Forget Shamate, This Is China’s New Controversial Subculture

Known as 'yabi' this aesthetic emerged in recent years in China's underground music scenes, and has gained popularity on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, often attracting criticism.

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7:55 PM HKT, Fri January 13, 2023

Over the past few decades, unique youth subcultures have emerged globally: chavs in the UK, gyaru and harajuku in Japan, and K-pop in South Korea.


In China, the notorious 'shamate' subculture faded out in the early 2010s, leaving space for a new eclectic aesthetic to develop.


Known as 'yabi' this aesthetic emerged in recent years in China's underground music scenes, and has gained popularity on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, often attracting criticism.


But what led to the emergence of Yabi, and why is this subculture so controversial?

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