Protest against zero Covid: The spark is ignited

After a fire in an apartment building in Urumqi claimed at least ten lives, protests have erupted across the country against the government's strict Covid policy. In Shanghai, protesters openly call for Xi Jinping's resignation and the downfall of the Communist Party; in Beijing and Chengdu, they demand freedom of expression and democracy. It is the largest wave of protests in decades.

Last updated: 24. July 2025