Happy Halloween, everybody. For those of you wondering, the some-years-strong Beijing tradition of dressing up and riding Subway Line 2 on the weekend before Halloween will come to a close this year. Authorities are worried about the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, so they don’t want their public transportation clogged with beer-guzzling foreigners doing weird shit and attracting crowds.

Reuters reports:

Beijing police have warned people they face arrest for wearing Halloween fancy dress on the subway as it may cause crowds to gather and create “trouble”, a state-run newspaper said on Friday, unveiling a list of APEC summit-related restrictions.

Specifically:

“Public transport police point out, please do not wear strange outfits in subway stations or in train carriages, which could easily cause a crowd to gather and create trouble,” [the Beijing News] said.

Police had the power to arrest those who “upset order”, the paper said.

“If the chaos is serious and causes a stampede or other public safety incident, the police will deal with it severely in accordance with the law.”

It’s a shame, because the PSB crashed the party last year and we got along pretty well. They rode a stop with us, asking politely that we leave at Dongsishitiao.

Those wishing to call the authorities’ bluff have our full endorsement, of course. Photos, stories, etc., please send our way. (More likely, you’ll be in costume and find yourself needing to use the subway; we’re pretty sure no one would mind, but if you notice anything out of the ordinary or noteworthy, let us know.)

Good news is, there’s still plenty to do this Halloween, and if you’re a slacker who needs some easy-to-make China-centric costume ideas, we have you covered. See if you can beat my DIY costume from 2008 (center):

Note: top image is from the Hong Kong subway.

Our friends at Beijing Today swing by now and then to introduce art and culture in the city.

If you haven’t made any plans for your Halloween night, consider a trip to one of Beijing’s haunted houses.

Not to be confused with the spooky amusement destinations that pop up throughout the US and Canada at this time of the year, these haunted houses are the sites of ancient murders and suicides.

Tales of wandering spirits, unusual sounds and paranormal activity have persisted for more than a decade at some of these locations…

Chaonei No. 81 (also pictured above)

Located on a crowded street in the heart of the city, Chaonei No. 81 is Beijing’s best known haunted house. Its recent fame comes from being the inspiration for Jingcheng No. 81 (The House That Never Dies), a 3-D thriller directed by Raymond Yip.

Creepy stories associated with the house make it one of the most popular destinations for Chinese thrill seekers.

Constructed in the late Qing Dynasty, the Baroque mansion was the private residence of a French railroad manger. During the Republican period the building was sold to a Kuomintang official who lived there with his mistress.

When the Kuomintang government fell in 1949, the man fled to Taiwan and left the woman behind. She quickly lost her mind and hanged herself in the luxurious home rather than face life alone in New China.

Despite its shabby state, Chaonei No. 81 hasn’t been incorporated into demolition or reconstruction plans and is currently in a state of disuse.

Location: 81 Chaoyangmen Nei Dajie, Dongcheng
Transport: Take Subway Lines 2 or 6 to Chaoyangmen Station. Follow Exit H.

Huguang Guild Hall

Built during the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Huguang Guild Hall was intended to be a reunion hall for businessmen and ministers from the provinces of Hunan and Hubei.

There are two horrible stories associated with the hall.

According to one version, the hall was the former residence of Zhang Juzheng, a famous reformer during the Ming Dynasty. After Zhang’s death, political opponents murdered his entire family. The only survivor was his 80-year-old mother.

Another version of the story claims that Huguang Guild Hall was built on an abandoned graveyard, causing many ferocious and angry ghosts to torment its inhabitants. People who lived nearby said they often heard cries and cursing from outside their home, but when they opened their doors there would be no one present.

The Huguang Guild is a spacious imperial-style courtyard. It has exquisite doors with carved tiles, fabulous gardens and an old theatrical stage sure to attract both history buffs and ghost seekers.

Location: 3 Hufang Lu, Luomashi Dajie, Xicheng
Transport: Take Subway Line 2 to Hepingmen Station. Follow Exit B. Transfer to Bus 7, 14 or 70 and get off at Hufang Lukou Nan.

Prince Li Mansion

Covering about 30 hectares (74 acres), the Prince Li Mansion has the largest number of rooms among princes’ mansions in the Forbidden City. As a symbol of authority and power, a natural sense of mystery led citizens to make many lurid tales.

A sad love story associated with the mansion is one of the most famous. After studying abroad in France, Princess Lanxin, the daughter of Prince Li, fell in love with the no-name actor Feng Yuecong. But the romance fell apart when Feng’s friend snitched on their secret relationship. As a result, Feng was poisoned and sent to prison.

After being discharged, Feng learned danxian, a single-string fiddle, and played outside the mansion. Legend has it that his ghost became a strong wind that has haunted the Prince Li Mansion ever since.

Location: 9 Xichenggen Nan Jie, Xicheng
Transport: Take Subway Line 4 to Lingjing Hutong. Follow Exit D.

Xiaoshihu Hutong No. 33

Built in 1779, Xiaoshihu Hutong No. 33 was the property of Aisin-Gioro Miande, the grandson of the Qianlong Emperor.

Ji Xiaolan, a famous writer and administrator, wrote that the house has a long history and it is “quite normal” to encounter ghosts within.

The accounts of its neighbors seem to support Ji’s words. Many have reported hearing the voice of a woman reading poetry or playing the guzheng.

At one time, Xiaoshihu Hutong No. 33 was adapted into an academy where civil officials would gather to compile books and share their expertise. One of the occupants was Cao Xueqin, who lived for several years while completing the rough draft of his Dream of the Red Chamber.

Location: 9 Xihuangchenggen Nan Jie, Xicheng
Transport: Take the Subway Lines 1 or 4 to Xidan. Follow Exit B.

This post originally appeared in Beijing Today.

Some Beijing expats.

This is from the November 2 subway party in Beijing. (Not to be confused with the November 1 subway party.) Video by CRI’s William Wang.

Expattery, defined.

But listen: it was much better than that castle party in Tianjin. There was a heartfelt rendition of Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins. And I feel like, in the end, we even bonded with the Public Security Bureau officers who boarded our train to politely ask us to depart. We said one more stop, so they rode it with us…

And then we got on a bus.

UPDATE, two more pics, via Hannah:

UPDATE: Here’s a video from the following night’s subway party.

We at Beijing Cream do not actively condone buffoonery, excessive alcohol intake, or buffoonery as the result of excessive alcohol intake, but understand we are surrounded by all of the above anyway — and that it can be fun. And so it’s with no small amount of ambivalence that we announce: this Friday, November 1, revelers in Halloween costumes will be gathering around 9 pm (+30 minutes or so) at Dongzhimen Subway Station and riding south on Line 2 for this year’s official Halloween Subway Party. BYOB.

We can vouch for the integrity, overall decency, and general spirit of this year’s principal participants, but of course, hopefully you understand that by joining this event you waive your unalienable right to not be mocked and pilloried on public forums, including this one. Then again, if you’re willing to dress as a dinosaur or a Jedi or Bo Xilai and act a fool on public transport, you probably already don’t give a shit.

Try your best to avoid scaring other riders. Offer them a drink. Smile a lot. Don’t be a dick. Just remember: you want to find yourself featured under this tag, not this one.

UPDATE, 11/1, 11:36 am: We’ve just learned of another subway party, this one on Saturday (tomorrow) starting at two locations, Wudaokou and Dongzhimen. They’re keeping specific plans under wraps for now, so just get in touch if you’d like more info.

UPDATE: Here are images from the November 1 subway party, and a video from the November 2 party.