What if Chinese Gen-Z Hosted the Spring Festival Gala?

The Lunar New Year is fast approaching, which means that CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala, China’s television event of the year, is also on its way. Yet as anticipation builds for the show, Chinese Gen-Z are feeling increasingly left out, and are actively imagining what their participation in the spectacle might look like.


Beyond online chatter surrounding actors’ departures from the planned show, speculation about potential skits, and other rumors, this year there’s a new trend of Gen-Z netizens shooting video skits that reimagine the Spring Festival Gala through creative humor.


Young people are crafting skits envisioning themselves as hosts of the Spring Festival Gala, replacing the seasoned entertainment veterans who usually occupy this role. Through playful scenarios, they gently poke humor at aspects of the gala that they find to be out of touch or stuffy, humorously reshaping the event through their unique perspective.


Using their creativity to move past financial constraints, the sky is the limit for these netizens. Some imagine lineups of actors and actresses who resonate better with younger audiences, or propose implausible skits in which famous entertainers get caught in hilariously embarrassing situations. Many add a whimsical touch by mimicking established entertainers, donning suits or fake mustaches, and injecting a generous dose of sarcasm.


One video currently trending on Xiaohongshu showcases a combination of these approaches.


A still from creator Hou Lüluo’s (侯绿萝) viral video. Image via Xiaohongshu.


One Weibo user (小刚在大理) reflected on the trend, saying, “When will the Post-00s* generation take over the Spring Festival Gala? If the Spring Festival Gala has this lineup, I guarantee I won’t fall asleep, and I’ll be excited the whole night.”


Another commenter, 太阳系银河离子, remarked, “The ideas of young people may be bolder, and they might do better in terms of innovation. You never know.”


Despite complaints from younger netizens, CCTV’s annual televised Spring Festival Gala continues to grow in global influence and popularity. Its ever-expanding audience has surpassed 1 billion viewers, and it is broadcast all over the world.


The event is televised live on the eve of Lunar New Year, February 10th this year.


*A Chinese term for people born after 2000, roughly corresponding with Gen-Z.


Banner image via Xiaohongshu. The image shows rapper Vava at a rehearsal for Shenzhen TV’s Spring Festival Gala, which seems to be reaching out to a younger audience more effectively than the CCTV special.


Navigating Layoffs and Life Satisfaction, Chinese Tech Workers Are Redefining Success

“You could say that we live in the best of times, and the worst of times.”


Early in January I sat down for a virtual coffee chat with Xu*, a young tech worker who had recently been laid off.


Xu was born in 1993 and comes from a Chinese second tier city. Armed with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from a leading liberal arts college in the US, she returned to China in 2016 amongst the millions of returnees rushing back to join the new tech boom. Mirroring her personal situation, many others who landed and found themselves at the peak of tech optimism in the late 2010s are now facing a very different reality post-Covid. It’s been estimated that since 2022, more than 28,000 employees have been laid off from China’s three largest tech firms (Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent), and as of May 2023 overall youth unemployment for those aged between 16-24 in urban regions stood at 21%.


Tech layoff

A photo taken by Xu as she left the office on her last day on the job.


“Living in a first tier city like Shanghai, our savings at best can stretch for two to three months,” Xu lamented. Since being laid off, she has been actively searching for her next role within the tech space, but the current job market seems more competitive than ever before. With the inflation of education credentials and a cool-down of the Chinese tech sector, the market is now saturated with over-qualified talent.


In 2022, China’s college graduates exceeded 10 million for the first time, reflecting the emphasis that society places on education, but also a mismatch between labor market supply and demand. Young graduates lacking work experience and the means or desire to continue their studies face limited choices. Some have invented their own jobs as “full-time children,” whilst others have decided to take the plunge into the less glamorous service industry roles in coffee shops or hotpot chains.


Full-time children chart

The duties of “full-time children.” Chart via Yunnan.cn


While the older generation might still be measuring their career success in terms of asset accumulation or social status, the younger generation seems to be, more than ever, prioritizing meaning and individual satisfaction over anything else when it comes to their jobs.


In 2022, Qian Zhang, a Harvard Business School and Dartmouth graduate with a string of accolades to her name, decided to quit her full-time job and pursue a different way of life.


“I realized that the conflict with the new management in my company was simply a catalyst, I just no longer wanted to wake up feeling anxious.” After a long career in tech and consulting, Qian decided to leave her high-powered role in the US and move to Portugal, with no particular plans except to start a new life altogether.


“My parents recently came to visit me in Portugal, and I think my father was shocked that this was not a phase, and in fact, I would not be going back to full-time work,” she reflected during our discussion. Qian feels that her generation, those born from the late 1980s to early 90s, is caught between two eras, having missed out on many of the initial benefits of China’s economic reforms and the greater social mobility of her parents’ generation (born in the 60s and 70s), while also being unable to “lie flat” like even younger generations.


On the flip side, Qian and her peers have also been able to craft success stories unique to the times they live in.


After documenting her journey on Xiaohongshu, Qian accumulated over 60,000 followers within the space of a few months, and has “accidentally” become an influencer for her own generation.


Qian XIaohongshu Account

Qian’s Xiaohongshu account.


Qian writes about her life, thoughts, and decisions in her own distinct voice. The overwhelming response of her fans demonstrates how the critical choices she made deeply resonate with the demographic that she is part of.


Others affected by the layoffs at major tech firms have also discovered that the way forward might be outside of China.


Ming*, a 26 year old product manager, joined a company right after graduation and worked there for over two years, until he was laid off at the end of 2022. Prior to the layoff, he had heard rumors within his department about a headcount decrease, and actively tried to move to a different position within the large conglomerate.


“I wasn’t successful at the time, and there was definitely anxiety when I realized that I needed to look outside my current company for new roles.”


After debating job offers, Ming decided to join cryptocurrency exchange Binance for a job in Dubai, only to be laid off again in 2023.


“I think by this point I have accepted that there are many things outside of my control, and I just need to embrace change and make the most out of it.”


Since his departure from Binance, Ming has found that he’s able to parlay his location in Dubai and background in tech to serve as a cultural bridge and information source for the many Chinese businesses looking to enter the Middle East.


Ming is growing more confident of his choice, as he sees the Middle East as a land of opportunity, and finds that many business models which have already succeeded in China are just taking flight in Dubai.


“I definitely feel that there is no ‘one standard fits all’ anymore in terms of the best jobs, as compared to our parents’ times, and all I want to do is just to experience as much as possible at my age and see how I can leverage this platform for the future.”


Tech Networking in Dubai

A typical evening for Ming, networking with other expats and tech workers in Dubai. Image courtesy interviewee.


Like Ming and Qian, millions born after the economic reforms of the 1980s are redefining what work and success can mean. China’s economic reforms have lifted 770 million people out of poverty, ensuring that this younger generation, unlike their parents, lives in a time of unprecedented access to material goods and daily conveniences. This also means that even when facing precarity, like Xu, today’s youths may have the choice to decide against taking what they regard as “bullshit jobs.” As the anthropologist David Graeber argues in his book of the same title, millions of people around the world — clerical workers, administrators, consultants, telemarketers, service personnel, and many others — are toiling away in meaningless, unnecessary jobs, and they know it. Whether due to the aftermath of Covid lockdowns or generational discord over mainstream values, what is certain is that younger generations are determined to set their own standards, and make a living out of it.


* Editor’s note: Xu and Ming are referred to using pseudonyms to protect their identities.


Banner image by Haedi Yue.

The Fiery Debate Over China’s Fireworks Bans

As the Lunar New Year approaches, China’s age-old tradition of fireworks is igniting a nationwide debate over cultural heritage and environmental caution.


The history of fireworks in China dates back over 2,000 years. Traditionally, fireworks have been an integral part of Lunar New Year celebrations in China, a practice originating from a folktale about them being used to drive away the “nian,” a mythical beast. However, since the first fireworks ban in downtown Beijing in the 1986, fireworks have been disappearing from Chinese cities. In 2017, official data revealed that 444 cities in China had banned fireworks. Shanghai has implemented strict regulations regarding fireworks: the city only permits fireworks outside its densely populated center. Moreover, in 2022, only nine authorized stores throughout the entire city were permitted to sell fireworks.


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A list of stores in Shanghai certified to sell fireworks — all in rural districts. Screenshot via Baidu.


These policies were implemented mainly due to concerns about air pollution and fire safety. Fireworks have the potential to cause serious accidents and property damage in densely populated areas. This combination of environmental and safety concerns led to the fireworks, along with other traditional fire-based crafts like Chinese Sky Lanterns (孔明灯 kǒngmíngdēng), to be banned in many urban population centers.


Arguments surrounding fireworks bans annually rise in prominence around the time of Lunar New Year. However, following years of COVID-19 lockdowns and official reevaluations, this year’s fireworks controversy has been especially heated, in part due to a statement from the People’s Congress citing that county-level total bans conflict with national legislation.


The official state news channel CCTV further fueled the discussion with an article emphasizing the “right of the Chinese people to look up to the splendid fireworks after a year of hard work.”


The online community on platforms like Weibo have actively engaged in the debate. One user questioned the environmental impact, asking, “Are environmental problems really caused by the fireworks during the New Year?” Another expressed nostalgia for past celebrations, lamenting the loss of the festive spirit (年味 niánwèi) and sharing a video of the sky filled with fireworks during the 2000 Lunar New Year.


Conversely, some users opposed lifting the ban. Tagging a video of a fire caused by a rogue firework rocket, one user criticized the supporters, “Is this the festive spirit you want? Air and noise pollution, along with significant safety hazards, [fireworks] should be strictly banned.”


In a Weibo poll of 15,200 users, 1,600 supported a total ban, 3,600 favored allowing fireworks in restricted areas, and 10,000 advocated for a complete repeal of the ban. As more and more cities set up designated areas for fireworks this year, this diversity of opinions sets the stage for a contentious Lunar New Year, where policy and tradition continue to be at odds.


Cover image via Wikipedia.

New Music for January: Fresh Chinese Rock, Hyperpop, Hip Hop and More

There’s no better time to update your playlists than the new year, and once you’ve caught up all the music you missed last year, it’s time to start digging again! RADII columnist Will Griffith has you covered for January, and there’s truly a wide range of music on offer this month: from youthful rock bands making their voice heard for the first time, to excitable hyperpop, mellow indie rock and hip hop, immersive ambient, and experimental music imbued with folk traditions.

Jiafeng 高嘉丰 Jiafeng – Early Technologies 早期科技

Shanghai-based musician Gao Jiafeng, known for his shapeshifting “deconstructed pop” continues subverting musical tropes with his latest, Early Technologies, while establishing himself as a bonafide pop star. A deep dive into the kaleidoscopic worlds of hyperpop, indie rock, almost every genre with the suffix “core,” dream pop, hip hop, and electronica, and where they all collide, the album explores our modern-day technological infatuations across fairy-tale-esque narratives all set to Jiafeng’s trademark sugar-coated, bleeding-heart lyricism. Getting accustomed to Jiafeng’s merry-go-round of tones may be too much for some, but for those willing to go for the ride, it’s a fascinating glimpse into the future of pop.


South Acid Mimi 南方酸性咪咪 – 圣代元音

Kunming act South Acid Mimi returns with their sophomore release 圣代元音 (Sundae Vowels), a beast of an album that takes the trio’s “desktopunk” to new realms. Far from your typical electronica, their latest is a cauldron of humid synthesizers, pulsating rave beats, world music psychedelia, and riot grrrl attitude, a concoction that’s seductive and immersive; an antidote to an abnormal reality its members reside in. Like any long-winded night on the dance floor it sags a bit in the middle, but for those with the stamina to rally along till dawn, this album is for you.


Li Daiguo 李带菓 – Book of Prayers 祭祀簿

On his latest album, Li Daiguo, avant-garde multi-instrumentalist, and one of the leading representatives of Chinese experimental music, looks to “common ancestry” as a source of inspiration, pulling from a vast well of musical traditions and instruments. Book of Prayers finds spiritual solace in how notions of religion, mysticism, Taoism, quantum physics, and nature feed into one another. Li finds common ground amongst them whilst weaving together spellbinding arrangements, dense in atmosphere and boundless in their intricacies and rhapsody.


Inner Wave, Schoolgirl Byebye – Automatic

A bedroom pop dream match come true: Los Angeles indie rockers Inner Wave, who swung through China on tour last summer, have teamed up with Nanjing indie pop favorites Schoolgirl Byebye for a new single, “Automatic.” A synth-filled track that’s a natural fit for both acts, the woozy, cozy collaboration sounds like it was tons of fun to make for all involved. The music video even takes cues from Schoolgirl Byebye’s previous videos, filmed in grainy lo-fi home video format and following the pair on their adventures along the West Coast during their North American tour last autumn.


Pepper Heart 心椒椒 – 椒之味

Wuhan is swimming with new talent as of late, with Pepper Heart the latest act to pay close attention to. The four-piece all-female outfit walks that woozy line between wistful dream pop and brooding art rock, where reverb-soaked, synth-filled 80s alt-rock meets more contemporary lo-fi indie rock acts from the past two decades. But above all, it’s alive, brimming with a sense of melodic drive and a poetic charge that feels authentic and hard-earned. Fresh as they come.


Seon Ga – Fixing Messages

Using the conceptual framework suggested by homing pigeons (birds used to deliver messages), prolific producers thruoutin and Yu Hein, based in Beijing and Guangzhou, respectively, find a synthesis between their musical backgrounds and sonic wavelengths on Fixing Messages, released on Guangzhou label Jyugam. Delicately put together through more conventional communication methods (i.e. WeChat) it’s an immersive production: a deftly designed sonic excursion filled with drone-filled ambiance, tape manipulation, and found sounds. Patient, textured, and full-bodied, it’s the kind of music you soak in.


LATENINE6 – THE LATENIGHT SHOW

Shanghai-based rapper LATENINE6 takes us on a whirlwind tour of his psyche on the bubbly and light-hearted THE LATENIGHT SHOW, released with Delivery Music. Akin to channel surfing late at night, LATENINE’s latest has a lot of fun with the concept, giddily shifting gears and genres, a sonic shuffle that veers from woozy future pop to humid jazz-inflicted hip hop, coasting on the straightforward yet relatable musings of its host.


D.C. – Ambitious Greedy & Happy

Devilishly appealing and moving at such a frantic pace, Tianjin’s Division Control (aka D.C.) remind listeners of the fun to be had in the post punk world with their latest LP Ambitious Greedy & Happy. Bombastic and without an ounce of subtlety, the release perfectly captures the chaotic energy of the band’s live performances, hot-blooded swirls of post-punk, no wave, punk blues, and free jazz, while highlighting their cockeyed lyricism and the charisma of circus ringleader Kong Bo.


Nemassle 匿名私聊 – Abused Moment 受辱时刻

Hefei rockers Nemassle rallies against the absurdity of our modern age via their hefty, tightly-wound debut Abused Moment. Tight, energetic, and sonically engaging, the young band, part of a generation of rockers left to fend for themselves as they went through adolescence over the past few years, skirt along the edge of rock and roll’s more riotous cousins — grunge, pop punk, noise rock, psych rock, and scream — all captured with gusto over cold-eyed observations of the world around them. It’s a hell of a showcase, one that feels both earnestly old school yet determinedly of its time. Simply put, it rocks.


GG Long Xia – 斑蝶 Stain (ft. Kyra Zilver)

GG Long Xia (GG 龙虾), “the unruly boy from Hangzhou,” brings his kinetic, buoyant, and bombastic blend of autotuned cloud rap, meme-stunted pop music, and internet-deconstructed electronica to life on his latest music video and single, “STAIN.” Essentially a gaudy anarchist take on Pokémon lore, it’s a fine showcase for the rising star’s idiosyncratic sound and aesthetic.



Banner image by Haedi Yue.

Young People in China Are Flocking to Underrated Restaurants

When looking for a new place to eat, do you consult review sites like Yelp? If so, do you trust the reviews?


Recently, the Chinese internet has been abuzz with fervent discussions weighing in on the idea that low or moderately-rated restaurants could potentially offer a more outstanding culinary experience than those with high ratings.


The hashtag “Young People Are Overcrowding 3.5-Star Restaurants in a Frenzy” (#年轻人报复性挤爆3.5分餐厅) is trending on China’s Twitter equivalent Weibo, generating 350 million views.


Many netizens feel the flavors at restaurants with high ratings on popular Chinese crowd-sourced review platforms like Meituan and Dianping, even those boasting queues out the door, are not up to par.


Instead, hidden gems with average or comparatively low ratings are delighting diners’ discerning taste buds. Some noticed that the restaurants they frequent don’t necessarily exhibit impressive ratings, despite serving exceptional food.


A viral post on Xiaohongshu touching upon the phenomenon resonated with many. The user, who discovered numerous poorly-rated eateries were unexpectedly scrumptious while constantly being let down by well-rated establishments that didn’t live up to the hype, stated, “This may be the discrepancy between valuing food quality versus prioritizing marketing tactics.”


“For spots with ratings between 3 and 4.2, consider reading the negative reviews. If they don’t deter you, you might want to give [these restaurants] a shot,” reads one top comment under the post. “But think twice before checking out a restaurant with a rating of 4.5 or higher.”


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The rating page on the Dianping app. Users can give restaurants an overall rating as well as rate specific elements such as taste, service, and ambience. Screenshot via Dianping.


Mouth-watering cuisine alone isn’t sufficient for restaurants to earn high ratings; they are always at risk of losing points due to subpar service, poor hygiene, or an uncomfortable dining environment.


“I’ve dined at a lamb noodle restaurant with a rating of 3.8. The reviews are all bashing the crappy service. Some patrons even left multiple comments expressing dissatisfaction,” shared a Xiaohongshu user. “Though they constantly complained about the service, they kept going back. I figured the food must be pretty good, so I took a stab at it.”


“The meal turned out to be amazing, but the service was indeed terrible,” the user added.


Some netizens argue placing too much emphasis on ratings, albeit in an inverted manner, isn’t a prudent move either, given that restaurants with fewer stars might be low-rated for legitimate reasons.


“Top-rated dining spots may not always equate to delicious meals, but there’s also a strong chance that low-rated restaurants won’t be satisfying either,” posted a user on Weibo. “Perhaps relying on word of mouth is a better approach.”


In China, review apps including Meituan and Dianping, coupled with social media channels such as Xiaohongshu and Douyin, have become the go-to sources for young people deciding where to eat.


According to a report co-released by New Catering Big Data and Douyin, in the first half of 2023, catering-related content on the social media platform was viewed a whopping 556 billion times, with more than 9.7 billion likes doled out.


However, reviews may be warped: as recounted by netizens, many restaurants offer their clientele complimentary dishes or discounts in exchange for favorable ratings or recommendations on social media.


For young foodies who question whether the ratings genuinely reflect the quality of cooking, doubts linger over the trustworthiness of review platforms.


Cover image via cherry-hai / Shutterstock.

UFC announces “China Derby”: Zhang Weili to Defend Strawweight Crown Against Yan Xiaonan

For the first time in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history, two Chinese fighters are set to square off in a championship bout.


Gearing up for UFC’s history-making 300th event, UFC CEO Dana White announced last week on social media that Zhang Weili, the reigning UFC women’s strawweight champion, will defend her title against compatriot Yan Xiaonan at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13.

China’s first-ever UFC champion Zhang, hailing from Handan, Hebei province, captured her title in August 2019 through a technical knockout of Jessica Andrade in front of more than 10,000 spectators in Shenzhen. Subsequent to the victorious title defense against Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Zhang relinquished her crown to Rose Namajunas in April 2021, concluding her initial reign as the belt holder.

In November 2022, the 34-year-old emerged as a two-time UFC women’s strawweight champion when she overpowered Carla Esparza at UFC 281, and went on to successfully retain her title for a second time with a unanimous decision victory over Amanda Lemos in Boston in August last year.


Zhang’s rival Yan, also 34, is the first Chinese female fighter signed by UFC and one of the pioneers of mixed martial arts (MMA) in China. After securing a first-round knockout win over Jessica Andrade in May 2023, the Shenyang, Liaoning native has climbed to the second spot in the UFC women’s strawweight rankings.

MMA and UFC, like Formula One, boast mounting popularity and a growing fan base in China, thanks to the presence and accomplishments of Chinese athletes. The first-ever all-Chinese title fight is piquing audiences’ attention back home.


“I’m rooting for them both, but objectively speaking Zhang Weili’s strength gives her the upper hand,” read a comment below a WeChat post.


“Everyone’s saying Zhang Weili should have totally won the matchup, but I don’t see it that way,” a Weibo user posted. “The Chinese fighters are tight-knit and know each other inside out, so they can easily defend and develop targeted strategies.”


“My prediction is that the Chinese athlete will definitely strike gold,” another user humorously added.


Other fights confirmed on the gradually filling card for the April 13 UFC event include Jiří Procházka vs. Aleksandar Rakić (light heavyweight), Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage (middleweight), Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight), and Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt (bantamweight).


Banner images via UFC.