Social Media Digest

Chinese classic's journey to the West

The classic Chinese novel Journey to the West — and the 1986 TV series of the same name — is regarded as part of China's ancient wisdom and cultural heritage. Now you can even enjoy the characters, such as the Monkey King and the moon fairy Chang'e, live on TikTok!

Recently, videos posted by @peachgarden33 have aroused interest among global users on TikTok, garnering around 200,000 views. In the videos, you can see scenes from the TV series, such as the story of the Feast of Peaches, in which the Monkey King steals the magical peaches from Chinese goddess Xi Wangmu (Queen Mother of the West).

The peaches were to be feasted on at a heavenly banquet. Impressed by the story and fancy images, a netizen even left a comment saying that he had just ordered the English version of Journey to the West to figure out what it is all about.

As one of the most influential Chinese TV series in the global film and television market, Journey to the West has been adapted into a great number of versions around the world. One example is the recent Disney+show American Born Chinese, featuring Oscar-winning Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh and well-known Chinese-American actor Daniel Wu. It mixes the mythology of the Monkey King with the life of Chinese Americans in the US to delve into topics such as friendship, parent-child relationships in Asian families, and racial stereotypes.

Making a major decision

As China enters university recruitment season following the completion of the college entrance examination, also known as the gaokao, how to choose a university and a major has become both the main concern of candidates and one of the most-discussed matters on Chinese social media.

Alongside popular majors, such as network engineering and economics, some lesser-known ones, such as funeral and mortuary-related majors, have come into the spotlight. According to media reports, Zhao Yu, a teacher from Chongqing City Management College, said in an interview that the employment rate for modern funeral technology and management majors from the school has almost reached 100 percent.

Instead of traditional recruitment methods, such as brochures and in-person fairs, some Chinese parents and students are turning to livestreaming videos or even educational apps to help them make a decision. According to the Ministry of Education, universities and colleges hold enrollment livestreaming sessions, in which university recruiters and educational experts give admissions advice and explain the relative strengths of different majors.