Recently, a resurgence of illegal ticket scalping has been observed at Shanghai Culture Square. On the evening of October 26, multiple individuals were seen loitering near the venue, offering tickets for that night’s performance of *Dream of the Red Chamber* at inflated prices. Scalpers approached passersby, with front-row center seats marked up by 500 yuan ($70) and other seats by 300 yuan ($42). Despite a security guard’s mild warning to avoid obstructing pathways, the scalpers continued their activities unabated. Some even offered to buy back tickets at an 80% discount.

The sold-out dance drama *Dream of the Red Chamber*, which went on sale two months prior, used non-real-name e-tickets with QR codes, making them transferable and inadvertently enabling scalpers. While Shanghai Culture Square had trialed a strict real-name ticketing system in December 2023 for *Les Misérables—French Musical Concert* to curb scalping, not all performances enforce this measure. Repeated attempts to contact the venue’s PR department for clarification went unanswered.

Scalping remains a persistent issue in China’s performance industry. Many high-demand concerts now mandate strict real-name policies—requiring matching ID, ticket, and attendee—to combat scalpers. However, regulatory gaps persist. In April 2023, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism mandated that at least 70% of tickets must be publicly sold, leaving 30% as non-public "work tickets." These often leak into secondary markets, where scalpers resell them at premiums.

While real-name systems deter scalpers, they introduce inconveniences: non-transferable tickets and steep 20% cancellation fees if refunds are requested within 48 hours of the show. Audience feedback is mixed. Some, like Ms. Yang, find the restrictions cumbersome for last-minute changes, while industry veteran Mr. Li argues that policies should adapt based on a show’s popularity and purpose (e.g., student or charity tickets).

Theater-led anti-scalping initiatives are commendable, but experts stress that systemic solutions—balancing regulation, commercial logic, and consumer habits—are essential for lasting impact. Footage of suspected scalping activity at Shanghai Culture Square on October 26 has been submitted to local authorities for investigation.