Author: Yiying Fan

Chinese traveler with a western mindset interested in cultural difference.
Culture, Life, Society

Young Chinese Love Everything About Sweden. Except Living There.


After years working in China’s finance industry, Helen Wang was feeling on the edge of burnout. She was fed up with working grueling hours, then being expected to be on call during her precious time off. The 28-year-old wanted to find a new path: one where she could “lie flat” for a while. Then, a friend gave her a left-field suggestion: move to Sweden. On … Continue reading Young Chinese Love Everything About Sweden. Except Living There.

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aging

How an Army of Elderly Influencers Took Over China’s Instagram


JIANGSU, East China — At a high-end dim sum restaurant in downtown Nanjing, Li Yaozhu is helping her 83-year-old mother shoot her latest viral video. Sitting on a sofa by the window, Li films her mother as she ties her Hermes silk scarf in an elegant bow. Later, she’ll edit the footage and post it to her feed on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social app. Li, … Continue reading How an Army of Elderly Influencers Took Over China’s Instagram

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Business, Culture

Looking for Love in China? Get Into Esports.


For many couples, a relationship starts with a swipe of a finger or a glance across a crowded room. For Gao Yuchen and Li Zhaoxuan, it all began with a bloody battle on the online shooter game “Apex Legends.” The college students admired each other’s ability to slaughter their rivals inside the game’s digital battlefield. After a few games, they began chatting, and then Gao … Continue reading Looking for Love in China? Get Into Esports.

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Uncategorized

China’s Downturn Fuels a Worrying New Trend: a Surge in Foreclosures


When Ya bought an apartment in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou in 2018, he thought it was the start of a bright new chapter.  At 1.2 million yuan ($174,000), the 85-square-meter home was pricey by local standards. But Ya liked the location, and figured property prices were likely to keep rising. Plus, the 5,300 yuan monthly mortgage payments seemed affordable. Yet, five years later, … Continue reading China’s Downturn Fuels a Worrying New Trend: a Surge in Foreclosures

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Business

For China’s Gen-Z, Entrepreneurship Represents a Ticket to Freedom


Three years into her degree in Chinese language education, Dong Zhenzhen realized she was on the wrong path. As she learned more about education, the student began to understand that she wouldn’t be happy as a teacher. She wanted a job that offered freedom, creativity, and the chance to quickly increase her income. Working in a school would give her none of those things. “The … Continue reading For China’s Gen-Z, Entrepreneurship Represents a Ticket to Freedom

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