Green is the New Red (and Blue)
Can Cities in China Truly Ban Colors?
Rumors have been circulating over the past few days that the city of Sanhe has banned the use of red and blue on the streets, including shop signs, displayed advertisements, and more, aiming to replace everything with … green.
Let’s find out if this rumor is true and, more importantly, how the Chinese government reacted to it—spoiler alert: some heads may have rolled.
中国北方河北省的一座城市因被指禁止街头出现红色和蓝色招牌，导致该城市几乎成为一座“绿色之城”，在网络引发批评和疑问。
据中国媒体报道，三河市的商户近期接到城市管理部门通知，要求当地商铺的招牌不能使用红色、蓝色或黑色。
招牌 (zhāopái): Signboard, shop sign
疑问 (yíwèn): Question, doubt, query
商户 (shānghù): Merchant, business owner
商铺 (shāngpù): Shop, store
A city in northern China's Hebei Province has come under criticism online for allegedly banning red and blue signs on its streets, leading to the city becoming a near "green-only zone."
According to Chinese media reports, shop owners in Sanhe City were recently notified by urban management authorities that storefront signs were not allowed to use red, blue, or black colors.
一些商户表示，他们的招牌被强制拆除，尽管当局并没有解释原因，也没有提供补偿。
在有网友拍摄了一张据称是当地医院的红十字标志也变为绿十字的照片后，该事件迅速引发轩然大波。
许多网友指责政府“滥用职权”，也有网民呼吁调查这一“荒唐的”命令背后的原因，指其可能涉及腐败问题。
还有照片显示，以红色作为标志色的茶饮品牌蜜雪冰城，在当地的招牌也变为绿色。
补偿 (bǔcháng): Compensation
据称 (jùchēng): According to reports, it is said
轩然大波 (xuānrán dàbō): A huge uproar, a great disturbance
滥用职权 (lànyòng zhíquán): Abuse of power
荒唐的 (huāngtáng de): Absurd, ridiculous
Some shop owners stated that their signs were forcibly removed, even though the authorities did not provide an explanation or compensation.
The incident quickly caused a stir online after a photo surfaced, reportedly showing a local hospital's Red Cross symbol changed to green.
Many netizens accused the government of "abusing its power," while others called for an investigation into the "ridiculous" order, suggesting it might be linked to corruption.
Other images showed that even MiXue BingCheng, a popular tea chain known for its red-themed branding, had its sign turned green in the city.
一位商铺店主对中国媒体说：“三月份城管多次上门要求必须更换颜色，现场盯着我们从红色改成绿色，改色漆是商户自己买的。”
面对质疑声，当地政府尚未公开回应。一名城市管理部门的工作人员对“新派新闻”记者称，“如果不怕麻烦、不心疼钱”，商户现在可以自愿改回原颜色。
质疑声 (zhìyí shēng): Voice of doubt, questioning voices
One shop owner told Chinese media, "In March, urban management officials repeatedly came to demand the color be changed. They stood there watching as we repainted from red to green, and we had to buy the paint ourselves."
The local government has yet to publicly respond to the criticism. A staff member from the city's urban management department told a reporter from Xinpai News that shop owners could now "voluntarily return to their original colors if they're not afraid of the hassle or expense."
三河市位于中国首都北京与港口城市天津之间，人口超过90万，其中许多居民每天通勤至北京工作。据报道，当局已对此事展开调查。
在中国，城市管理当局要求街头商户更换标牌颜色与样式的情况并不罕见，尤其在所谓城市“市容整治”或“文明城市创建”活动期间。
一些官员认为统一风格后的标牌将更加“美观”，但这被许多民众批评导致了“千店一面”的情况。
2020年6月，西安市多家商铺被要求统一更换为黑底白字的招牌，此举引发不少市民质疑，批评其外观“像灵堂”。
通勤 (tōngqín): Commuting
不罕见 (bù hǎnjiàn): Not uncommon, not rare
千店一面 (qiān diàn yī miàn): "One-size-fits-all" for thousands of stores (referring to uniformity in appearance)
灵堂 (língtáng): Funeral hall
Sanhe City, located between the Chinese capital Beijing and the port city of Tianjin, has a population of over 900,000, with many residents commuting to work in Beijing daily. Reports indicate that authorities have launched an investigation into the matter.
In China, it is not uncommon for urban management authorities to mandate changes to the color or style of storefront signs, especially during "city beautification" or "civilized city" campaigns.
Some officials argue that standardized signage creates a more "aesthetic" urban environment, but many citizens criticize this as leading to a monotonous "one-size-fits-all" appearance.
In June 2020, for example, businesses in Xi'an were required to replace their signs with black-and-white designs, a move that drew public backlash for making the storefronts look "like funeral halls."
Following the incident, the Langfang Municipal Government (to which Sanhe City belongs) issued the following statement:
针对三河市“广告牌匾禁用红蓝黑底色”等问题，廊坊市联合调查组经初步核查，媒体反映的主要问题基本属实。目前已对三河市委主要负责人免职处理，并责成三河市委、市政府深刻反思，汲取教训，全面整改。
下一步，将根据调查结果，对相关责任人依规依纪依法追责问责。同时健全长效机制，对侵害群众利益、破坏营商环境的行为“零容忍”，坚决维护经营主体和人民群众合法权益。
牌匾 (páibiǎn): Plaque, signboard
核查 (héchá): To verify, to check
属实 (shǔshí): To be true, to be factual
免职 (miǎnzhí): To remove from office, to dismiss from a position
深刻反思 (shēnkè fǎnsī): To deeply reflect
汲取教训 (jíqǔ jiàoxùn): To learn from mistakes, to draw lessons
全面整改 (quánmiàn zhěnggǎi): To carry out comprehensive rectification
追责问责 (zhuīzé wènzé): To hold accountable, to investigate and hold responsible
零容忍 (líng róngrěn): Zero tolerance
Regarding the issues in Sanhe City, such as the "ban on red, blue, and black backgrounds for advertisements and signs," a preliminary investigation confirmed that the primary concerns raised by the media were largely accurate. As a result, the principal official of the Sanhe Municipal Party Committee has been dismissed, and the Sanhe Municipal Party Committee and government have been instructed to deeply reflect, learn lessons, and carry out comprehensive rectifications.
Moving forward, based on the investigation findings, accountability will be pursued for the responsible parties in accordance with regulations, discipline, and the law. Additionally, a long-term mechanism will be established to enforce "zero tolerance" for actions that harm public interests or damage the business environment, firmly safeguarding the legal rights and interests of business entities and the public.
What’s your take on this story? Do you believe in enforcing certain colors to maintain visual harmony?
Antoine & Dorota