Buh-bye Baijiu? Young China’s Drinking Culture Will Surprise You
Too busy to check in on the RADII website every day? We got you every Monday with a summary of all the freshest takes on China’s youth culture in the last week:
- From starting a community group for light drinkers to making infused liquor at home, young China is cultivating a drinking culture that reaches far beyond baijiu consumption.
- Simu Liu has proven that he can act, (kinda) do accounting, and toss a decent pitch on a Major League Baseball (MLB) diamond.
- You know that perfect classmate who never skipped a day of piano practice? Well, there’s a word for them.
Intrigued? Keep scrolling, my friend.
Forget Baijiu — Chinese Youth Are Creating Their Own Drinking Culture
China’s alcohol intake has been increasing over the past 30 years and is estimated to reach 10 liters per capita by 2030, surpassing the US.
Though China’s most famous liquor baijiu is reportedly the most-consumed spirit globally, 60.3% of young people in China aren’t interested in drinking it, “mainly because of its bad taste, [the] limited occasion of drinking, and its old-fashion image,” according to Daxue Consulting.
Instead, young drinkers are shifting from traditional Chinese liquors to imported spirits, low-alcohol drinks, and other creative options. They’re also more critical of the drinking habits of their elders.
So what does young China drink these days?
Chinese folk musician Xu Linlin from the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theater performs one of the world’s most recognizable tunes — the Super Mario Bros theme song:
- The Alibaba manager accused of sexual assault was released last week, after the court decided that he committed “forcible indecency” but that the behavior did not constitute a crime.
- Talk about physical agility. Simu Liu of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings tossed the first pitch at the San Francisco Giants versus the LA Dodgers and chased it down with a flawless backflip.
- Chinese hip hop heavyweights Psy.P and KnowKnow, of Higher Brothers fame, and fellow Chengdu rapper Ty. have dropped an NFT music video inspired by a trip to Phuket.
Have you ever had boat noodles from an actual boat?
‘Teng zai fun’ is a delicacy you can find in Hong Kong, and it originates from the days when the Cantonese city was a fishing village.
These days, boat vendors are basically nonexistent. But one floating stall has stood the test of time and remained a local favorite since 1981.
Our friend Camellia is here to share the experience:
Move over, Amy Chua, there’s a new slang in town.
Translated as ‘chicken baby,’ 鸡娃 (jī wá) are kids brought up by ‘tiger moms’ who push them to succeed and be their best. That kid who lives next store to you and is forced to practice the piano until 11 PM every night – she is a diligent 鸡娃 (jī wá)!
Mishi shares more:
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