Home is where the hum is

On a summer weekend, as the afternoon sun spills its mellowed golden glow on the public square at Solana, a popular commercial complex in downtown Beijing, the cackle of conversations fills the open space, punctuated by the occasional woof of a dog or the distant whistle of an urban wanderer.

And then, a small amplifier crackles, a guitar chord cuts through the air and the voice of a young woman rises tentatively, weaving its way through the chatter of the crowd.

Within minutes, the mall's scattered visitors come together, joggers pause mid-stride, elderly couples lean on walking sticks, children run in wide circles and parents push strollers closer — all gathering spontaneously around the music.

By the third song, the space is transformed. People clap, sway, sing and even step onto the makeshift stage, embracing the music as if the square were hosting an impromptu city festival.

Li Wei, 27, a tech startup employee, was on a lunch date with friends one Saturday at Solana when he heard the familiar strum of a guitar and an unfamiliar voice singing pop icon Faye Wong's song with unrestrained joy.

Curious, he and his friends followed the music and found themselves in the middle of a crowd of cheering strangers. Soon enough, they were all clapping and swaying to the beats. When the open-mic moment arrived, his friends nudged Li forward. For the next few minutes, he sang with people he'd met for the first time, his voice shaky but his enthusiasm unwavering.

"It felt like the city had suddenly come alive after years. For three hours, I wasn't just an office worker; I was part of something bigger. I left feeling lighter, connected and, strangely, at home in Beijing," said Li, who originally hails from Jinan, Shandong province.

This scene of young people gathering in parks, public squares, riversides or courtyards to sing and connect is now commonplace in the Chinese capital. The citywide phenomenon blends creative and spontaneous performances with a strong sense of community.

From impromptu open-mic events in tucked-away art districts to intimate gatherings in secluded courtyards, these musical meetups reveal a generation navigating the stress of urban life and building connections in their own vibrant, expressive ways.

For Road Show Plan, a Beijing-based band that turns ordinary city spaces into stages and boasts over 300,000 followers across social media platforms, it all began in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tan Wu, a self-taught guitarist from Hubei province with a degree in Chinese literature, who belted out songs — including originals — at fancy bars and bistros, found himself confined to a residential neighborhood in Beijing. His friend, Zhang Xiaotan, who worked with music platforms and at live-house venues, faced the same frustration as the entire city went under lockdown.

"We both love music, and desperately needed an outlet," Tan recalled."At first, it was just us, singing outside our residential community, playing for each other and a few friends," said the 30-year-old.

Their friend, a trained keyboardist from Shanxi province, who goes by her stage name Liang Zai, soon joined them. The trio put together musical shows to cheer friends, neighbors and anybody who stopped to listen.

"The first time a passerby stopped and sang with us, we felt a surge of excitement," recalled 31-year-old Liang Zai. "It felt like we were creating something bigger."