In China, calling someone a diaosi – which directly translates as ’penis hair’ – isn’t an insult. On the contrary, millions of Chinese in dead-end jobs, with no car, house or girlfriend identify with the term, wearing it as a badge of honour. But could self-deprecation be a danger to society?

What’s got so many Chinese thinking about themselves? Why are so many women filing for divorce? And how is China’s pollution problem fuelling on-demand culture? This Cultural Snapshot uses local statistics and case studies to explore behavioural norms shared by China people in 2016.

Chabuduo – or 'close enough' – is the mantra of craftsmanship in China, meaning that a project half done will suffice. But as the country experiences a shift towards individualism, people are starting to take more pride in thier work, which a more collectivist society obscured.

The Chinese govenment is notorious for control and censorship. And new documents suggest that a ‘social credit’ system could see people’s ability to get a table at a restaurant, or even get their kids into the best schools, affected by data collected via the ubiquity of smartphones and social media.