As China’s economy evolves, the country’s giant education sector is facing fresh pressures. In this issue’s cover story, we delve into new trends and strains impacting teachers, students, and universities. Elsewhere in this magazine, we examine the rise and controversies of female-only spaces; investigate the Blue Sky Rescue Team, China’s largest volunteer rescue organization; explore the vast canvases of Shuare Shizhu as he attempts to avoid the trappings of the art world; trace the legacy of legendary writer Sanmao in Gran Canaria; and take a deep dive into latiao, one of China’s favorite snacks. We also debut our new column (Play Points) devoted to China’s influential and rapidly evolving video game industry. Find all this and much more, inside.
China’s liberal arts students still value their expertise in the face of poor employment prospects, low salaries, and societal pressure to switch to STEM subjects