Following the Yuan

Following the Yuan

How China found joy in being “cheap” | Following the Yuan

When being economical becomes a competition.

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Yaling Jiang
Mar 29, 2026
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What does vegetarian street food and a black puffer have in common?

They have both become the sources of entertainment for Chinese consumers with shrinking wallets in 2026.

About two weeks ago, Xi’an hosted a Caijiamo competition (as opposed to Roujiamo with meat, it’s vegetables), where contestants were given a Shaanxi-style crispy flatbread and were as…

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