Dressing up for Halloween has become a highly anticipated event for many Chinese urban youth and workers. Rather than warding off spirits, it’s more about unwinding, relaxing, and expressing themselves. It’s also a living snapshot of culture, reflecting the year’s hottest memes, events, films, TV shows, and more.

If you’re still struggling for costume inspiration, we’ve compiled eight looks based on the biggest trends of recent months for this Halloween. Check them out!

Duo and Lucky

For couples, this year’s Halloween costume choice might be an easy one. After all, the most high-profile duo is none other than Duolingo’s mascot Duo and Luckin Coffee’s Lucky. The two lovebirds—or, a “lovebird” and a “lovedeer,” to be more exact—officially tied the knot in July, announcing it to the public in a three-episode micro-drama (with Chinese and English subtitles because, you know, international marriage) on their official social media accounts.

Since then, the duo has embarked on a rather intense tour of PDA—public display of affection/advertisement—with the two mascots appearing at various Luckin stores and even comic cons, holding hands and bumping heads.

But their romance seems short-lived. Duo started posting about their marital problems last week, hinting that a divorce might be on the horizon. Though they appear to have made up based on Duo’s latest post, it might not be the best omen for new couples dressing as them this year. Then again, for couples who thrive on drama, there couldn’t be a better idea.

Lu Xun, the style icon

One of the founders of modern Chinese literature, the early 20th-century writer Lu Xun (鲁迅), has become a popular choice for young Chinese dressing up for Halloween in recent years. A classic viral image comes from the 2021 TV drama The Age of Awakening, which depicts the New Cultural Movement, a transformative period that both reflected on traditional Chinese culture and promoted science and democracy, with Lu Xun among its leading figures. When he publicly resigned from the Ministry of Education to protest warlord Zhang Xun’s attempt to restore the abdicated emperor Puyi, Lu Xun, dressed in a dark changshan (a traditional Chinese robe), leaned on a wooden placard that read 不干了 (“I quit”).

The scene went viral unexpectedly, as many young netizens, dragged down by the highly competitive work culture, also longed for the courage to bluntly call it quits.

This year, a new image of Lu Xun emerged, depicting him in a more relaxed pose and layered, modern outfit: a white undershirt, a knitted purple vest cinched high at the waist with a buckled leather belt, and a brown cardigan, with his left hand casually resting on his hip and his right hand holding a cigarette.

The purple vest, originally knitted by Lu’s partner Xu Guangping in 1926, went viral after People’s Literature Publishing House released a replica as merchandise. Netizens have praised its vintage charm while rediscovering Lu Xun’s pioneering aesthetic sensibility and flair for fashion. Beyond his clothing, he famously designed his own hairstyle and mustache, as well as the emblem of Peking University—which serves as the basis for the current design—and more than 60 book covers.

This Halloween, with just a few essentials from your closet and a purple vest, you can easily dress up as Lu Xun, a true style icon.

The singer who never shows her face

For anyone who prefers to keep an air of mystery, dressing up as one of China’s most famous masked singers might be the perfect idea.

With over 16 million followers on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, Wangzai Xiaoqiao has never shown her face in any singing videos, not even when performing with high-profile celebrities.

This August, she hosted her first concert, featuring elaborate masks as part of the costume design. The performance sparked heated online debates over ticket prices reaching 968 yuan and whether she had lip-synced without anyone noticing. The 20-year-old later shared that she had been bullied as a child for her appearance, but that didn’t stop the backlash. “What’s the point of paying extra for a no-face concert if all you get is a closer speaker?” many questioned online.

But for those who aren’t afraid of tough questions, wearing a designer mask or an erciyuan-style headpiece to go as Wangzai Xiaoqiao could still make you a crowd favorite—after all, she has millions of fans online.

The chicken fillet guy

If you’re not into detailed replica costumes and prefer something more performative, going as Li Yongjun, better known online as the “chicken fillet guy,” might be a good option this Halloween. All you need is a plain light-colored T-shirt, fried chicken fillets, a concerned but calm expression, and—if you’re feeling ambitious—a food cart.

Li, who has been selling chicken fillet in China’s porcelain capital, Jingdezhen, for the last five years, went viral earlier this fall after a video capturing him at his food stall, calmly assuring the crowd of waiting customers, “I’ll do yours after this. And then yours, and then yours.” Despite the chaos, he stayed positive, saying, “I’ve got this under control.”

Many netizens see themselves in Li, working nonstop, while others stand by with all sorts of demands. The clip has inspired many memes that capture this scenario across different professions, from lawyers and teachers to graduate and PhD students.

Li also wins the hearts of many young people by always prioritizing students—serving them before other customers and charging just five yuan for his fillet, one yuan less than usual. So if you’re going out as Li to this year’s Halloween parties, make sure to snap photos with the young students first and keep the crowd under control while serving your look.

Young gentleman, but in ancient style

If improv and classical literature are your thing, the “young ancient gentleman” who often speaks in a half-classical, half-modern blend should be your go-to choice. A white hanfu and a folding fan are needed to complete the look, but the essence of this idea isn’t in the outfit—it’s in the way you speak. You must begin all sentences with xiaosheng (小生), literally “this humble man,” and end with a flourish of “Ah! (快哉!)” or “Alas! (噫嘘唏!)”

This trend traces back to the 2021 historical drama I Am Such a Girl, and has since sparked a wave of ancient-style talk online. By mixing modern slang with classical phrases, you can create humorous, exaggerated, and semi-literary expressions that read like poems. While some call it a “reversal Renaissance (反向文艺复兴),” since many of the phrasings come from viral songs of the 2010s, others see it as a tongue-in-cheek mockery of pretentious, pseudo-classical speech.

If making your friends cringe brings you great joy, Halloween as an ancient xiaosheng is guaranteed to deliver.

Going “abstract” with singer Tao Zhe and his iconic side-swept bangs

Being “abstract (抽象),” a viral term young Chinese use to describe behaviors that often cause bewilderment and confusion, now has a new face: 56-year-old Taiwanese pop singer Tao Zhe (also known as David Tao) and his iconic side-swept bangs.

Honored as “godfather of Chinese R&B,” Tao recently amassed a large following among young fans, the post-00s and post-10s, for his ‘abstract’ behaviors, mainly his ad-lib singing on reality shows, concerts, and even at his own wedding. His performances often feature funny or nonsensical lyrics and cracking vocals, leaving his partners embarrassed, shocked, or unsure what to do, while he remains confident and radiates a full “sense of relaxation.”

His signature hairstyle, the side-swept bangs, has also inspired many online memes, as netizens see similarities between his image and everyday items—even corn and three-wheelers.

The mother who makes you luffa soup

Dressing up as a mom is easy, but becoming the most overbearing mom takes some effort. Luckily, this year’s viral “luffa soup” meme will help you nail the vibe in no time.

The meme originated from a video posted on Douyin this September by vlogger Leizi (累子). In it, a mother insists on making luffa soup for her son because it’s cheap and nutritious, especially in the summer, despite his repeated refusals. When the son finally snaps and raises his voice, she calmly blames it on his “excess liver fire” and prescribes more luffa soup as the cure. Even when she says in frustration, ‘Fine, do whatever you want. I won’t bother you anymore,’ she inevitably repeats the same conversation the next day.

The video struck a chord with many young people, who have similar “caring” parents who ignore their children’s thoughts and feelings.

Want your clueless friends to appreciate their moms a bit more? Be their suffocating parent for a day this Halloween—they might thank you later…or start avoiding your calls.

Gomoku with special skills, the absurd comedy quartet

If you’re looking for a group costume idea, check out “Gomoku with Special Skills (技能五子棋)” for inspiration. It’s one of the most viral—and confusing—memes to recently emerge on the Chinese internet.

Originally aired in late September on Amazing Night, a Tencent comedy show, the 14-minute sketch went viral thanks to its highly absurd plot, exaggerated performances, and a theme song that would stuck in your head for a long time—basically everything a viral meme could ask for. The sketch opens with a Gomoku champion, or “Five in a Row” player, challenging the Gomoku with Special Skills School to find the ultimate truth of the game. What follows can only be described as “abstract (抽象).” The school’s advertised special skills include throwing opponents’ chess pieces away, pretending to freeze the opponent, smashing the chessboard, and more.

The farce reached its climax with a sing-along: “Traditional Gomoku is just about connecting five pieces in a row—so boring and dull. But Skilled Gomoku adds special skills to the classic game, making it super fun. It’s going to explode!” The catchy, cheerful tune, later revealed to have been created by Suno, an AI music-generating platform, soon went viral, with many fans sharing their own dance routines to the song.

Reviews of the sketch are highly polarized. Some praise its brilliance: “‘Gomoku with Special Skills’ is truly Sisyphean—using its self-invented fun skills to push back against the absurdity of the rules,” wrote one reviewer on the review platform Douban. Others struggle to find the sketch funny: “With so many people, especially creators, praising ‘Gomoku,’ the comedy industry is doomed.”

No matter which side you’re on, dressing up as characters from “Gomoku” is pretty simple—just beige T-shirts, jeans, denim shirts, and a sanitation worker’s vest if you want to go the extra mile. But don’t forget to bring your chessboard, the centerpiece of the group costume. Even better, learn the viral song and its dance routine, then you and your friends are guaranteed to stand out.