Chinese millennials are fed up with the 996 grind (working from 9 AM until 9 PM, 6 days a week) and are going remote. Office workers across the country are freelancing, consulting clients, and starting their own businesses from their laptops; some are traveling to neighboring countries and regions with cheaper living costs. To shed light on this trend, Jing Daily’s senior editor, Crystal Tai, is on the podcast to discuss her reporting on this subject.
The rise of China’s digital nomads coincide with a number of factors: first, the 996 work schedule. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic. Lastly, the cost of living crisis and widespread burnout from a competitive schooling and high-pressure work environments. Together with host Megan Cattel, Crystal discusses all these converging factors — and how many countries around the world are grappling with similar issues when it comes to overwork.
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About Crystal:
Crystal Tai is senior managing editor at Jing Daily. She comes from a journalism and trend forecasting background. Her stories on culture and business trends across Asia have appeared in The Guardian, WWD, South China Morning Post, Quartz, Monocle and other media.Crystal’s co-authored book Honjok, is a work of non-fiction that examines South Korea’s burgeoning “honjok” solo-lifestyle movement.
About Megan:
Megan Cattel is a freelance multimedia reporter currently based in Tampa, FL. For the past three years, she has reported extensively on Asian American and immigrant communities. Her byline has appeared in Teen Vogue, WBUR, the Center for Public Integrity, The China Project, and the South China Morning Post.
Show notes:
- “From Overtime Worker To Digital Nomad: Young Chinese Seek ‘Slow Lifestyles’ Abroad“ by Crystal Tai, Jing Daily.
- “From Bali To Dali: China’s Domestic Digital Nomads Have Arrived“ by Crystal Tai, Jing Daily
- “Should More Teenagers Ditch Their Smartphones?” The New York Times
- Tweet from journalist Kathleen McLaughlin (and past podcast guest from a 2021 episode!) about hostile offerings at a Montana gift shop. Check out Kathleen’s episode here.
Recommendations:
- A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung
- The Colonizer and the Colonized by Albert Memmi