Eye on Digital China: "Shuaqi-ism," Starbucks in the Fields, and Guangzhou's "Pretend to Work" Trend

The Eye on Digital China newsletter, published on September 17, 2026, examines new social trends in China while noting a decrease in English-language reporting on the country. Featured topics include young individuals "pretending to work" at the Guangzhou Library, the emergence of "shuaqi-ism," office workers shifting their Starbucks habits to rural locations, and the availability of 24-hour fishbone clinics. The edition also touches on rumors regarding Xi Jinping's health following the New Delhi meeting, emphasizing that such speculation primarily appears on Western platforms like X, rather than on Chinese social media, which is subject to censorship. Additionally, it reports the end of WIRED's Made in China, founded by Zeyi Yang and Louise Matsakis. Manya Koetse, the creator of What's on Weibo, oversees the newsletter, providing an independent perspective on China's digital culture.