3/2015 Superpower Startups, Career Cleaners, Wasteful Weddings, and Pop Pioneers
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ntrepreneurship is not something that springs to mind when people think of China. Just a few decades ago being an entrepreneur or small business owner was practically a criminal offense in some areas of the country. But, somehow, over the past few years, China has grown into a startup superpower. “Startup Kingdom” (see page 28) looks at how the Middle Kingdom came to be one of the most exciting startup markets in the world and some of the very specific problems inherent in this burgeoning field in China. Whether it’s an app funded by China’s ballooning shadow banking addiction or adventurous venture capitalists getting their electronics off the ground, startups could be shaping the future of China’s economy. From there, we go to the other end of society: domestic service workers. They’re known by many names, perhaps most colloquially as ayi, or aunt, and they play an important role in our modern, metamorphosing society. Once upon a time, as in just a decade ago, China’s large families looked after the children, the elderly, and did the housework, but contemporary households have different needs. To fill this gap are the ayi, playing nanny, nurse, and cleaner all at once for very little pay, less thanks, and almost no protection. Moving these domestic service workers from the country to the city presents a whole host of other problems, but technology and some helpful NGOs are hoping to change, at least in part, the lot. Learn more in “The Ayi Industry” (see page 48). And, as we enter spring, we are all inundated with the “red bombs” of wedding invitations that seem to be piteously strafing our letter boxes. The wedding industry itself seems to have been born out of China’s newfound luxury, but how much is too much? The news abounds with the strange and wonderful weddings of the nation’s super wealthy, and young couples strive to have the biggest, most lavish wedding possible—even if it is all for the hongbao. “Money and Matrimony” (see page 36) takes a look at how marriage has changed over the past few decades, and how a few youngsters are throwing off tradition for the sake of love and fiscal sense. Taking a break from the domestic, we also look at how China’s reality show scene is changing the face of pop music. Terrence Hsieh studies how one popular singing competition, I Am a Singer, is a microcosm for a China’s pop music legacy in “Rock the Pop” (see page 42). It sometimes seems that the Middle Kingdom’s television screens are inundated with an unending supply of reality singing competitions, but for the artist, the network, and the viewer, there is more than meets the eye. If your tastes are more artistic, you might want to head on over to our Gallery section (see page 56) to check out some of the finest bronze and copper art in the world from Zhu Bingren, and if you’re still not sated, hit up our Dragon’s Digest section (see page 12) for some original fiction from Ma Er. For your language fix, check out On the Character (see page 92) to learn about pain and creativity, or learn to speak like a Dongbei native in Social Chinese (see page 72). And, as always, we include a creative mix of trivia, reviews, culture, photography, travel, and history for your education and enjoyment. Summer is finally here, so from all of us here at TWOC, use sunscreen and enjoy the weather while it lasts. Managing Editor Tyler Roney Issue 3 /2015
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