The Chinese Dream of better lives for themselves and for their families
”In 10 years, my annual salary will be more than (several) millions (of) RMB”
This quote is taken from a blog post that was published last week on a Chinese blog; Michael, the young Chinese man who was quoted in the post, decided to leave his hometown of Nanjing and to hop on a train to Shanghai, hoping to achieve a better life in one of the most vibrant cities in China. Michael repeatedly emphasizes his desire to have millions of RMB’s, a big house and a car and to save money for the education and the future of his yet to be born children. Throughout the story, Michael often finds himself stressed. Although he has a job and a girlfriend, he is influenced by his friends who make more money than him and by his girlfriend who constantly demands more from him materialistically.
This is not an extraordinary story for many of the younger generation in China. As I have recently written in my previous post, The Road to Individualism, young adults demand more from their surroundings: more from the company for which they work, more from friends, more from a spouse and more from the country.
This attitude, however, carries a cost: Today, people are often measured by their peers in a different way than in the past. Before the opening reforms of 1978, one might have been measured by the way they behaved towards other people. Today, one is measured in materialistic terms: having a new house, a car and a good job and providing financially for one’s family are taking an important role in modern society in China and are becoming the new Chinese Dream; Success has been redefined in materialistic terms.
This process is happening for several reasons:
First, Beijing is anxious to raise the quality of life of citizens, and it has set economic growth as its major ruling agenda. Economic growth shakes values and can demand people to change their behavior in order to support it. (for example, the eviction of old areas in major cities in favor of building new apartment complexes) Economic growth also forces people to adjust and to adapt to new situations that are often not under their control: the rising cost of living makes it a struggle to survive, and many people find themselves working harder to cope with once ordinary tasks; This reason alone provides a clear explanation as to why people are more obsessed with the accumulation of wealth.
Second, foreign cultures ruled in China for decades and impacted the way people behave today; This situation has caused for a deep and strong desire to show the world that China is an economic superpower. Beijing feels that now is the time to compensate for lack of growth throughout history, and growth has consequently become the most important factor in the eyes of policy makers.
Third, the opening reforms have caused foreign influence to flow into China. Nevertheless, 
because of its culture, China has not been able to accept every foreign influence, and it has been exposed to certain foreign cultures more than to others. It is my opinion that the American culture has penetrated far deeper than any other foreign culture in China; Its influence has caused for a change in priorities and created confusion in individual values.
The Chinese Dream
The influx of American influence has been so fast that many young adults are confused about their future and want to be “millionaires”, because they are told (by advertisers, by peers and often by their own families) that money is more important than other, non materialistic, values. Parents often push their children towards economic success, because the older generation never had a chance to succeed financially. And so, a new Chinese Dream is created.
Such conditions result in a general confusion by the younger population as China attempts to get accepted and acknowledged by the world as the next economic superpower.
In the end of the post, Michael admits to have never being able to become a millionaire. Nevertheless, he wants to enjoy what is left from his life: to walk with his wife and to broaden his horizons: “(In) the next 10 years, I hope to live more for myself.”
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Lior Paritzky is the Editor in Chief and Manager of Laowaiblog, an internet platform that provides opinion and views about social phenomena in modern China. Look for Lior on Twitter: Liorpari 
agree! obviously material aspects are important, but Chinese culture has so much going for it, they shouldn’t forget all of it…not saying to learn Confucius etc. off by heart but just remember and apply traditional values and what’s really important in life. and material wealth will follow:)
Like in everything in this world balance is needed and will be obtained.
Today on the scale is money, materilasim VS personal fullfilment and happiness.
A lot of Chinees are probably having their first taste of materliazim and thus the confusion, but without the older generation instilling other values than the value of money, I am afraid the Chinees dream will become the American dream.
Loved the post!
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you completely that the older generation has to take a stronger role in shaping the future. The older generation has created the possibilities that many younger Chinese enjoy, yet its job is also to guide it so that the future of China will stay on track.
Lior
Lior,
I would love to hear your opinion about the financial culture in China? It seems from your article that people are kind of “living on the edge”, Spending Spending Spending. I recall you had an article touching this subject with a connection to the recent financial crises. can you post a link to it?
Thanks!
Ron
Hi Ron,
I have yet to write a post about the financial crisis in China, but I suggest you read this post: http://laowaiblog.com/from-a-bowl-of-rice-to-a-bowl-of-cereal/
I hope you find it interesting
Lior
It seems that everyone in China is looking at the U.S as a role model for how life should be lived, yet they are only taking the monetary element into consideration. It is a shame. Even though I have never been to China, I always wanted to go, because I always felt that the culture there is something that will last forever. I am sad to read this post about the youth in China
Yes, it is true and sad that the Chinese culture is giving way to money. But what do you expect? with the rising costs of food and housing and the lack of ability to find work (by educated people!), it is obvious that people will chase after the money. Everyone wants to be successful and happy no?
This sentence should have been emphasized: “It is my opinion that the American culture has penetrated far deeper than any other foreign culture in China”. I would add ” and what culture is that???”
It’s interesting to wonder what comes first: Is it that people are after the money because they need it or is it that people are told to want money and that’s why they are after it. In my opinion, it’s a little bit of both. People need more money today than 10 years ago to have the same quality of life they might have had before, but also they want more money than what is considered enough because money symbolizes status, and it allows a person to show he is successful. Either way, the “Chinese Dream” is slipping away, and all you have left is hard work
When it comes to money, it sometimes does seem like a big competition. But it’s also because people’s demands/expectations have gone up (way up). Yes, 30, 40 years ago many folks here were content with much less but that is because everybody was poor and there was less opportunity to accumulate a lot of wealth. Given the choice, I don’t think many here would want to live that life again.
It’s easy for us to say that money != happiness, but just try telling that to the many young men here who are facing the reality that buying a new apartment is a “requirement” for marriage.
as one of the millions who leave hometown and work in shanghai, i’m really frustrated. one of our customers is a state-own company, i find that a lot of people there know little but they have much better opportunities and get much better pay just because of their relationship or “guanxi”.
it’s a nearly impossible job to make chinese dream come true if we don’t eliminate the priviledge first.
i hope the equality and justice of american culture can impact chinese socity first.
and i even doubt if the american themselves do have the equality and justice
Hi Brian,
Thank you for your comment. I understand your frustration. in China, “guanxi” has always been more important than skills, and more often than not, people are chosen for a certain position not because they are the best choice but because they have a good relationship with the boss or with one of the managers.
As a foreigner, I can tell you it is not that much different in other countries (although it can be slightly better). The simple truth is that there are more people competing for a single position today than ever before. That makes connections and relationships much more important for getting a good job.
I wish you all the best, and I hope you will find equality in your job soon.
Lior
To me, what the Chinese don’t understand is that there is really no such thing as a “Chinese Dream” or an “American Dream”. I am an American! and I am telling you all out there in China: There is no dream. everyone here is working hard to support ourselves. Just like you. So don’t expect money to fall on you from the sky…
Lindsey, I am also an American. To say that there is no “American Dream” is not true. People have always made it here for a reason: Life is easier, creating a business is easier and the country helps you succeed. These economic conditions that we as Americans allow our citizens are what have made us who we are. China is making great efforts towards reaching that place, so I wouldn’t dismiss it so quickly if I were you.