Free Archive | Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station Overpass Banner Incident

On the early morning of April 15, 2025, three eye-catching banners appeared on a pedestrian bridge outside the Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu, Sichuan, with the following content: “Without political system reform, there will be no national rejuvenation”, “The people do not need a party with unchecked power”, and “China does not need anyone to point the way, democracy is the direction”. These banners quickly spread on social media, attracting widespread attention. However, the relevant content was soon censored and deleted.

According to reports, the person who hung the banners has lost contact, causing concern for their safety. This incident is considered another act of anonymous citizens expressing political demands in public spaces after the 2022 Sitong Bridge protest in Beijing, reflecting the underlying political dissatisfaction and desire for change in Chinese society.

The incident took place on the overpass near the Third Ring Road in Jinniu District, Chengdu, specifically the pedestrian bridge outside the Chadianzi Bus Station. The social media account “Teacher Li is not your teacher” posted relevant photos on the X platform, and quoted the contributor as saying that these banners had been prepared for a year, and the activists hoped to get external assistance to spread them.

This incident has sparked public discussion on freedom of speech and political reform. Some believe that this reflects the underlying political dissatisfaction and the desire for change in Chinese society. At the same time, some people worry that similar protests may be severely suppressed, and the safety of the participants may not be guaranteed. This incident once again sparked attention to China’s political system reform and democratic development.

In general, the Chengdu overpass banner incident is a striking political expression in Chinese society, reflecting the demands of some citizens for political system reform and democratic development. Despite facing censorship and suppression, such incidents still, to some extent, promote public attention and discussion on political reform.