This document provides an overview of youth culture trends in Shanghai, China from the 1980s to present. It discusses the massive economic growth and modernization that has influenced Chinese youth, making them more entrepreneurial and open to new trends. Popular youth trends in Shanghai now include an interest in peasant culture, hip hop dance and music, spiritual blending, and collective individualism. While China's future path is uncertain, Chinese youth appear inclined toward collective goals rather than rebellion against the state or establishment.

1. Youth culture Shanghai: An introduction

3. Consider the changes

4. 121 buildings over 8 storeys in 1980 10,045 buildings over 8 storeys in 2005

5. 70% employed by the state in 1992 25% employed by the state in 2004

6. 1.6 mn mobile phone subscribers in 1995 530mn mobile phone subscribers in 2007

7. 1998 first private cars allowed 2007 world’s 2 nd biggest car market

8. 50% retail sales increase 2001 to 2005

9. Fastest economic growth of any megacity in the world since the early 1990s

13. “ People are so optimistic here. They believe in progress, they really do.” Paul French, founder, Access Asia, market research Shanghai

15. “ People like it. If I took those screens away, people would miss them. The Chinese are used to noise; everything is crowded here. If you make people choose between being bored or watching an LED screen, they’ll all choose the screen” Jason Jiang, founder, focus media, China’s first NASDQ listed media advertising agency

17. “ I have a friend who got a law degree from Beijing Univeristy, but she threw it away to sell Amway products – she wanted to do something with more freedom, earn her own living, work for herself. We are actually doing the same thing, she sells toothpaste, I sell adventure. But we both share a desire to support ourselves and do our own thing.” Zhen Yi, Forbidden Frontier, Founder.

18. Peasant Chic

20. Tian Xian Meimei a distant relation Sony Ericsson ‘simple happiness’ campaign

21. Pick and mix spirituality fusing a range of spiritual elements

23. Hip-hop light

24. Hip-hop dance replaced basketball; collectives; and club nights booming

25. Hip-hop with Chinese characteristics “ I know what hip-hop culture is, I’ve been following it since I was 14, I listen to the music, I study the dancing, but I draw the line at the drugs, the sex and the violence. That’s not Chinese hip-hop culture.” ‘ [Chinese rappers] have that hip-hop spirit: nothing gets in my way, nothing stops me from getting where I want to go.’ William Bahader, member of Dragon Dance Studio and two-time hip-hop dance champion

26. Collective individuality “ Hip-hop dance is done as teams, kids are in groups, supporting each other… it’s structurally very appealing and offers a safe outlet for youth expression.” Hung Huang, CEO of China Interactive Media Group

27. What’s next?

28. Unknown ‘ Making economic predictions based on the statistics is reasonably straightforward but as a global spiritual and ideological force, China is still an unknown quantity.’ Dr Kerry Brown, Chattham House, China Expert