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☆ Tens of thousands of Chinese college students went cycling at night. That put the government on edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Over the weekend, authorities in Kaifeng and Zhengzhou closed off bike lanes on Zhengkai Avenue, to try to stop cyclists from entering. To prevent students from joining the cycling crowd, some colleges and universities in Zhengzhou even imposed restrictions on leaving campus, according to accounts shared by students on social media. In the spring of 1989, university students in Beijing rode their bikes to Tiananmen Square to join pro-democracy protests that ended in a bloody crackdown by the Chinese military. Their journey quickly went viral, inspiring more Zhengzhou students to follow suit as the hashtag “youth is priceless” trended on social media. Others said local authorities should have been better prepared for the influx of students before they jumped in to promote the trend.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Xi, Douyin, Kaifeng, ”, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist, Communist Party, Henan University, China City Daily Locations: Hong Kong, Kaifeng, China’s Henan, Zhengzhou –, Zhengzhou, China, Beijing, Taiwan, Henan, Weibo

☆ Young Chinese are ditching planes to travel long distances by train and bus. Meet the ‘iron butt’ travelers
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Chris Lau | Joyce Jiang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A growing group of Chinese travelers are now turning to extreme forms of transportation for their vacations. They call themselves “iron butt” travelers – inspired by the amount of time they spend traveling on uncomfortable seats that make flesh start to feel like metal. Iron butt travel lets me visit more places for less money,” another self-identified “iron butt” traveler, 27-year-old Peng Fei, told CNN. But that doesn’t mean he and his fellow “iron butt” travelers have to compromise the fun. Now, though, iron butt travelers are redefining – or perhaps gentrifying – this form of travel.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Lin En, Lin, isn’t, Lin En, Peng Fei, ‘, ”, I’d, “, Lin En's, Lin En, Peng, “ I’ve, They’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Tibet Autonomous, United Arab Emirates Locations: Hong Kong, Xinjiang, China’s, Astana, Kazakhstan’s, China, Kazakhstan, Laos, Kunming, Huay, Thailand, Myanmar, megacities, Beijing, Shanghai, Lhasa, Tibet, Tibet Autonomous Region, Guangzhou, Central Asia, Europe, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tibet Autonomous, Egypt

☆ Cliffside café in China serves death-defying $56 coffee with a view of Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Ye Kunkun spent 398 yuan (about $56) on a special iced Americano at a rural café in southeastern China. Xue Ke, the café owner, told CNN that they receive about 50 visitors on weekdays and double that on weekends. Xue Ke, the owner of Gushi Cliff Coffee, climbs on the cliff face. “This was one of my considerations when choosing the site.”Coastal views near Gushi Cliff Coffee in Fuzhou, southeastern China. While both Ye and Lin were satisfied with the service, they paused when it came to the price tag.

Persons: Ye Kunkun, Ye, rungs, “, ” Ye, Coffee, Cliff, ”, Xue Ke, Cliff Coffee, Xue, –, Spiderman, Lin Jiaxin, ” Lin Jiaxin, ” Lin, wilder, Lin, I’ll Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Americano, CNN, China’s, Golden Locations: Hong Kong, China, it’s, – Gushi, Fuzhou, Fujian, Cliff, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, Gushi Cliff Coffee

☆ Pets in China are earning ‘snack money’ in cafes as their owners send them to work
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

A dog cafe in Fuzhou, in southeastern China. In recent months, cafe owners and pet owners alike have been posting recruitment ads and CVs on Xiaohongshu, China’s answer to Instagram. “We offer a snack per day, and a 30% discount for pet owner’s friends!”CNN reached out to some of the cafe owners for comment. She’s been on the lookout for a job for her 2-year-old tuxedo cat, Zhang Bu’er, which means “not stupid” in Chinese. Xin posted her cat’s CV on Xiaohongshu on September 8, hoping to find him employment at a cat cafe, but hasn’t had any luck yet.

Persons: Jane Xue, Xue, ”, “ Summers, Jane Xue Xue’s, Goldman Sachs, “, ” Xue, ‘, Zhang Bu’er, Xin Xin, Shiba, She’s, Xin, hasn’t, God, Zhang Bu’er’s, ” Xin, CNN’s Joyce Jiang Organizations: CNN, Visitors, ” CNN Locations: Fuzhou, China, Xiaohongshu, Beijing, Guangzhou, CBNData, China’s

☆ Xiaohongshu: How ‘China’s Instagram’ is transforming the travel industry
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-10 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Tucked away in a residential neighborhood in the west of Hong Kong, the Kennedy Town Playground’s basketball courts aren’t particularly noteworthy. It’s because the courts, perched on the side of a hilly slope, offer great views of the Hong Kong skyline. Many of them are followers of Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), China’s answer to Instagram, which has also become their travel bible. The 26-year-old relied solely on Xiaohongshu to navigate Hong Kong with his wife during their recent trip to the city. A woman takes pictures at an iconic Xiaohongshu spot in Hong Kong.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, sipping lattes, Xiaohongshu, Hong Kong's, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Kennedy, Jiao Le, Cassanelli, ” Jiao Le, Jay Chou, ”, Tokyo's, Zhizhao Wu, Giovanni Mereghetti, Mao Zedong, Charlwin Mao, Miranda Qu, it’s, Qian Gua, “, Xia Jiale, Joel Placeres, “ Will, Placeres, Jiao, Hung Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kennedy Town, Hong Kong's Kennedy, CNN, CNN Reading, Getty, Kennedy, CNN Travel, Lobos, “ Lobos, Hong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Seoul, Beijing, Asia, Copenhagen, Tivoli, Norrebro, Central, New York, Japan, Kamakura, Tokyo, Denmark, Xiaohongshu, Kennedy Town, Communist China, Shanghai, Luoyang, Europe, London, Paris, Hong, Noemi

☆ Young Chinese are looking for dupes and cheaper substitutes for everything from Hermès to travel
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Huileng Tan | Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese consumers are opting for affordable alternatives across various categories to save money. The trend, known as pingti, is driven by economic challenges and is popular among young people. Consumers are finding cheaper substitutes for luxury goods, everyday items, and even healthcare. It's now become a trend in China to save on nearly every consumer category, from luxury goods to everyday consumables to travel, with cheaper substitutes. A Bank of America survey of 1,052 adult Chinese consumers showed weakening consumer sentiment, with 30% of respondents planning to spend more — down from 45% in June.

Persons: —, It's, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, MingYii Lai, it's, Lindy, Hermes Lindy, Lai, Ruth Jin, Xiaohongshu Cleo Xie, they've, She's, Xie, Jin, Yves Saint Laurent, Keith, she's Organizations: Service, Daxue Consulting, Bottega, Prada, University, Dai, PPI, Bank of America Locations: China, Xiaohongshu, Beijing, Ili, Xinjiang, Provence, France, Xishuangbanna, Laos, Myanmar, Bangkok, Thailand, Chengdu, Europe, Asia

A couple, who argued with a passenger who reclined her seat, won't be flying with Cathay Pacific ever again. Cathay Pacific has not responded to CNBC's request for comment, but said in the statement that it "sincerely" apologized for the incident. The woman, who narrates parts of the video that was posted on the same platform, said the couple harassed her after she declined to return her seat to the upright position. Eventually, she was moved to another seat, the video showed. However, Cathay Pacific said in its statement that onboard staff had issued two "serious" verbal warnings to the two disruptive passengers.

Persons: Instagram Organizations: Cathay Pacific, London . Cathay, Cathay Locations: Hong Kong, London, London . Cathay Pacific, Cathay Pacific

HONG KONG — Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways has banned a couple for harassing a mainland Chinese woman who refused to put up her reclined seat. An altercation occurred during a flight from Hong Kong to London on September 17. Whether on the plane or online, I had many friends from Hong Kong who came forward to help and support me," she added. Hong Kong was returned to China after it was handed over by Britain in 1997. In recent years, Chinese influence has been growing in the global financial hub, with the Beijing imposed National Security Law and an influx of mainland Chinese professionals.

Persons: Jin Yuelin —, China's, Hong Kong Organizations: Cathay Pacific Airways, NBC News, Cathay, Cathay Pacific Group, Britain, National Security Law Locations: HONG KONG, Hong, Hong Kong, London, China, Mainland, Cathay Pacific, Beijing

☆ Cathay Pacific bans couple after seat-reclining spat
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific has banned two passengers from its flights after an argument over seat-reclining etiquette descended into xenophobic insults. People from Hong Kong speak mainly Cantonese, whereas mainland Chinese mainly speak Mandarin. However, Cathay, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, has got into hot water with Chinese authorities in the past. In a statement announcing the dismissals, Cathay Pacific CEO Ronald Lam said he would personally lead a task force to improve service and avoid similar incidents in the future. “We need to ensure that all Cathay Pacific employees must at all times respect customers from different backgrounds and cultures, and that we provide quality services consistently across all markets that we serve,” he said.

Persons: ”, ’, “, Hong Kongers, Ronald Lam, CNN’s Michelle Toh, Shawn Deng Organizations: CNN, Cathay Pacific, Cathay, Cathay Group, Hong Locations: Hong Kong, London, China, Cathay Pacific, Hong, Cathay, Hong Kong’s

The cultural shift has spawned a booming business in divorce photography not only for Tan, but also for other photographers hoping to profit. Photos shared on Chinese social media Xiaohongshu show some couples signing their divorce papers, while others pose with their divorce certificate. Happy divorce,” one user wrote alongside a photo of her marriage and divorce certificates side by side. “It is not shameful to be brave enough to divorce,” Tan said. Faces on old wedding photos are spray-painted, to ensure privacy is respected, before being tossed into a crusher along with other tokens of memories.

Persons: Tan, ” Tan, “, Peng Xiujian, ‘, Peng, it’s, Liu Wei, Liu, Justin Robertson, ” Liu, he’s, Gary Ng, “ I’ll, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, Companies, Victoria University, CNN Locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, Henan, China, Australia

☆ China economy: Young people in China aren’t spending on romance. That’s a problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“The Qixi Festival is not as robust as previous years. Couples attend a kissing contest during the traditional Qixi festival in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province, on August 13, 2013. “The only part of the world where consumer confidence remains very low is China,” L’Oreal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus told analysts on an earnings call late last month. Lower-than-expected growth in the global beauty sector this year is largely a consequence of low consumer confidence in China, he added. People take photos at a bus stop decorated with flowers during Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day, on August 22, 2023 in Chongqing, China.

Persons: China’s, Louis Vuitton, ”, forlornly, Huang Jinkun, Alfred Wu, Lee, “, Yeap Jun Rong, Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan, Stringer, De Beers, That’s, Niulang, Nicolas Hieronimus, Joanne Wilson, didn’t, ” Mercedes, Ola Kaellenius Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Weibo, CNN, Qixi, Lee Kuan Yew, of Public, National University of Singapore, Volkswagen, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Getty, Diamond, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Global, WPP, China News Service, Mercedes, ” Mercedes Benz Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shenyang, Liaoning province, Beijing, China's Liaoning province, AFP, Chongqing

☆ These are the 5 luxury items China's Gen Z is going nuts for, a retail expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-08 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Related storiesThat makes sense because, per Germano, Gen Z Chinese buyers are less logo-orientated than their parents' generations. Saint LaurentGermano's third pick was the Saint Laurent Niki Medium bag, which retails for $3,150. Yves Saint LaurentThe Saint Laurent Le 5 à 7 Hobo handbag, which retails from $1,750 to $5,100, is another one of Germano's picks. Jeremy Moeller/Getty ImagesMaison Margiela's Replica sneakers are trendy among Chinese Gen Z-ers, Germano said. Like the understated Saint Laurent Le 5 à 7 Hobo, Maison Margiela's Replica sneakers are simple and discreet enough for everyday use.

Persons: —, Zers, Antonello Germano, Z, GG Marmont, Gucci, Marmont, Edward Berthelot, Germano, Gucci Horsebit, Jeremy Moeller, Gen, millennials, Laurent Niki, Saint Laurent Germano's, Saint Laurent Niki, Saint Laurent, Laurent Le, Yves Saint Laurent The, Yves Saint Laurent The Saint Laurent Le, Germano's, Laurent, Burberry, Hugo Boss, Bernard Arnault's LVMH, Louis Vuitton, Maison, Saint Laurent Le Organizations: Service, Daxue Consulting, Business, Getty, Saint, Yves Saint Laurent The Saint, tote, Bloomberg, Swatch, Dior Locations: China, Givenchy, Japan, Miami

☆ How ‘special forces travelers’ are making – and then breaking – Chinese tourism destinations
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-06 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The previously nondescript city in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong became one of China’s hottest spots for domestic tourism last year thanks to its affordable and juicy skewered meat. They’re known as “special forces travelers” because, like soldiers, they move from one checkpoint to another under incredibly tight schedules, often over weekends or short holidays. For the first half of this year, 29.22 million foreign nationals entered and exited, according to the latest figures. But the flash-mob-style approach of “special forces travelers” – switching from one community to the next – has called into question whether that type of domestic tourism is sustainable in the long term. Pan Wenbo, also from Beijing, said his favorite spots included Xi’an, home of the Terracotta Warriors, and Datong, a northern Chinese city known for ancient Buddhist architecture - both offering more affordable accommodation and food.

Persons: ” Zibo, Cici Li Yuetong, “, ”, Li, ” Li, Pan Wenbo, Jiumei, Yang ”, Yang, Mimi Li Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Immigration Administration, University, Cici, Warriors, China News Service, CNN, Labor, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Locations: Hong Kong, Zibo, Shandong, Beijing, China, Datong, Gansu, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, Weibo, Hong

☆ Retiring at 50 has long been a guarantee for parts of China's working class — until now
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But experts and think tanks have long said this is a policy change that an aging China desperately needs. It's currently running a lopsided policy of letting women retire up to 10 years earlier despite them living significantly longer on average than men. The pension problemKey to the retirement overhaul are China's pension funds. AdvertisementMost Chinese workers receive a state pension, which can be boosted by retirement funds from employers and personal contributions. Experts say that either way, Beijing will need more than a simple policy change to fix its crisis.

Persons: —, Sabrina Luk, Shaun Rein, Luk, It's, Gu Qingyang, CASS, it's, Louis Vuitton, Gu, Rein Organizations: Service, Business, Nanyang Technological University, China Market Research Group, Academy of Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, Louis Locations: Beijing, France, China, Xiaohongshu, Weibo, Singapore, Shanghai, Asia, East Asia

☆ China’s leaders have floated the idea of raising the retirement age. It hasn’t gone down well
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The retirement age for female urban workers is 50 or 55 depending on their occupation. “In accordance with the principles of voluntariness and flexibility, [we] will steadily and orderly advance the reform of progressively delaying the statutory retirement age,” China’s ruling Communist Party said on Sunday. Tingshu Wang/ReutersStruggling with declining birth rate and an ageing population, China’s policymakers have been talking about increasing the retirement age for over a decade. On Weibo, the hashtag “advancing the reform of delaying retirement age” has been a top trending topic since Sunday. On Xiaohongshu, China’s equivalent of Instagram, the hashtag “retirement age” has also attracted about 100 million views by Tuesday morning.

Persons: ” China’s, Ma Qiuhua, Tingshu Wang, ”, “, ’ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Reuters, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Communist Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Weibo, Communist China, India

☆ China economy and employment: People who used to work for major tech giants are now doing manual labor
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-20 | by ( Chris Lau | Hassan Tayir | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Li, 27, is part of a growing base of Chinese workers swapping high-pressure office jobs for flexible blue-collar work. But these firms are slowly losing their appeal as China’s economy faces headwinds including a property crisis, declining foreign investment and slumping consumption. The trend to move from professional to manual jobs comes amid surging demand for blue-collar workers, according to Chinese recruitment platform Zhaopin. And blue-collar workers’ pay has also gone up, attracting more people to jobs they might have previously avoided. Pressure of another kindBut some wonder if blue-collar work is truly the stress-free refuge people like Li and Wang imagine it to be.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Leon Li, ”, Li, “, Alice Wang, Wang, –, Larry Hu, Zhang Yuxiao, David Goodman, commenter Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, Workers, NBS, University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Chengdu, –, Macquarie, Shanghai

☆ China's cooking oil scandal prompts residents to buy oil presses amid food safety concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

They are turning to making their own oil by buying household oil press machines. a post on social media platform Xiaohongshu, captioning a video of a bottle of cooking oil, showcased locals' worries. China's authorities have launched an investigation into food safety concerns after domestic media revealed that a major state-owned company, Sinograin, had been using tankers that carry fuel to transport cooking oil. Be careful of 'Made in China' food products," Rein told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe." "Illegal enterprises and relevant responsible persons will be severely punished in accordance with the law and will not be tolerated," China's Commission on Food Safety of the State Council said.

Persons: It's, Shaun Rein, Rein, CNBC's Organizations: Chinese Communist Party, Beijing, Private, Hopefull, Oil Group, Beijing News, China Market Research, Times Finance, Food, State Locations: China, China's Guangxi, Australia, Europe, Hong Kong

☆ Rich people can buy their way into Hong Kong residency, and the majority of applicants come from 2 tiny countries
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Lian Kit Wee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewHong Kong's latest sales pitch involves a cash-for-residency program targeted at wealthy investors — and most of them come from just two countries. It builds on prior investment-for-residency programs offered in the last two decades, which aim to capture foreign capital and talent to boost Hong Kong's economy. Permanent residency instead marks a stepping stone to Hong Kong's residency scheme, which prohibits mainland Chinese residents. The posts, which have been viewed over 600,000 times, highlight that the passports qualify for Hong Kong's residency program. The West African nation's citizens currently make up the highest proportion of applicants for Hong Kong's New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme — 139 out of 333 applicants, per government data.

Persons: —, Hayyam Garipoglu, multimillionaire Andrew Spira, Kong's Organizations: Service, Hong, Investors, Business, Reuters, Guardian, Africyrpt, European Union, Vanuatu, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Hong Kong's New Capital, Henley, Partners, Bloomberg Locations: Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Guinea, Bissau, Hong, Pacific, bitcoin, Turkey, Australia, West

☆ Chinese millennials and Gen Zers have had enough of work, so they're embracing 'naked resignations'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-06 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Advertisement'Naked resignation'One popular phrase on Chinese social media is "两点一线," which translates to "two points, one line." And discussion is rife on Chinese social media about 裸辞 — a term that translates, quite literally, to "naked resignation." Examples seen in BI's search of the keyword included "how much to save before naked resignation," "three things to consider before naked resignation," and "20 jobs to try after naked resignation." Advertisement"There are articles on Chinese social media criticizing gap years," she said, "arguing that it is a Western concept that does not adapt well to Chinese society." "There's a popular internet buzzword among Chinese young people, "Gai溜子," which can be roughly translated to "drifter" on the street," Lim added.

Persons: —, Jack Porteous, Tong, Porteous, aren't, Laurence Lim, Sally Maier, Yip, Qilai Shen, Lim, It's, Jack Ma, Qu Jing, Jenny Chan, Gen, Gai 溜 Organizations: Service, Business, Tong Global, Twitter, Publishing, Getty, Cherry, Consulting, Pictures, National Bureau of Statistics, Baidu, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Locations: China, Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Europe

Hong Kong CNN —There are a lot of princesses at Hong Kong Disneyland, but not the ones you think. Hair carefully coiffed, and in full makeup Liang Xiaoyu, 18, is dressed for a day out at Hong Kong Disneyland. Noemi Cassanelli/CNNAnd at Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney characters aren’t the sole fashion inspiration for dedicated fans. Li Mengru, 27, poses for a picture during an interview with CNN, at the entrance of Hong Kong Disneyland on June 7, 2024. Yang Yushen, who also goes by Kris, and his partner Jimmy Redinger like the romantic side of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Persons: “ Duffy, ”, Liang Xiaoyu, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Liang, Mary Janes, Duffy, Qin Wuxiao, Jessie, it’s, Charmy Chan, Yanni Chung, Judy, Nick Wilde, “, Chan, CNN Oscar Yim, Captain America, Marvel, CNN Jing Hongche, Li Sitan, CNN Charmy Chan, Chung, Li Mengru, Chen Xinyu, Li, Chen, Linda Lee, CNN Li, Cassanelli, Yang Yushen, Kris, Jimmy Redinger, Ankh Wong, Kris Yang, Yang, Zootopia, Hercules ”, Redinger, Disney, Mariko Otomo, Nozomi Yasuda, Yuka Izawa, CNN Otomo, China’s “ meng ”, Mariko Otomo kitted, Deng Chundan, CNN Deng Chundan, Le, Godiva, Chow Tai, Gen, ” Shen Jing, CNN Linda Lee, CNN Chen Xinyu, CNN Lee, CNN Chen, lacy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Disney, CNN, Hong Kong Baptist University, USA, Captain, Hong Kong Disneyland, Marvel, “, Hong, Hong Kong Tourism, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hong, China’s Fujian, Guangdong, Japan, Arendelle, Tomorrowland, Tsim Sha Tsui, China, Southeast Asia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Grizzly Gulch, United States, Chinese, Hebei, Asia, Hangzhou

☆ Unmarried Chinese women have found yet another way to get over the stigma of being single: Flee to the West and get another degree
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-24 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSome single Chinese women — fatigued from the social stigma of being unmarried and childless — are opting to run away altogether. These women — mostly millennials in their mid to late 30s — are taking to the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu to talk about their great escape to the West. These women, per their accounts, are enrolled in higher education in countries like France, the UK, and the US. In these diary-style posts, the women talk about how higher education in the West has been their ticket to freedom. AdvertisementLeftover womenThere are several push factors that may be motivating more Chinese millennial women to seek greener pastures abroad.

Persons: —, who've, Claudia Ke, Ke, Susu, she'd, childrearing, Emily Huang, BI's Kevin Tan Organizations: Service, US, Business, China, Burgundy School of Business, University of Cambridge, China Centre for Economic Research, National Bureau of Statistics Locations: France, China, Shanghai, Europe, Cambridge, England, Peking

☆ Awkward Chinese youths are paying AI love coaches $7 weekly to learn how to talk on dates
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewSocially awkward and chronically single Chinese youth are turning to AI-powered love coaches to boost their dating game, according to a new report from the South China Morning Post. Unsure of what to say during dates or how to flirt, some youths are using AI applications like "RIZZ.AI" and "Hong Hong Simulator" to learn how to talk to potential love interests, the SCMP reported, citing posts on the app seen on Chinese social media. A 2023 survey by the China Youth Daily Social Survey Center found that young people in China report lacking social skills and having trouble breaking out of their comfort zones and making friends. AdvertisementWith the RIZZ.AI app, nervous youth can interact with fictional characters in scenario settings they must navigate. Screenshot/RIZZ.AIA more China-tailored app, Hong Hong Simulator, teaches users how to coax angry partners, per the SCMP.

Persons: —, Maddie, Kristen, ChatGPT, DAN, Lisa Organizations: Service, South China Morning, Hong, Business, China Youth Daily Social Survey Center Locations: China

☆ Why These Chinese Working Mothers Don’t Want More Babies
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Isabelle Qian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Her boss, a woman who had been advocating for her to be given a leadership role, left the team while Ms. Zhao was on a five-month maternity leave. After college, Ms. Zhao set aside her dream of becoming a civil servant to pursue a higher-paying job. (Nearly a third of Chinese women have college degrees now, up from fewer than 1 percent in 1990.) Six months after Ning was born, Ms. Tang returned to her office, leaving the baby in the care of a grandmother. Her husband and in-laws oppose the move, but Ms. Tang doesn’t want to be held back.

Persons: doesn’t, Xi Jinping, —, ” Joyce Zhao, Joyce Zhao, Ming, Zhao, Ms, “, Ming’s, ” Ms, ”, ” Guo Chunlei, Guo Chunlei, Guo, Tianyi, ” Tang Pingjuan, Tang Pingjuan, Tang, Ning, Tang doesn’t Locations: Beijing, China, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen

☆ The ‘New Chinese style’ trend isn’t exactly new, but it’s proving lucrative
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-16 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Xiaohongshu, searches for “new Chinese style” and “new Chinese style outfits” hashtags exceeded 100 million in early April, according to state news agency Xinhua. “There is no set rule in the ‘new Chinese style’ (trend) that you must follow, so it is more inclusive. Riding the ‘new’ Chinese style waveFashion designers like Samuel Gui Yang, whose collections have long taken inspiration from Chinese heritage, are seeing more interest from mainland China turn to their brands due to the “new Chinese style” trend. Designer Huang Weizhe, who goes by Azhe online, often posts ideas about how to embrace the "new Chinese style" trend. But some of the “new Chinese style” products are “shoddily made” she said, though she thinks that their designs will improve with time.

Persons: CNN —, Liang Ben, ”, didn’t, Momo, Xiaohongshu, Huang Weizhe, Huang, Samuel Gui Yang, ’, Chang, Yang, Ang Lee’s, “, Hong, Bruce Lee, Eileen Chang, Ian Hylton's, Ian Hylton, Tang, ” Hylton, Min Liu, Min, Hylton, Min “, China’s TikTok, shoddily Organizations: CNN, China News Service, Xinhua, China National Textile and Apparel, Shanghai Fashion, CCTV Locations: China, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Cao, Shandong, Weibo, London, Hong Kong, American, State, Shandong province

☆ No more bus tours for China's rich millennials — they're seeing the world on their own
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRich millennials in China are experiencing world travel in a very different way from their parents. These tours offered a safer and more accessible way to explore new destinations, Elisa Harca, CEO of consultancy firm Red Ant Asia, previously told Business Insider. New technology has made solo travel much less dauntingSocial media platforms like Xiaohongshu are the go-to place for local travel tips. BORIS HORVAT/Getty"They're a lot more used to being tourists,'' Jack Porteous of China-focused consultancy firm Tong Global told Business Insider. The rise of social media platforms for travel has also spurred the accessibility of solo travel.

Persons: —, Elisa Harca, Ant Asia, — millennials, Z, BORIS HORVAT, Jack Porteous, Tong, China's, Sally Maier, Yip, Porteous, Mark Kolbe, Getty, Maier, they've Organizations: Service, Business, Tong Global, Consulting Locations: China, China ., Europe, glamping, Inner Mongolia

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