Frugality is in fashion among Chinese youth, with influencers promoting challenges including 'how to live off ¥1,600 a month’ as people pursue ways to spend thriftily. As the country recovers from the pandemic, confidence among Gen Zers is low, and this is reflected in their desire to save.

As young Chinese people feel less secure about China’s harsh working and living conditions and COVID-19 policies, they are leaning into the Guochao movement as a route of finding state-funded employers. But as frustrations grow and economic instability mounts, where will Gen Zers seek release?

Chinese netizens are debating over the 'Kong Yiji mindset', which refers to university graduates who often look down on blue-collar work. The trend reveals Gen Z’s dilemma between stable, high-income jobs that cushion against global economic shocks or ditching the grind altogether.

China’s top developers face scorn from the nation as they file for corporate default, leaving homeowners-to-be far from the promised land. As the Chinese youth are caught between a housing crisis and long-standing expectations of home ownership, they have resorted to living in ‘refined poverty.’