Professor Biao Xiang, a 54-year-old anthropologist at the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, has emerged as an unexpected idol for young people in China facing career anxiety and intense economic pressure. According to a BBC report published on September 27, 2026, Xiang’s public lectures and media interviews addressing systemic anxiety have drawn massive crowds across China and among diaspora communities in Singapore.
The Roots of Gen Z Anxiety in Modern China
China’s rapid economic and technological development has left many members of Generation Z grappling with intense pressure. According to reporting from the BBC, young people face severe hurdles regarding job prospects, romantic relationships, and the demand to keep pace with a fast-changing society. Xiang noted that China is at a turning point where individuals search for meaning amidst rapid social and economic shifts. Youth unemployment reached 21.3% before authorities stopped publishing that specific data in mid-2023, while those with stable jobs report burnout from long hours, toxic corporate cultures, and the “age 35 curse” that hampers hiring for older applicants.
Biao Xiang and the Rejection of Systemic Validation
Xiang addresses these pressures by criticizing how young people seek validation from rigid systems. Speaking at venues that included his alma mater, Peking University, and events in Singapore, Xiang stated that relying on competitive exams and guaranteed career tracks as benchmarks for self-worth is mentally exhausting and ultimately destructive. Instead, he advocates for seeking meaning and understanding through human connections. “Semua orang tahu di mana letak masalahnya, tetapi mereka enggan melihatnya,” Xiang told the BBC, adding that describing these challenges allows scholars to analyze and manage them.
Cultural Manifestations: Lying Flat and Involution
Censorship in China makes it difficult to measure the exact spread of public discontent, but the sentiment has surfaced in online debates regarding university entrance exams, marriage bride prices, and food safety scandals. Popular slang terms reflect this widespread weariness. As detailed in the BBC coverage, “lying flat” describes individuals opting out of fierce competition, while “involution” captures the exhausting cycle where intense effort yields minimal rewards. Xiang points to the property market—where local governments rely on land sales—and an overexpanded higher education system as twin drivers of this rat race, noting that when countless people compete in the exact same track, involution is the inevitable result.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Biao Xiang?
Biao Xiang is a 54-year-old anthropologist and the director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, who has gained widespread attention among young Chinese for addressing societal anxiety.
Why are young people in China experiencing high levels of anxiety?
According to the BBC, youth face intense competition, a slowdown in post-pandemic economic recovery, high youth unemployment figures prior to 2023 data suspensions, and strict workplace expectations.
What do the terms “lying flat” and “involution” mean?
These are popular online terms in China. “Lying flat” refers to dropping out of hyper-competitive career tracks, while “involution” describes high-intensity competition that generates little meaningful reward.
Did You Know? Biao Xiang grew up in Wenzhou as it transformed into an industrial port during China’s early economic opening, a stark contrast to the modern economic slowdown faced by today’s graduates.
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