Youthful Nostalgia

As Gen Z comes of age, a wave of nostalgia is sweeping through social media, giving rise to a new “Chinese nostalgia-core” aesthetic. In this cover story, we explore why China’s Gen Zers are embracing the past, while six individuals from different generations share their most treasured memories. 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 the protagonist Nezha from a Buddhist deity to an anti-patriarchal hero. Elsewhere, we review Lin Yi-han’s only novel, now available in English, explore Cao Yu’s subversive art, feature a short story on Tang dynasty assassins and female politicians, and much more.