Fresh off a bout of illness, Hong Kong singer-songwriter Zhou Jipei—known to fans as “Jiji”—powered through a whirlwind day of three pop-up street performances in Guangzhou over the weekend, using the marathon tour to promote his new single Single Eyelid Loves Big Eyes. The impromptu shows, the first of their kind for the artist in the mainland Chinese city, drew hundreds of fans eager for close-up interaction.
The first stop kicked off in the morning with roughly 100 fans waiting. Jiji opened with an acoustic cover of Beyond’s classic I Like You before launching into his own material, including the new track, The Moment the Phone Turns Off, and Third Life. Speaking to the crowd, he thanked both the supporters who traveled from Hong Kong and the local Guangzhou fans, pledging to return more often. The set ended with a medley of 1980s Cantopop hits that had the audience clamoring for an encore.
By the second venue, the crowd had swelled to more than 300. Jiji switched to Mandarin to introduce himself, then performed several songs. He was visibly moved when he spottted a fan he had first met a decade ago in Guangzhou. “Seeing people I knew ten years ago—and knowing they came specifically to support me—that truly touches me,” he said. “I hope to hold a proper concert in Guangzhou soon to thank everyone.” He described the city as his “second hometown,” noting that most of his relatives live there and that he visited frequently as a child.
The final performance capped a grueling day. Jiji admitted it had been nearly ten years since he attempted three street shows in a single day, and that he was still recovering from illness. “But seeing you all here gives me strength,” he told the crowd. Fans had traveled from as far as Shunde and Foshan. One male fan shouted, “Jiji, I love you!” The singer responded with a laugh: “I love my wife, but I love you too. Thank you.” He also obliged impromptu requests from the audience.
One Guangzhou fan said locals had long hoped for Jiji to perform in the city and urged him to visit more often. Looking ahead, Jiji is scheduled to perform at a major event in Nansha next week and hinted at additional concert dates in other locations.
The three-stop blitz underscores a growing trend among Hong Kong artists reconnecting with mainland audiences through intimate, low-barrier performances. For Jiji, the effort appears to be paying off: the emotional reunion with longtime fans and the warm reception suggest his Guangzhou fanbase is only growing stronger.
