“You have traveled back to the year 2008, and wake to the sound of Tom and Jerry playing on the kids’ channel. Your mom has prepared a plate of chilled watermelon, which you snack on until you and your friends can play The King of Fighters in the afternoon...”
Stories like these evoke the carefree lives of many Chinese children at the turn of the millennium. As Gen Z comes of age, a wave of nostalgia is sweeping through social media, giving rise to a new “Chinese nostalgia-core (中式梦核)” aesthetic.
In this cover story, we explore why China’s Gen Z is embracing the past, while six individuals from different generations share their most treasured memories and the reasons behind them.
In other features, we talk to wedding dress factory owners in Chaozhou about surviving the trade war, visit Changsha—China’s “cradle of revolution” turned “entertainment capital,” and explore how Guangdong’s farmers and activists are coping with the lychee harvest decline due to climate change. We also ask industry experts about the success of Ne Zha 2, and trace the transformation of Nezha, the protagonist, from a Buddhist deity to an anti-patriarchal hero.
Elsewhere in the issue, we review Lin Yi-han’s only novel, now available in English, explore Cao Yu’s subversive art, and feature a short story on Tang dynasty assassins and female politicians, along with much more. Enjoy the read!
Youthful Nostalgia: Why China’s Gen Z Is Embracing the Past? is a story from our issue, “Youthful Nostalgia.” To read the entire issue, become a subscriber and receive the full magazine.
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