Young Chinese opt out of the rat race and pressures at home to pursue global nomad lifestyle
A growing number of young Chinese are moving overseas to escape their homeland's ultra-competitive work culture, limited opportunities and family pressures
BANGKOK (AP) — Shortly after China opened its borders with the end of zero-COVID, Zhang Chuannan lost her job as an accountant at a cosmetic firm in Shanghai and decided to explore the world.
“The cosmetics business was bleak,” said Zhang, 34, who explained everyone wore face masks during the pandemic. After being laid off, she paid $1,400 for an online Thai course, got an education visa and moved to the scenic northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.
Zhang is among a growing number of young Chinese moving overseas to escape the country’s ultra-competitive work culture, family pressures and limited opportunities after living in the country under the strict pandemic policies for three years. Southeast Asia has become a popular destination given its proximity, relatively inexpensive cost of living and tropical scenery.
There is no exact data on the number of young Chinese moving overseas since the country ended pandemic restrictions and reopened its borders. But on the popular Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, hundreds of people have discussed their decisions to relocate to Thailand. Many get a visa to study Thai while figuring out their next steps.
