CDT presents a month-to-month sequence of censored content material that has been added to our “404 Deleted Content material Archive.” Every month, we publish a abstract of content material blocked or deleted (typically yielding the message “404: content material not discovered”) from Chinese language platforms resembling WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Xiaohongshu (RedNote), Bilibili, Zhihu, Douban, and others. Though this content material archived by CDT Chinese language editors represents solely a small fraction of the web content material that disappears every day from the Chinese language web, it gives useful perception into which subjects are thought of “delicate” over time by the Celebration-state, our on-line world authorities, and platform censors. Our totally searchable Chinese language-language “404 Deleted Content material Archive,” at present comprises 2,274 deleted articles, essays, and different items of content material. The entry for every deleted merchandise contains the writer/social media account title, the unique publishing platform, the subject material, the date of deletion, and extra data.
Beneath is Half Two of the abstract of deleted content material from October 2025. (Half One contains 14 deleted posts; Half Two contains 17 deleted posts.) Between October 1-31, CDT Chinese language added 31 new articles, largely from WeChat, to the archive. Matters focused for deletion in October included: environmental points (resembling manufacturing unit air pollution in Mianyang, Sichuan, and a controversial fireworks show in Shigatse, Gyantse County, Tibet); the Nobel Prize; the lethal crash of a Xiaomi SU7 electrical automobile in Chengdu; sexual assault and on-line harassment; overly intrusive Chikungunya-prevention measures in Guangdong; official opacity within the wake of two deadly accidents; crop failures as a result of heavy autumn rains in Henan; and the upcoming closure (later cancelled) of You Xing Bookstore in Chengdu, Sichuan. (Notice that the dates on this abstract confer with when an article was revealed on the CDT web site, not when it was deleted from Chinese language social-media platforms.)
15. “I Have Filed A number of Lawsuits In opposition to Males Who Harassed and Unfold Rumors About Me On-line,” by March vulcanus, WeChat account March Cloud
October 17, 2025
March Cloud, who blogs about subjects associated to feminism and girls’s rights, reveals the onslaught of on-line harassment, insults, and private threats that she has obtained on-line, in addition to coordinated doxxing and “malicious reporting” efforts. She contains screenshots of a few of these insults and threats, and screenshots of paperwork associated to lawsuits that she has filed in opposition to her harassers. March Cloud acknowledges the issue and expense of submitting such lawsuits—she has expressly refused any monetary settlement or mediation—and admits that one of the best she will hope for might be an apology. However her long-term aim is to carry on-line abusers to account and to proceed offering her readers a secure and supportive on-line area in a society more and more hostile to feminist voices.
16. “Yang Lanlan Fails to Seem in Court docket for Third Time,” by Zheng Liying, from China Newsweek’s official WeChat account
October 20, 2025
A comparatively easy article a couple of court docket listening to in Sydney within the case of Yang Lanlan, a 23-year-old Chinese language lady charged with 4 offenses (together with harmful driving inflicting grievous bodily hurt) for crashing her Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV into one other automobile in July of this yr, significantly injuring the opposite driver. Yang didn’t seem in particular person for the listening to, however was represented by her solicitor, who requested one other adjournment to permit extra time to assemble case paperwork and negotiate a doable plea take care of the police. The article primarily focuses on the 4 fees that Yang is dealing with, and on a key upcoming court docket date that, relying on how Yang pleads, will decide whether or not the case proceeds to sentencing or will proceed into what may very well be a prolonged trial. There’s a temporary point out of the extraordinary public curiosity within the case, as a result of Yang’s mysterious background, unexplained wealth, and indulgent way of life, however no point out of the unsubstantiated however widespread rumours that she may come from a politically highly effective household in China. (Late final week, Yang’s solicitor Michael Korn entered a not responsible plea to all 4 fees and requested a quick of proof from the police to evaluation. The case will return to court docket on January 30, 2026.)
17. “Mianyang, Sichuan Province: Two Complaints Reveal an Neglected Case of Deadly Air pollution,” by Brother Nut, WeChat account The Scenario’s Difficult
October 20, 2025
This report by artist and environmental activist Brother Nut (坚果兄弟, jiānguǒ xiōngdì, typically translated as “Nut Brother”) highlights two latest public complaints—addressed to Sichuan Provincial Celebration Secretary Wang Xiaohui and Mianyang Municipal Celebration Secretary Zuo Yongxiang, respectively—about an escalating public well being emergency as a result of industrial air pollution in Mianyang, Sichuan Province. Residents have complained about widespread crop injury, defoliation of close by timber, and extreme respiratory issues as a result of manufacturing unit smoke and poisonous fumes from a close-by fertilizer plant. The article mentions previous fines levied in opposition to factories within the space, environmental air pollution stretching again many years, and the fertilizer plant’s negligent determination to renew manufacturing in August, regardless of clear indicators of ecological hurt. The report concludes with 4 suggestions: rapid shutdown of the fertilizer plant for a third-party environmental audit; set up of the most recent pollution-capture and mitigation know-how; an investigation by native authorities departments into the plant’s determination to restart manufacturing; and monetary compensation to farmers and affected residents.
18. “I Counsel That Ukraine Bomb The Russian State Archives in Moscow,” by Xu Peng, WeChat account Du Fu of Huanhua Creek (浣花溪杜甫, Huànhuāxī Dù Fǔ)
October 21, 2025
A strongly pro-Ukraine article by WeChat blogger Xu Peng castigates U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance for exhibiting disrespect to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy throughout his August assembly on the White Home. (Their earlier assembly in February was additionally criticized by many Chinese language netizens for a similar cause, regardless of the widely pro-Russian tone of Chinese language state media and social-media platforms.) Xu Peng speculates about what leverage Russian President Vladimir Putin might need over his political underlings, and probably even over Trump, and semi-facetiously means that had been Ukraine to bomb Russia’s State Archives in Moscow, it would free numerous actors to oppose Putin’s battle in Ukraine.
19. “Mosquito Eradication Pointers Listing 22 Sorts of ‘Destructive Behaviors’ to Keep away from,” by Xu Peng, WeChat account Du Fu of Huanhua Creek (浣花溪杜甫, Huànhuāxī Dù Fǔ)
October 22, 2025
Following public backlash to overly intrusive mosquito-eradication insurance policies throughout a Chikungunya outbreak in Pengyuan and different areas of Guangdong Province, this text lists 22 pointers launched by Pengyuan group officers for “stopping and rectifying adverse behaviors in epidemic prevention and management work.” These embrace felling timber, killing pets, illegally coming into residents’ properties or disposing of their possessions, unauthorized assortment or dissemination of residents’ private data, and unauthorized imposition of administrative penalties. The rules additionally forbid utilizing poisonous pesticides, spraying in crowded public areas, spraying objects that folks may contact or eat, and disrupting regular enterprise exercise or subjecting companies to onerous fumigation protocols. Xu additional feedback on the hazards of epidemic-prevention overreach and the excesses of China’s three years of “zero-COVID” insurance policies: “Studying by this lengthy record of violations is really stunning. These epidemic-prevention personnel, having gained a tiny little bit of energy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, can now amplify that energy infinitely and use it to make issues tough for others.” Xu concludes on a humorous observe, with just a little ditty he wrote—“Within the Identify of Mosquitos,” set to the tune of Jay Chou’s “Within the Identify of the Father.”
20. “‘Taking a look at a Courtyard Stuffed with Moldy Corn, I Wished to Cry’—an Investigation into the Huanghuai Area Autumn Harvest,” by Xie Xuewei, China Newsweek official WeChat account
October 22, 2025
A protracted-form investigative report from China Newsweek into crop failures in Henan and neighboring provinces after record-setting rains pressured farmers within the area to hurry their autumn grain harvest. Interviews with farmers describe plummeting grain costs, crops destroyed by mildew, the added expense of getting to rent further laborers to get crops harvested rapidly earlier than they rotted within the fields, and an incapability to avail themselves of the providers at government-subsidized “drying stations.” Many farmers complained that these drying stations typically refuse to course of small batches of moist grain from particular person farmers, as a result of they declare it isn’t cost-effective. The report highlights how authorities subsidies meant to assist farmers are as an alternative enriching the homeowners of those drying services, who purchase waterlogged grain cheaply from determined farmers and resell it at a revenue. “We’re those affected by this catastrophe,” stated one farmer, “however it’s the operators of the drying stations who’re getting subsidies, and now they’re not even prepared to dry our grain.”
21. “Henan’s Most Damaging Autumn Rains in Sixty Years: Crops That Farmers Saved from Summer time Drought Are Now Rotting within the Fields,” by reporter Wei Zhaoyang and interns He Xinyue and An Yueyang; Sanlian Life Weekly official WeChat account
October 22, 2025
This long-form investigative report from Sanlian Life Weekly, with a powerful concentrate on farmers’ lives and livelihoods, options transferring tales from farmers in Henan about this autumn’s heavy rainfall, crop failures, and large monetary losses that make it tougher for them to help their households, educate their youngsters, and look after aged mother and father. Some farmers spoke about why they selected to remain within the countryside and farm: one lady confides that she stays for the psychological well-being of her children, though she is aware of she might earn more money working within the metropolis. Like the same report from China Newsweek, this piece additionally mentions complaints from small farmers about being unable to make use of the drying stations as a result of they don’t meet the minimal amount necessities, highlighting a mismatch between farmers’ wants and the for-profit operators of the drying stations.
22. “After Air pollution Exposé, Native Authorities Departments Infiltrate a 13-Particular person WeChat Group Chat to ‘Handle’ Public Opinion,” by Brother Nut, WeChat account The Scenario’s Difficult
October 24, 2025
One other censored article from artist and environmental activist Brother Nut concerning the Mianyang air pollution scandal. Brother Nut notes that though his earlier article on the topic was deleted by platform censors, it included a QR code for a WeChat group chat, which native officers (pretending to be involved residents) apparently used to infiltrate the group chat in a bid to affect public opinion. The amusing article contains intensive screenshots of group chats and the writer’s personal analysis, which revealed that at the least two new group members weren’t who they claimed to be. One interloper turned out to be an area cadre whose on-line bio indicated that his obligations included “ecological and environmental safety.”
23. “Home Electrical Automobile Crashes Into Shiyan’s Chongqing Highway Elementary College, Many College students and Dad and mom Killed or Injured,” from WeChat account Aquarius Period
October 25, 2025
On October 22, a automobile plowed into a big crowd of scholars and oldsters close to an elementary college within the metropolis of Shiyan, Hubei province, leading to at the least one fatality, 4 critical accidents, and quite a few different minor accidents. Three days of silence from media shops and native police and authorities left many Chinese language netizens pissed off and indignant. One effort to interrupt the silence got here from freelance journalism collective Aquarius Period, which revealed this intensive (now deleted) report that includes eyewitness accounts, photographs, and a diagram of the scene of the collision. One of many mother and father interviewed describes seeing six or seven youngsters mendacity on the bottom, safety guards performing CPR on unresponsive victims, and at the least 9 ambulances and lots of site visitors police autos on the scene. The article additionally paperwork on-line and offline censorship following the collision: police shooing individuals away from the scene of the crash; households of hospitalized victims being assigned native cadres as “minders” and having their cellphones confiscated (a sample of guaranteeing or imposing kinfolk’ “emotional stability” typically seen in official dealing with of “sudden incidents”); muting of parent-teacher group chats; search censorship for “Shiyan” and different associated phrases on at the least 4 social media platforms; and content material concerning the incident being deleted from WeChat, Douyin, QQ, and RedNote. One particular person reported that, after posting a video of the crash on Douyin, they obtained a warning name from native police.
24. “From Zhang Xuefeng to Trump, the Complete World Is Turning Towards ‘Refined Selfishness,’” WeChat account Cicero by the Sea
October 26, 2025
WeChat blogger Cicero by the Sea argues {that a} world pattern towards “refined selfishness” (精致利己主义, jīngzhì lìjǐzhǔyì) is displacing communal beliefs, as evidenced by figures resembling Chinese language training influencer Zhang Xuefeng, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. (The phrase, coined by Peking College Professor Qian Liqun, refers to a philosophy that prioritizes self-interest and private acquire over nobler beliefs, however makes use of refined strategies to rationalize instrumentalist habits.) The writer discusses Trump’s “America First” technique and different nationalist actions in Japan and Europe that body themselves when it comes to a populist retreat from shared or world values. The article concludes that whereas the world appears headed towards a “egocentric period,” this cycle of selfishness typically proves self-defeating, and will result in a interval of instability earlier than the pendulum swings again towards altruism and concern for the general public good.
25. “Even Recruiting for a ‘Nepo Gig’ Requires Some Technical Ability,” by Gu Yun, WeChat account Narwhal Studio
October 27, 2025
Creator Gu Yun criticizes criticizes a suspected “radish gap” place (萝卜岗, luóbo gǎng) or “nepo job” that was not too long ago posted by a recruitment heart in Xinhua County, Henan Province. The place had no main necessities for affiliate diploma holders however imposed strict, oddly particular restrictions on bachelor’s and grasp’s diploma candidates, suggesting it was designed for a predetermined candidate. After public outcry, native authorities apologized and promised an investigation. Gu Yun notes that such nepotistic hiring practices are tough to eradicate in county-level Chinese language politics, and sarcastically means that if officers should interact in such corruption, they at the least must make use of some “technical talent” to make it much less apparent.
26. “Why Did Officers Wait Eight Days to Inform the Public About an Accident That Killed 4 Folks?” by Chu Chaoxin, WeChat account 衣者朝新 (Yīzhě Cháoxīn)
October 27, 2025
On this article, seasoned journalist Chu Chaoxin criticizes native officers within the metropolis of Qidong, Jiangsu province, for ready eight days to subject a press release a couple of deadly site visitors accident. On October 18, 4 vacationers had been killed when the sightseeing bus they had been on was hit by heavy winds, overturned, and fell right into a physique of water. Chu notes that the assertion was launched on the suspiciously late hour of 12:51 a.m. on October 26, prone to decrease public consideration, and that the lengthy delay in making the data public was a violation of each nationwide and provincial insurance policies requiring well timed (inside a number of hours) disclosure of main incidents. Lastly, Chu emphasizes that accountability lies not with Qidong’s low-level spokespeople, however with prime native leaders who presumably made the choice to delay and downplay the general public assertion.
27. “The Controversy Surrounding Zheng Zhihua’s ‘Crawling’ Stems From Two Totally different Frames of Reference,” by Xu Peng, WeChat account Du Fu of Huanhua Creek (浣花溪杜甫, Huànhuāxī Dù Fǔ)
October 27, 2025
Xu Peng discusses the extraordinary debate over Taiwanese singer Zheng Zhihua’s criticism a couple of lack of barrier-free entry whereas boarding a flight at Shenzhen’s important airport. Zheng, now in his 60s, had polio as a baby and makes use of leg braces, crutches, and a wheelchair for mobility. After he posted a strongly worded criticism on Weibo, Zheng was supported by some netizens and attacked by others. He later apologized for talking in anger and deleted his Weibo account, possible as a result of an onslaught of non-public assaults. Xu analyzes the controversy when it comes to differing expectations and frames of reference: “Zheng Zhihua has lengthy lived in Taiwan, [where] disabled individuals have entry to barrier-free services and humane therapy when touring. Coming to a spot that gives inadequate care and consideration for disabled individuals, it’s only pure that he would really feel uncomfortable. Many netizens suspected him of exaggerating as a result of he didn’t actually must ‘crawl’ onto the airplane, however as somebody accustomed to consuming superb grain, he naturally discovered our coarser bran onerous to swallow. Whereas Chinese language netizens, accustomed to even much less edible fare, suppose they’ve received it fairly good once they get a chunk or two of coarse bran. That is the hole in understanding brought on by two totally different teams of individuals working beneath two very totally different frames of reference.”
28. “We Ought to Wait and See How the Township Handles It. We Don’t Need to Be Used as Pawns,” by Brother Nut, WeChat account The Scenario’s Difficult
October 28, 2025
This text from artist and environmental activist Brother Nut about ongoing industrial air pollution in Mianyang, Sichuan Province was his fourth censored article on the subject throughout October. It comprises a timeline of occasions so far, together with extra element concerning the infiltration by native cadres (posing as peculiar residents) of a small group chat for residents involved concerning the results of commercial air pollution on their soil, water, and well being. Brother Nut contains screenshots exhibiting one group-chat member suspiciously making an attempt to dissuade the others from confronting native authorities officers, advising, “We should always wait and see how the township handles it. We don’t wish to be used as pawns.”
29. “So Then, Right this moment We Say Goodbye,” by Zhang Feng, WeChat account 城市的地得 (Chéngshì de de de)
October 29, 2025
On October 29, former journalist Zhang Feng—the founding father of Chengdu’s beloved You Xing Bookstore—introduced on WeChat that as a result of “drive majeure” (unspecified causes past his management, possible referring to official strain), the bookstore can be closing its doorways on November 28. When a web-based commenter requested, “Why? The bookstore has all the time had such good occasions,” Zhang replied, “That’s precisely the rationale.” On this submit, Zhang explains his private philosophy and focuses on the bookstore’s legacy: “My preferrred bookstore is a spot the place the workers is obsessed with studying, there’s nice espresso, and everyone seems to be welcome to return, share their opinions, and develop into their finest selves. I’m so completely happy that, to today, the bookstore continues to be the way in which I prefer it. The entire occasions, too, are issues I take pleasure in. I’ve no regrets. Opening a bookstore is a inventive journey that should sometime come to an finish. […] So it’s, my good friend. I’ve fought the great combat.” Fortuitously, inside per week, Zhang was in a position to announce that You Xing had been given a reprieve and would be capable to keep in enterprise.
The doorway to You Xing Bookstore: a clear, well-lighted place (supply: WeChat account 麦客自留地)
30. “You Don’t Have to Ship Flowers to the Bookstore Anymore,” by Zhang Feng, WeChat account 城市的地得 (Chéngshì de de de)
October 30, 2025
Within the week following Zhang’s announcement of the upcoming closure of You Xing Bookstore, there was an outpouring of fond tributes from the bookstore’s clients and supporters. Zhang, too, revealed nearly each day articles concerning the bookstore and its previous occasions and constant clients. On this article, he reminisces about a few of You Xing’s common clients, together with one lady who steadily introduced her daughter to the bookstore, and even despatched flowers to the bookstore and its workers. A number of days later, readers discovered that You Xing Bookstore would be capable to keep open, maybe partly due to the various tributes and supporters each recognized and unknown.
31. “Former Kuanyu Worker Alleges Sexual Assault Throughout a Enterprise Journey; Suspect Was Detained, However Case Was Dropped By Prosecutors As a result of Lack of Proof Proving Violence or Coercion,” by Wang Yuzheng, from Chengdu’s Pink Star Information
October 31, 2025
A former worker of Shanghai Kuanyu Digital Expertise Co., Ltd (affiliated with Bilibili) reported being raped by a male enterprise affiliate, surnamed Shao, throughout a enterprise journey to Sanya in December 2023. Though Shao was criminally detained and intensive proof was collected (together with his DNA on her undergarments), prosecutors declined to cost the person, claiming that accessible proof was inadequate proof that he employed violence or coercion. The lady disputed the prosecutors’ interpretation of occasions, and plans to proceed pursuing justice by authorized channels.
