AT NIGHT, WE ARE FREE (2022)
- RAVE PARTIES IN ZERO COVID CHINA -

WHEN THE CLUBS ON THE SURFACE ARE CLOSED, THE ELECTRONIC MUSIC SCENE THRIVES UNDERGROUND.

In 2022, as most of the world opened up after two years of Covid restrictions, China took a different path; enforcing even stricter epidemic prevention measures under the dynamic zero-Covid policy.

With no end in sight, talk of emigration became a common topic, especially amongst the country’s disillusioned youth. The term "runxue" (or "run philosophy”), quickly became a trending term on the Chinese internet.

In Beijing, most nightlife venues were closed throughout the year. With fewer and fewer opportunities to fulfil their desire for freedom and fun, young people began to self organise raves on the city’s outskirts. Held in abandoned buildings and parkland far from the eyes and the ears of the police, invitations were circulated via social media and private group chats only a few hours before the parties were to begin.

There were no health codes to scan, no contact tracing, and no masks.

”At night, we are free”, told me one young raver, sipping whiskey straight from the bottle on the rooftop of the abandoned hotel at the end of the party. However, with the breaking of a new day, zero-Covid restrictions were soon to became a reality again.