How the fight against youth unemployment in China will change the economy for the long term
The Chinese economy is currently in a phase of slow economic growth that is affecting various sectors of its social landscape. In the last few months, the sharp surge of youth unemployment in China has attracted attention. However, countermeasures have been put in place to respond to this problem. Will the high youth unemployment rate […]
Barbie in China: From limited appeal to cinematic success
Barbie is an iconic and globally recognized toy created by the American toy company Mattel. The American toy firm Mattel produced the iconic and well-known Barbie. Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has evolved into much more than a mere doll; she has become a cultural phenomenon and a representation of play, fashion, and imagination. […]
Gen Z are pursuing chill vibes (松弛感) on Chinese work culture: Is it time to say “bye” to 996?
Modern-day Chinese work culture is focusing on a strict hierarchical structure and long work hours. Clocking on an average 48.7 hours of work a week in 2023, Chinese employees are often compelled to make sacrifices for their employers. The IT sector in China is particularly infamous for its long work hours and lack of holidays. But as […]
“Why are rural elders reluctant to retire in the city”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
According to China’s Population and Development Research Center (中国人口与发展研究中心), by 2050, the number of people over the age of 80 in the country will quadruple. This means that China has entered the era of longevity and become home to the world’s largest elderly population. Facing a rapidly aging population, people are increasingly taking an active […]
“Are you an old spirit (精神老年人)”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Although having a busy schedule is often perceived as being successful or at least competitive in the workplace, some young people are turning their backs on the hustle culture. On Chinese social media, Douban (豆瓣), there is a group of users who call themselves “old spirits (精神老年人)”, which refers to young people whose lifestyle, daily […]
How health-conscious consumers are transforming the Chinese beverage market
The beverage industry in China is booming, thanks to the recovery of social events like parties and wedding banquets after the pandemic. The market grew to 1.25 trillion RMB (182 billion USD) in 2022 and produced 183.3 million tons in 2021. The most popular beverages in China in 2022 were packaged drinking water, carbonated beverages, […]
The new wave of Chinese rap music: how can brands engage with it
The Chinese rap music trend started in the late 90s when Chinese people were heavily influenced by US hip-hop. The lyrics were originally written to send a message of social critique, a form of rebellion from oppressive censorship and the limitation on self-expression. Indeed, the first rap songs were shared through illegal sites and then […]
COVID-19 and international relations are reshaping the choices of Chinese studying abroad
Despite travel restrictions during the pandemic, China remains the main country of origin of international students, with a total of 1,061,511 students attending overseas higher education institutions in 2019. China holds the global top spot, boasting 600,000 more students than the country on the second position, India (461,792). In the last few years, the number […]
China’s mental health industry on the rise due to prolonged lockdowns
As lockdowns prolong in cities of China like Shanghai, people appear to be less high-spirited due to problems like food shortages and overpriced supplies, which potentially increase the demand for mental health services in China. The impact of long-period home quarantine could be detrimental to mental health, which could potentially lead to a serious mental […]
A peek into Chinese women’s clothing market
Chinese women’s clothing market accounts for half of the overall domestic clothing market. According to Euromonitor, the Chinese women’s clothing market jumped from RMB 619 billion in 2011 to RMB 1,057 billion in 2019, with a CAGR of 6.9%. It boasted a higher growth rate than men’s clothing (5.41%), yet lower than children’s clothing did […]
China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ initiative and its potential economic impacts explained
In early 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a speech emphasizing the importance of ‘Common Prosperity’, setting this concept as a tone in policy making for the next few years. As a policy-guided and increasingly modernized country, China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ campaign gathers momentum and impacts all aspects of society almost instantly. What’s China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ […]
Checking the health of online clothing rental services in China
According to a report jointly released by Bain & Co. and the TMall Luxury Division, mainland China accounted for 20% of the world’s luxury industry last year and it is going to become the largest luxury market by 2025. Unlike the in the past, nowadays Chinese consumers’ reluctance to purchase pre-owned luxury clothing is gradually […]