibo first became a hot topic on Douyin in early March, when the videos of the initial groups of students taking the high-speed train to Zibo to eat barbecue went viral.
In April, Zibo again hit the hot trending lists on Douyin after one vlogger tried out ten different food stalls in the city and found that they all gave him the right portions or even gave him some extra food for free, reinforcing the idea that Zibo is a hospitable city.
What followed was a snowball effect, from Douyin to Xiaohongshu to Weibo, with videos showing Zibo diners singing together while eating and having a good time spreading all over social media, only increasing the appeal of the city. “Zibo is just all over my timeline,” some commenters wrote on April 15.
Crazy Travel after Covid
According to the Chinese media platform DT Finance (DT财经), Zibo is a destination that especially resonates with Chinese students who have new wishes when it comes to traveling.
Especially during the pandemic and China’s stringent Covid measures, many people have spent a lot of time indoors, quarantined, locked down, and/or unable to travel. Now that spring is here, people want to seize the moment and go out and enjoy their leisure time. This also means that instead of planning longer holidays well in advance, people book shorter, last-minute trips.

Social media pics of Zibo trips.
This is also one of the reasons why Zibo is especially popular among students from Shandong, who can hop on a train, reach their destination, and find themselves enjoying a beer and barbecue within a matter of hours.
Stories from Zibo
In light of the craze surrounding Zibo, there are various stories emerging from the thriving city that only add to its charm. For example, there are many videos showing the lively scenes around BBQ restaurants which went viral.
One visitor needed to catch his train but still wanted a taste of Zibo BBQ, so one female shop owner hurried things along and made sure he got his Zibo dinner (#淄博老板娘为赶高铁小伙1v1烤串#).
Then there was a 95-year-old veteran who visited the Zibo BBQ scene and his visit also made its rounds on social media (#95岁老兵体验淄博烧烤被围观#).
Another trending hashtag is about Zibo’s music events (#淄博音乐节#), about some of the planned events and (rock) concerts taking place in Zibo in late April and early May. “Zibo’s cultural tourism office really understand how to do it,” various commenters wrote, praising how Zibo is not just known for its barbecue restaurants but also for its lively music scene.
Then there are the videos showing an entire crowd singing ‘happy birthday’ because one person is celebrating their birthday.
All in all, it’s clear that Zibo did something right. Especially in these times when so many cities across China are doing all they can to promote their town as a tourist destination (read all about it here), Zibo has proven that consistency is key to success: stay kind, be reliable, but most of all, keep the barbecue hot.
By Manya Koetse , with contributions by Miranda Barnes
Get the story behind the hashtag. Subscribe to What’s on Weibo here to receive our newsletter and get access to our latest articles:
Spotted a mistake or want to add something? Please let us know in comments below or email us. First-time commenters, please be patient – we will have to manually approve your comment before it appears.
©2023 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.

From Reckless Driving to Cyber Bullying: Wuhan Mother Jumps to Death after Son Gets Run over by Teacher’s Car

When a Scene from a 2010 Chinese TV Drama Goes Viral: The ‘Cao Cao Flips Rice Bowl’ Meme

Fandom Meets Matrimony: Sea of Brides at Roy Wang’s Concert as Female Fans Show Up in Wedding Gowns

Weibo Watch: China’s Farm Fever

Let’s Plant: China’s Variety Show “Become a Farmer” Is Harvesting Success Online
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to become a premium member of What’s on Weibo today and gain access to all of our latest and premium content, as well as receive our exclusive newsletter. If you prefer to receive just our weekly newsletter with an overview of the latest, you can subscribe for free here.

Hong Kong Police Find Head of Murdered Model Abby Choi in Soup Pot

What Went Wrong in Suzhou Acrobatic Show? Fatal High-Altitude Fall Triggers Discussions on Safety Measures

BMW Ice Cream Gate: Three Reasons Why a MINI Story Became a Major Incident

Meet Ren Xiaorong, People’s Daily AI Virtual News Anchor

The Hottest Place in China: How Zibo Became a Popular Tourist Destination and an Online Hit

Modern-Day Yugong or Greedy Wolf? Critical Discussions after Ningxia Land Owner Goes Viral Begging for Water

Outrage over Chinese Food Blogger Torturing Cat in Online Video

Chinese Online Discussions on the Origins of Covid-19 after FBI Statement on Wuhan Lab Leak

China’s Celebrity Diplomats: The Online Fan Culture Surrounding Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin

Cyberspace Administration of China Lays Out Rules for Generative AI Content: “Should Reflect the Core Values of Socialism”
Get in touch
Would you like to become a contributor, or do you have any tips or suggestions for us? Get in touch with us here.
Popular Reads
-
China Celebs3 months ago
Hong Kong Police Find Head of Murdered Model Abby Choi in Soup Pot
-
China Arts & Entertainment2 months ago
What Went Wrong in Suzhou Acrobatic Show? Fatal High-Altitude Fall Triggers Discussions on Safety Measures
-
China Brands, Marketing & Consumers1 month ago
BMW Ice Cream Gate: Three Reasons Why a MINI Story Became a Major Incident
-
China Digital3 months ago
Meet Ren Xiaorong, People’s Daily AI Virtual News Anchor