by Silvia Torriti

After “lying flat” and cosplay, another trend is spreading among young Chinese, namely the rediscovery of doing things in a “slower” and “old-fashioned” way, as a reaction to the urge to chase after trendy products and the latest technological innovations. According to some sociologists, this countercurrent reflects a desire for interiority.

Milan (AsiaNews) – For many young Chinese, being viewed as old-fashioned for their lifestyle is no longer a source of embarrassment, a trend has developed since social media have legitimised certain habits, typically associated with older generations, by declaring them fashionable. In other words, being “out of fashion” is now becoming “in fashion” again.

But are the behaviours and preferences that distinguish young Chinese people ironically labelled "old-fashioned" (laoshi renlei)? To find out whether one belongs to this group, people can simply complete one of many self-assessment tests available on Chinese social media.

When it comes to clothing, "old-fashioned" youth undoubtedly prioritise comfort over aesthetics. In their wardrobes, comfortable and practical clothes have replaced flashy and trendy ones. Thermal underwear and down jackets, once jokingly considered "middle-aged essentials”, are now seen as indispensable during winter months.

When it comes to eating, "old-fashioned" young people prefer light, healthy foods to trendy culinary novelties. They value rediscovering familiar flavours that bring back childhood memories, shopping at markets, tending their own garden, seeking genuine human connections, and experiencing the joy of living offline. Rather than waiting in line for dinner at trendy restaurants, they opt for modest neighbourhood restaurants or home cooking.

In their thermoses, the brews from healthy tea bags with goji berries, chrysanthemums, and dried mandarin peel have replaced the more popular milk tea.

“Old-fashioned” people also have clear ideas about what to consume and how to be entertained. When shopping, they steer clear of seasonal bestsellers, refusing to be influenced by marketing bombast such as "limited-time offers" or “latest online arrivals”.

They prefer quality, durable, versatile, and affordable products, refusing to pay for unnecessary brand overcharges and trendy symbols. Many young people embrace a minimalist consumer philosophy, oriented toward conscientious purchasing and cutting back on unnecessary items.

In their free time, they ignore chart-topping pop songs and trendy variety shows, avoiding standardised content created by algorithms. Some are fascinated by old movies and songs, others love the experience of reading paper books, and still others have rediscovered a passion for "old-fashioned" hobbies, like playing chess, practising calligraphy, and gardening.

"Old-fashioned people" even distinguish themselves in the way they use their mobile phones: they enlarge the font, disable unnecessary notifications, and reduce the time spent watching short videos.

These seemingly counter-intuitive choices are a sign that young people are reconnecting with fundamental needs, to regain their own subjectivity, free from external judgments and the approval of others.

"Old-fashioned" people, after all, are not the only youth subculture present in today's China. In the recent past, many cultural movements have emerged in China's urban scene, such as "lying flat" (tang ping), "coloured hair" (shamate), and cosplay.

Although diverse in origin and intent, all these trends reflect a common need among young people to respond to the woes of contemporary society.

Xu Wensheng, founder of the first National First Media Sociology Professional Committee and one of China's leading experts in the field, is convinced that behind the trend of rediscovering the authentic values ​​of the past lies much more than a simple feeling of nostalgia, but rather a “shift in the collective mindset”.

Responding to questions from Beijing Youth Daily, Xu stated: "Young people are moving from a phase [in which] 'living for others' was a priority to a more introspective state of 'realistic awareness' [. . .].” For the expert, this shift signifies "a kind of growth, a transition from loud external displays to internal emotions."

According to the Chinese sociologist, the "sense of security that young people seek today is a thoughtful and proactive adjustment [that emerged] after experiencing excessive exposure to social media [...]. It's a reaffirmation of the most basic and authentic human needs: warmth, satiety, and comfort.”

This propensity to seek inner peace and a "slower" lifestyle is obviously related to the current social context and the pressures young people are subjected to; however, this alone is not enough to explain the phenomenon.

As Xu explains, "On the one hand, many young people benefit from family savings and aren't forced to face immediate pressures for survival, which provides a material buffer that allows them to 'slow down.' On the other hand, this 'taking it easy' isn't passive resignation, but rather a kind of active dormancy. Many of them haven't lost the inner desire to realise their own value; they're simply 'dormant' and 'recharging’, waiting for the right opportunity.”

Regarding the possible negative repercussions such an attitude can have on personal growth and development, Xu is reassuring. “The key is balance. An ‘old-fashioned’ lifestyle keeps us grounded, while innovative ideas allow us to gaze at the stars.”

In his view, “The two are not contradictory. This capacity for self-control, nourished by the rules and certainties inherent in this lifestyle, while maintaining a passion for exploring the unknown, is perhaps the fundamental lesson young people must cultivate. The current ‘old-fashioned’ trend is more like a necessary transitional phase, allowing them to gather the strength to start over, returning to life itself.”

• china
• society
• young people
• old-fashioned
• trends