China explainer 📙

Decoding 6 mainland China's socioeconomic stereotypes | Following the Yuan

Chinese people take genuine pleasure in learning about and debating archetypes and stereotypes. Here are 6 built around class.

Aug 7 • Yaling Jiang and Rongrong Zhuge

✨ A field Guide to China's AI Consumer Goods Part 2 | Following the Yuan

AI (sex) companionship, AI pet translator, AI tarot sticker

Jul 30 • Rongrong Zhuge, Following the Yuan, and Yaling Jiang

China's new gig economy: Pretending to see a Rolex exhibition | Following the Yuan

As brands chase traffic KPIs in the slowed economy, a new gig economy has emerged to manufacture attention — one paid attendee at a time.

Jul 6 • Yaling Jiang

Is Lying Flat a Foreign Plot? 🛌 | Following the Yuan

A recently published piece from China's Ministry of State Security revived the conversations and debates about 'lying flat' among the youth.

May 21 • Rongrong Zhuge

When crowds are back but money doesn’t follow 🤔| Following the Yuan

Has China's consumption gone back to 'normal'?

Apr 30 • Following the Yuan

Navigating mainland China's regional archetypes | Following the Yuan

Chinese people have taken genuine pleasure in learning about and debating regional archetypes and stereotypes. Here are 6 of them.

Apr 24

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

When being economical becomes a competition.

Mar 29 • Yaling Jiang

America’s perceived downfall activated China’s soft power, what now? | Following the Yuan

adjusted from my panel speech at LSE's China Development Forum

Feb 13 • Yaling Jiang

🗣️ Dialect renaissance: 10 Chinese dialect influencers to watch | Following the Yuan

Once upon a time, speaking Mandarin with an accent in China was looked down upon. That is not the case anymore (at least with these influencers).

Feb 5 • Yaling Jiang and Rongrong Zhuge

Why anti-involution feels anti-Chinese? ⚙️ | Following the Yuan

China's overcapacity at the macro level and insecurity at the micro level are cultural, historical, and structural.

Oct 14, 2025 • Yaling Jiang

⚠️ Three deadly sins of the Chinese consumer market: big narratives, copycatting trends, state subsidies | Following the Yuan

Their perils stand out even more in a downturn market environment.

Oct 3, 2025 • Yaling Jiang

Will China’s first childcare subsidies work? [RSVP to Webinar] | Following the Yuan x ApertureChina

A 30-minute coffee chat with paid subscribers. RSVP for a Zoom invite to your email.

Aug 17, 2025 • Yaling Jiang

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