Latest

China

Guarding the Twilight Years: From Family Support to New Solutions

Mengfei Zhou·28 August 2025

Driven by urbanization and large-scale migration, the traditional role of family support for the rural elderly has weakened. Family support alone is no longer enough to meet the growing demand for elder care. What alternatives can meet the needs of China’s rural elderly?

Twilight Years: How Do China’s Rural Elderly Cope with Old Age

Mengfei Zhou·28 August 2025

China’s population is aging fast, and the challenge is most visible in rural areas. As younger generations leave for the cities, the traditional family support system is weakening. What challenges do rural older adults face and how do they navigate their later years?

Still hands, strong minds: Why funeral students choose a stigmatised path

Mengxi·28 August 2025

More young Chinese are studying deathcare despite silence and stigma. What compels them to embrace a job so few dare to name?

The farewell artists: How China’s embalmers are reshaping public perception

Mengxi·28 August 2025

Chinese embalmers are using Douyin to show their daily work. Will this quiet visibility finally reduce the stigma around deathcare?

From sleep aid to emotional support: “Once I put on my headphones, I fall asleep.”

Yu Qiu·28 August 2025

One in three people in the UK struggles with insomnia, and many now turn to whispering or tapping videos for relief. How is this YouTube trend helping them sleep?

Beyond the “ideal job”: Chinese graduates who leave the respectable careers and redefining success

Jingyi Ji·28 August 2025

As stable, prestigious jobs are long seen as the reward for education, what motivates some Chinese graduates to resign and pursue a different life?

Emotional Bonds: How Rural Chinese Families Navigate Generational Change

Mengfei Zhou·28 August 2025

With China’s rapid urbanization, millions of young people are leaving their villages in search of better opportunities. As distance grows between rural family members, traditional ties are being reshaped. What happens to the bonds between generations?