lifestyle

Space Race: Why Young Chinese Are Cutting Ties With Relatives

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

In stark contrast to their parents, young Chinese are distancing themselves from family ties and seeking more personal space amid shifting societal dynamics, urbanization, and the influence of social media.

Ye Zhanhang

‘Kayan’: The Beauty Buzzword Sparking Debate on Chinese Social Media

Social posts related to the buzzword ‘kayan’ have surged in recent months, with users sharing tales of being denied entry to nightclubs for not meeting beauty standards.

Yang Caini

Olympic Stage Set, Young Chinese Dance to the Breaking Beat

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

In China, Olympic aspirants usually emerge from structured state systems. Yet, the recent addition of breaking has inspired a grassroots surge, with young enthusiasts setting their own pace and direction in the dance scene.

Ni Dandan

Zhang Han

E-Invites to Bike Rides, Weddings in China Get a Green Makeover

Amid increased awareness among the youth about climate change, carbon-neutral weddings, which promote eco-friendly products, cost money, and recycling, are gaining traction and popularity.

Fan Yiying

Moutai’s Liquor-Filled Chocolates Spark Buying Frenzy in China

With prices surging on second-hand trading platforms, the company has said it is boosting production and advised consumers to only buy chocolates from official stores.

Ding Rui

For Young Chinese, 2023 Is the Year of the ‘Drifter’

Fed up with the grind of urban life, young Chinese are embracing the art of “drifting” — living hand-to-mouth while roaming the country aimlessly.

Li Wei

Young Chinese Have a New Plan to Escape Tough Times: Win the Lottery

China’s millennials are seeking cheap thrills and get-rich-quick solutions amid a tough economy. That’s leading many to embrace an institution long considered hopelessly uncool: the country’s state-run lotteries.

Wang Lianzhang

Luckin Coffee Sets Sights on China’s Next Coffee Battleground: The ‘Sinking Market’

Visual stories that get up close and personal with contemporary China. A mix of short videos, documentaries, photography, and data visualization.

MULTIMEDIA

The Chinese coffee giant has recovered spectacularly from bankruptcy with a new strategy of expanding in smaller, less affluent cities around the country. But it also faces competition from domestic rivals, including one launched by its co-founders.

Luo Yahan

Gao Mingyue

Myopia Soaring Among Chinese School Students: New Survey

Citing increased screen time and academic pressure, the study shows the prevalence of myopia among high schoolers is 89.7%.

Li Xin

Chinese Gamers Brace for Adventure as the New Zelda Hits Shelves

The latest offering from Nintendo’s decades-old saga has social media buzzing with memes and jokes about taking leave from work to play the game.

In China, Women Are Defying ‘Beauty Duty’ — With a Bold Haircut

Buzz cuts are on the rise in a country where long hair is revered. Some women do it to reject the status quo, while others simply find it practical.

China’s Music Fests Hit All the Right Notes, But Fans Want More

The country’s thriving music scene has made its way to smaller cities, but some are calling for better quality, management, and variety.

To Beat the May Day Rush, Shanghai Stays Put to Go Glamping

Despite a wave of campsite closures, experts say the industry in China is consolidating and has a significant following among young people.

Young Chinese Love Everything About Sweden. Except Living There.

Young Chinese are moving to Sweden in record numbers, seeking better labor conditions and a more tolerant society. Many are underwhelmed by what they find.

Chang Minxiao

Lights Out: A Theater in China Welcomes its First Audience

Lü Xiao

The Paper

Love Is in the Cards: Young Chinese Turn to Tarot for Guidance

While many follow the practice unquestionably, some card readers suggest being rational.

In Shanghai, It’s Always Coffee Week

Let’s Have a Picnic Downstairs: Shanghai Neighbors Film Lockdown Life

Fu Beimeng

The Race to Create a Whiskey From China, for Chinese People 

Banking on the fast-expanding middle class, Chinese and Western liquor companies are eager to build Chinese whiskey brands. But with a years-long wait for each batch, domestic and international suppliers alike are betting on the unknown.

Jiang Yaling

China’s Introverted Millennials Find an Unlikely Refuge: Dating Apps

Chinese match-making apps are hotbeds for harassment, fraud, and fake news. But they offer one thing that the country’s youth craves: anonymity.