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Professor Biao Xiang, a 54-year-old anthropologist, has become an unlikely guide for young Chinese people grappling with intense anxiety and disillusionment over jobs, romantic prospects, and societal pressures. He offers a rare public voice in a country where discontent can be politically sensitive and heavily censored.
Known as an "idol" by his young followers, Professor Xiang's appeal stems from his candid discussions on navigating anxiety. A 23-year-old Chinese graduate, who requested anonymity due to job search concerns, described him as an "anchor." She noted, "The transition from school to the real world brings a lot of uncertainty now, and people often feel anxious because they don't know how to face it."
His popularity extends beyond academic circles. In Singapore, some 500 people, predominantly Chinese diaspora, recently packed an auditorium to hear him speak for over an hour. Dozens queued afterwards for photos, in what one attendee called an "academic fan meeting."
Professor Xiang has also been interviewed by major Chinese outlets and lectured at top campuses, including his alma mater, the prestigious Peking University. An earlier talk this year was live-streamed due to overwhelming demand, solidifying the saying, "When in doubt, ask Biao Xiang."
He argues that young people in China often seek recognition and self-worth from competitive systems like exams and job applications, which can be exhausting. Instead, he suggests, it is healthier to find meaning and understanding from others to better comprehend oneself. Xiang believes Chinese society is at a "turning point, " with people searching for meaning amid rapid social and economic shifts.
He identifies contradictions: a powerful, assertive nation with uncertain youth, and widespread disillusionment despite significant advancement. His role, he says, is to unpack these drivers. Even Chinese leader Xi Jinping has acknowledged a "principal contradiction" between "the people's ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development."
Professor Xiang has coined terms to describe these societal pressures. He uses "floating" to characterize individuals working relentlessly just to survive, likening them to a hummingbird constantly flapping its wings. Another concept, "the nearby, " refers to the immediate surroundings that people often neglect, preoccupied instead by themselves ("the very near") and the wider world ("the very far"). This, he explains, leaves them feeling disconnected.
These ideas resonate deeply with young people. One user on RedNote praised him: "He consistently views issues from the perspective of the vulnerable, attributes personal stress to macro-level causes, and encourages people to actively engage with life - it's truly wonderful." Another added, "He never spouts empty, feel-good platitudes; instead, he crouches down to face real-life dilemmas alongside us."
The current generation grew up during an era of double-digit economic growth, but the economy slowed during Covid and has not fully recovered. The old equation of hard work leading to a secure job no longer holds, according to Xiang. Youth unemployment hit 21.3% before the government stopped publishing the data in mid-2023.
Even those in "good jobs" — civil servants, corporate employees, engineers — express anxiety about job security. Online, they frequently complain about long working hours, toxic office culture, and the "curse of 35, " a perceived cutoff age for job advertisements. This pervasive anxiety manifests in public discourse through terms like "lying flat, " where people opt out of the rat race, and "involution, " describing intense competition with little meaningful reward.
Professor Xiang, who is the director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, attributes the amplification of this anxiety to two primary forces: the property market and the higher education system. The property boom, fueled by local governments' reliance on land sales, tied families' sense of security to home values. Simultaneously, a rapid expansion in university enrollment intensified competition, raising the bar for achievement.
The result, he says, is a "universal playbook": secure a good degree, find a stable job, marry, and buy a home. "When 1.4 billion people are all in the same race, that is involution."
Born in 1972, Xiang witnessed China's transformation firsthand, growing up in Wenzhou as it became an industrial port. He recalls a landscape of small business owners focused on making money rather than education. This background informs his understanding of China's current societal shifts.
About three years ago, after a digital nomad camp where he spoke raised prices following his visit, Xiang realized his influence extended beyond academia. While some peers prioritize traditional research and are "quite cold" to his methods, even warning him to "cherish your feathers" — a Chinese expression for protecting one's reputation — he embraces his popularity.
"If someone calls me an influencer I'll take it as a compliment, " he said. "Because the real influence I can have is to make people think for themselves."
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