Concerts and entertainment shows are big business in China but they had been effectively halted in the past three years under a strict zero-Covid policy marked by border controls, lockdowns and frequent mass testing.
At the few public performances exempted from the ban, audiences were required to observe strict rules limiting interaction.
The country’s tight Covid-19 travel restrictions also meant that very few overseas entertainers were able to visit. As a result, many entertainers such as major Hong Kong and Taiwanese stars Andy Lau and Jay Chou switched to online streaming to reach out to their mainland fans and audience.
Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau switched to online concerts to reach out to fans. Photo: Weibo
Beijing lifted most restrictions under its zero-Covid policy in December and opened its borders on January 8, with visitors only required to produce a negative Covid-19 test taken within the previous 48 hours.
Performances by mainland artists had already restarted after the pandemic measures were eased, with the crowds returning to theatres, cinemas, live shows and theme parks.
New Year’s Eve countdowns were packed in major cities, despite a surge in Covid-19 cases and related deaths across the country.
As top mainland entertainers returned with concerts and live shows, digital daily The Paper reported that a number of their counterparts in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore were also planning mainland tours.
