Author: Yiying Fan

Chinese traveler with a western mindset interested in cultural difference.
Business

The Tiger Art Village That Won’t Change its Stripes


HENAN, Central China — The sweltering July heat, the passing trucks, and the loitering pigs cannot distract the dozen painting students from the task at hand. The villagers, young and old, are sitting around a table in their teacher’s studio, putting the finishing touches on their tigers’ whiskers and fur with the utmost concentration. The village of Wanggongzhuang’s love for the big cat is announced … Continue reading The Tiger Art Village That Won’t Change its Stripes

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Culture, Education

Telling Ambiguous, Ambitious Gay Stories


BEIJING — It’s the evening before filming starts, but director Lu Zhan and her main actor, Yang Zhenguo, can’t agree on what the script is really trying to say. Is “Summer” a gay movie? “It’s a love story that just happens to be between two young men,” Lu says, sitting on one of the beds in Yang’s hotel room. “Summer,” a short film project by … Continue reading Telling Ambiguous, Ambitious Gay Stories

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Education, Uncategorized

Left-Field Careers for Farmers’ Kids


YUNNAN, Southwest China — Zhi Zhengjiao, 17, grew up among rolling green hills full of corn stalks and tea shrubs. But despite this natural vista, other outlooks remain dull. For children like Zhengjiao, there are two typical career paths: becoming a migrant worker in the city or staying home to farm. Zhengjiao, who has waist-length hair and bangs that nearly cover her eyes, is creative … Continue reading Left-Field Careers for Farmers’ Kids

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Marriage, Uncategorized

The Resolve and Regret of Chinese Women Who Reject Motherhood


BEIJING — Before marrying in 2014, Wu Qing made it clear to her husband that having a child was out of the question. “He said it was OK, but later I realized he wanted to change my mind after we got married,” she tells Sixth Tone. Wu, 33, is determined to stick to her decision, but her in-laws have pressured her husband for a grandchild … Continue reading The Resolve and Regret of Chinese Women Who Reject Motherhood

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Business, Marriage

The Shanghai Sex Shop Selling More Than Just Toys


SHANGHAI — With thousands of sex shops sprinkled throughout the city, another store opening its doors isn’t usually cause for queues. But on Pepper Love Store’s first day, word spread quickly via social media. Soon, a line snaked through the former French Concession, putting a smile on the face of Mao Yongyi, one of the shop’s six owners. “We probably became the hottest sex shop … Continue reading The Shanghai Sex Shop Selling More Than Just Toys

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