In Zhejiang’s scenic Anji County, I found an enclave of more than 100 young urbanites who had moved to a small town known for producing white tea and bamboo. They live as digital nomads, dabbling in remote or freelance work while developing a taste for rural living.
Digital nomadism is a recent trend in China, but it’s been estimated that there could be as many as 70 to 100 million digital nomads. So what they can do for rural economies should not be underestimated.
Not far from this enclave, another group of 20-somethings work in an abandoned quarry turned outdoor cafe known as Deep Blue. It’s one of China’s most popular rural destinations. The young workers – all recent university graduates – don’t seem to mind the long hours and constant exposure to the elements. It’s fascinating to learn what is motivating them to put down roots in the backcountry.
In Sichuan, I met a young man and a young couple who were once high-flyers in big tech firms, but have recently returned to their hometowns to become farmers and rural influencers. Interestingly, they were driven to do so by the ambition to be even more successful than they once were.
In every crisis lies an opportunity. If unemployment woes are making Chinese youth see the untapped potential of the hinterlands, then China’s plan to revitalise its rural regions could finally be getting the big push it needs.
Ray Yeh
Producer, Young and Rural in China
