In an effort to reverse declining birth rates, and support its aging population, China is allowing married couples to have three children. Many observers point to deep societal issues being the root cause of the low birth rate and do not think the policy will have a significant impact.

In China, the desire to be perceived as marriageable and successful has long driven men to adhere to a rigid (and largely unrealistic) model of masculinity – but societal shifts have sparked changes in attitudes. What does the ’modern man’ look like and what does he value in life?

Exhausted and disillusioned with China’s oppressive work culture, young people there are embracing a defeatist ideology that takes inspiration from the act of lying down. As more people reject the grind, they're pining for simpler living away from the pressures of traditional expectations.

Why are young people blending age-old herbal treatments with Western wellness? Who’s most likely to pay with digital yuan? And what challenges do ‘leftover women’ face? This Cultural Snapshot uses local stats and case studies to explore the behavioural norms shared by Chinese people in 2020.