A group of youngsters skateboard along the bank of the Songhuajiang River in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province on June 29, 2020. 

As the pioneering force of Chinese society, Chinese youth, brimming with vitality and creativity, are active on many major fronts of the country’s development, with some even leading enterprises, public causes, or scientific projects. Young faces can be seen in the dispatch officers’ team for the Shenzhou 13 space mission, the volunteers of the 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the livestream anchors of e-commerce. 

Millennials and zoomers, having grown up with the booming development of IT, big data, and AI technologies, and being free from the many constraints which once held back their parents’ generation, tend to try novel things, show their dashing creativity, and live out their dreams. Climate change, technological breakthroughs, rural revitalization, and passing on traditional Chinese culture all fall into the radius of their concern. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping once said that a nation would be full of hope and have a great tomorrow when its younger generations have ideals, ability, and a strong sense of responsibility. He further pointed out, “You (the youth) should ride the waves of your day; in the course of realizing the Chinese Dream, fulfill your youthful dreams.” 

This Special Report tries to delineate the profile of Chinese young people by presenting stories about their life, work, and dreams.