Chinese authorities have detained a major live-streaming celebrity for five days for "being disrespectful to the national anthem", according to Shanghai police.

Key points: Mocking the national anthem can result in up to 15 days' jail time under Chinese law

Mocking the national anthem can result in up to 15 days' jail time under Chinese law Local media reported Yang Kaili had 44 million followers before she was banned

Local media reported Yang Kaili had 44 million followers before she was banned She has apologised and said "the anthem is sacred"

In a video on the live-streaming platform Huya, 20-year-old Yang Kaili was shown humming marching music before she started to recite the first line of the national anthem while waving her hands as if conducting an orchestra.

She then greeted her audience with: "Hello, good evening comrades."

Last year, China introduced a law mandating up to 15 days in police detention for those who mock the "March of the Volunteers" national anthem.

Shanghai police said Ms Yang "was disrespectful to the dignity of the national anthem and invited disgust among netizens".

"Live streaming sites are not outside the law — the law and moral standards similarly apply there," police said via their verified Weibo account.

Popular Chinese live-streamer Yang Kaili apologised on Weibo for disrespecting the national anthem. ( Weibo: Yang Kaili )

Local media reported that Ms Yang had about 44 million followers on Huya, which is similar to popular western site Twitch, before her account was taken down.

Ms Yang, who is also known as Li Ge, apologised last week in a Weibo post, vowing to stop live streaming, to conduct "self-rectification" and "seriously watch patriotic publicity films".

"I sincerely apologise for the fact that I did not sing the anthem seriously. The anthem is sacred and my behaviour hurt everyone's feelings," she said.

The arrest drew mixed reaction on social media, with many people commenting on whether Ms Yang deserved her punishment.

"How dare you joke about the national anthem, which seriously affects the social atmosphere and national dignity and all networks should directly block you without accepting any apology!" one Weibo user said.

Others defended her, with one user saying "you will have to get your eyes to well up with tears when you sing it every time in the future" [to show your patriotism].

In recent years, some football fans in Hong Kong, a former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997, have booed the Chinese national anthem at matches in protest against what some in the city see as Beijing's growing reach in its affairs.

The national anthem law also covers the territories of Hong Kong and Macau.

Live streaming is one part of the huge internet celebrity phenomenon in China, with millions tuning in to watch their stars do everything from singing and playing games to eating and partaking in crazy challenges.

According to a 2017 Renmin University report, internet stardom is now the most sought-after career prospect for young Chinese people born after 1995.

The arrest comes shortly after the disappearance of one of the biggest stars in China, Fan Bingbing, who re-emerged earlier this month after months of suspected detainment over tax evasion.

ABC/Reuters