Weekly #5 Five China stories you need to read: Barbie in China; HK's scramble for mainland elites; Young people finding jobs for parents

Barbie was better received in China's big cities where people are more concerned with feminist issues.

The floods in north China's Hebei Province have raged for nearly a week, and early this morning, a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck east China's Shandong Province. The North China Plain is having a rough summer. From all of us at GRR, our thoughts and hearts go out to those affected.

Here comes our #5 weekly roundup, another five captivating China stories selected by GRR from China's social media platforms, which delves into the following topics:

1) How was Barbie's box office performance in China and what does the movie mean to the Chinese audience

2) How the trend of 996 work culture has been reversed recently in China's tech firms

3) Hong Kong has been scrambling for mainland elites over the past years, but in a misaligned manner: a considerable proportion of applicants do not actually intend to work and live in HK

4) The predicament that the "younger elderly" face in finding an appropriate job after retirement; young people helping with their parents' job hunting

5) The costly college campus tours popular in summer vacation have been hyped up

Your comments and suggestions regarding the content of this column are continuously welcome and appreciated.

1.Those arguing over Barbie know nothing about Barbie 为《芭比》争吵的人并不了解芭比的这一切

Overview: The article tracks down the box office performance of the newly released movie Barbie and the history of Barbie doll. The toy has always echoed the trend of feminist movement in the US, transforming from initially an icon of independent women to a stigmatized figure under the "male gaze" and eventually to a female character in the new movie who is courageous in breaking the shackles and contented in finding her true self.

When this Hollywood movie meets the Chinese market, however, it was rather underrated at first since many Chinese audience knew little about this foreign doll. But with the touching plot and special theme, it triggered hot discussions online and won people's hearts. Even the co-branded merchandise was sold out. Yet it could be observed that Barbie was better received in big cities where people are more concerned with feminist issues. For them, the movie certainly carries some significance.

This article comes from 中国新闻周刊 [China Newsweekly], an influential organ of China News Service that provides insights into current political issues and social events.

Highlights:

周边联名产品的售卖走势某种程度是票房的映射。根据灯塔专业版统计，一、二线城市为《芭比》总票房贡献了约74%，排片占比最高的四个城市依次为上海、广州、深圳和北京。在这个强手如云的暑期档，《芭比》题材和卡司不够下沉，是它的票房远不及评分的重要原因。

Sales of co-branded merchandise to some extent reflect box office. According to Lighthouse Pro (an information and data provider of movies), first and second tier cities contributed 74 percent of the total box office of Barbie, with Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Beijing being the top four. In this competitive summer movie season, Barbie's ticket sales fell far behind its score, for the theme and cast of this movie were not as widely known to all Chinese audience.

“近几年乏味、无聊的好莱坞已经透支掉了国内观众的信任，导致《芭比》吃了亏，在上映首日只拿到极低的罕见排片份额。”影评人沙丹对《中国新闻周刊》说，“另外，平权和女性主题也有一定门槛，要求有一定数量级的观影者文化层次较高，平时关心也愿意参与有关两性的社会对话，至少得有这个意识，大城市平时接受的信息量还是相对多一些。”

"Hollywood has lost its appeal and credence to Chinese viewers with its mundane movies in recent years. This obviously encumbered Barbie, lending it only a tiny place on the film schedule the first day it was on," said reviewer Sha Dan to China Newsweekly. "Besides, due to the feminist theme of this movie, the audience was expected to be well-educated and concerned with social discussion of gender issues, or at least have such awareness. People in big cities apparently have the edge in receiving more information."

在中国，芭比娃娃玩具本身也不够下沉。这个已经有64年历史的娃娃，直到21世纪初才进入中国市场，在那个“学习至上”的育儿理念占据压倒性优势的新世纪初，无论是“性感”的形象还是缺乏教育意义的“换装”“化妆”“恋爱”等玩法，都与中国父母的价值观相去甚远，被排斥几乎是必然的命运。2009年3月，美泰公司花重金在上海最繁华的地段淮海路开办的芭比6层旗舰店华丽登场时，在中国消费者那里遭遇了极其冷淡的待遇，仅两年后，这家旗舰店就宣告停业。尽管由于其巨大的品牌知名度让很多人都认识芭比，却并没有童年与她为伴的经历，更不了解她在女性独立之路上，曾经做过什么。

In China, Barbie dolls are not as widely known to everyone, either. The brand with a long history of 64 years did not enter Chinese market until the beginning of 21st century. At that time, "study first" was dominant in the philosophy of children's education, and many parents could not accept their kids playing toys that had nothing to do with study—dolls with a "sexy" image changing costume, doing make-up, and falling in love. It was not surprising that Barbie didn't receive a warm welcome then. In March of 2009, Mattel spent heavily to launch a six-storey flagship store on Huaihai Road, the busiest zone in Shanghai, only to hit a brick wall with Chinese consumers. In just two years, the store closed down. Though well-known as an international brand, Barbie was not the one accompanying Chinese kids in their childhood, and of course they would by no means know what the doll had done for feminism and women's independence.

Comments: Cultural feminist critiques of Barbie's body are a thing of the past century. While feminism is a trending topic and may have spurred the creation of this film, it primarily feels like a commercial endeavor that caters to the feminist wave, while ensuring the comfort and non-offense of male audiences.

In fact, beyond the dialogue from the mother-daughter duo that voices women's criticisms — which are somewhat interesting — the narrative largely adheres to conventional plot lines. The brief moments of pointed dialogue offer a satisfying, yet superficial layer of critique, reminiscent of a roast.

Despite its absurdity and senseless humor, the film lacks the profound impact of movies like “Thelma & Louise”. In the end, as Barbie assimilates into society, her initial action is a gynecological visit. This act suggests a return to prevailing gender discourses, hinting at the idea that some aspects of gender inequality are intertwined with sexual differences.

2.This year, employees in the big companies are reclaiming their weekends 今年，大厂人正在找回周末

Overview: The 996 work culture of Chinese internet companies has long been criticized, but this trend is beginning to change under the scrutiny of the government and society, as well as due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the slowdown in economic development. The article depicts the struggles faced by employees in large corporations regarding work-life balance and weekend work. More and more employers, who initially obeyed weekend work demands, have eventually realized the importance of reclaiming their weekends for personal time and relaxation.

This article comes from 每日人物 [Daily Person], a platform that highlights the people involved in societal hot topics and even victims of overlooked everyday accidents. Through fact-based and in-depth reporting, it showcases the diverse facets of human nature and conveys a sense of humanistic care.

Highlights:

事实上，对大厂人来说，周末并非完全不存在。但最大的问题是，长期占支配地位的工作已经入侵周末太久，生活和工作的天平失去平衡。如何重新建立起生活的城墙，可能并没有想象中那么容易。

In fact, for many working individuals in China's big tech firms, weekends are not entirely non-existent. However, the biggest issue is that long hours and dominant work responsibilities have encroached upon weekends for far too long, causing an imbalance between life and work. Reestablishing boundaries to protect personal time may not be as easy as one might imagine.

大厂人需要不断摸索工作和生活的边界。在第一次装睡推掉工作后，符冬冬第一次发现，好像大厂的工作也没有那么急，只不过那些急促的语气和仓促的脚步已经成为习惯，但事情也不是非得周末就必须处理。那天之后，她开始愈发频繁地在下班时间和周末装睡。

These working individuals in big tech firms need to constantly explore the boundaries between work and personal life. After dodging work by pretending to be asleep for the first time, Fu Dongdong realized that the urgency of the tasks at the big company might not be as pressing as it seemed. The hurried tone and rushed pace had become a habit, but it wasn't necessary to handle everything over the weekend. Since that day, she started pretending to be asleep more frequently during off-work hours and weekends.

装睡是清醒的开始，符冬冬开始主动争取周末的休息时间。她给自己树立了一个原则：不紧急的事情，你找我，我就当你是留言，我周一才回复你。这样的习惯保持了一段时间，发现不会对自己有太大影响。

Pretending to be asleep was the beginning of a new awareness. Fu Dongdong started actively seeking rest time during weekends. She set a principle for herself: if it's not urgent, and you contact me, I'll treat it as a message and reply to you on Monday. Maintaining this habit for a while, she found that it didn't have a significant impact on herself.

她的休息姿态也变得更加自然和张扬。有时候，有同事在周末发工作消息，符冬冬还会故意等2小时以后发一条自己看电影的朋友圈，“提醒”这位同事：我在看电影呢，不会回你消息的。她出门逐渐不再带电脑，重新找回生活本该有的样子。

Her attitude towards rest became more natural and assertive. Sometimes, when colleagues sent work messages during the weekend, Fu Dongdong would intentionally wait for two hours before posting a social media update about watching a movie, "reminding" her colleague: "I'm watching a movie, so I won't be responding to messages." She gradually stopped bringing her laptop when going out, reclaiming the way life was meant to be.

李琳的方式和她的性格一样直来直往。部门宣布单休后的几周，李琳坚持过周末。周五一到，她就给领导发消息——“明天有事就不来了”，随即就从办公室消失。第二天谁叫都不好使，她不会再出现在办公室。她的姿态被更多人效仿，办公室里的其他人也陆陆续续请假，领导妥协之下直接宣布，“这周请假的同学跟我说一声。”

Li Lin's approach is as straightforward as her personality. In the weeks following the department's announcement of the single day off policy, Li Lin insisted on taking the weekend off. As soon as Friday came, she would message her supervisor, saying, "If there's something important tomorrow, I won't come," and then promptly disappear from the office. No matter who tried to contact her the next day, she wouldn't budge and wouldn't show up at the office. Her stance was soon emulated by more people, and gradually, other colleagues in the office began taking leaves too. Under pressure, the management compromised and directly announced, "Those who are taking leave this week, just inform me."

李琳对大厂的工作彻底祛魅。她不在乎领导的看法，也不再在乎考核和涨薪，“该涨薪的人领导早就选好了”。她甚至对工作透露出满满的不屑，“被裁就被裁了吧，那更好，拿了补偿我就离开互联网了。”

Li Lin completely dispelled the allure of working at the big tech company. She no longer cared about her superiors' opinions or evaluations for salary increments, as she believed that "the people who are meant to get a raise have already been chosen by the management." She even showed a strong sense of disdain towards her job, saying, "If they decide to lay me off, so be it. That might be even better; I'll take the severance and leave the internet industry for good."

大厂里的“乖小孩”秦峰则发现，想要休息可能并没有那么难。业务量近两年下滑明显，工作量没有那么饱和了，就连领导也会“摸鱼”，没事就刷刷短视频，看直播购物。他决心更加松弛地应对自己的工作。

Qin Feng, the "good boy" in a big company, discovered that taking time off might not be as difficult as he thought. The business volume has significantly declined in the past two years, and the workload is not as overwhelming anymore. Even the supervisors would indulge in leisure activities, casually watching short videos and live shopping streams during idle moments. Qin made up his mind to handle his work with a more relaxed attitude.

而对于不知疲倦的金融大厂高管来说，行业寒冬让付友礼也开始“非正常休息”。“现在兜里有一块钱都在口袋里捂着，不敢投。没有投资就没有项目，公司上下进入停摆状态，没活干了。”

For tireless financial executives in the big tech companies, the industry's winter has led to Fu Youli also taking "abnormal rest." "Now, even if you have a dollar in your pocket, you hold onto it tightly and dare not invest. Without investments, there are no projects, and the whole company is in a state of stagnation with nothing to do."

翻出封存已久的笔墨纸砚，铺开宣纸，他才恍然，已经二十多年没有好好练过年轻时喜欢的毛笔字了。

He took out the long-sealed brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone, laid out the rice paper, and then suddenly realized that it had been over twenty years since he last practiced the calligraphy he once loved in his youth.

Comments: Reclaiming weekends and reducing frequent overtime may be a more practical and fair compromise between firms and employees, especially when compared to the 996 working culture and the "quiet quitting" trend seen in both Chinese and U.S. companies in recent years. The newer generations' exploration of work boundaries is likely to shape the working culture in the years to come.

3.Hong Kong's scramble for mainland elites: a misaligned rush 香港争抢内地精英：一场错位的奔赴

Overview: The article reveals a surge in Chinese mainland elites seeking Hong Kong residency, driven by the desire to secure better educational opportunities for their children and the birthright citizenship policy. However, it also uncovers a paradox as many applicants are not genuinely interested in working or living in Hong Kong. The city's booming financial and tech industries were the primary magnets, but with the recent downturn in job prospects and rising office vacancies, the attraction for talents is waning. Hong Kong's government is actively encouraging talent migration, but to sustain its status as a global financial center, it needs to appeal to new sources of capital from mainland entrepreneurs.

The article comes from 36氪 [36kr], an outstanding brand and pioneering platform serving participants in China's new economy. It provides cutting-edge and in-depth business coverage, emphasizing trends and value.

Highlights:

过去两年里，香港流失了14万劳动人口；2022年幼儿园招生数减少了四分之一；自2020年7月1日到2022年底，香港居民经机场离港的净移出数目超过40万人。这些人流向了新加坡、英国、加拿大、美国等地。

Over the past two years, Hong Kong has lost 140,000 labor force members; kindergarten enrollment for 2022 decreased by a quarter; and from July 1, 2020, to the end of 2022, over 400,000 residents left Hong Kong through the airport. These individuals have migrated to places like Singapore, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and other countries.

如今，热情涌入的内地精英，甚至超过了香港移民局网站服务器的承载。一位通过了“高才计划”的申请者，在预约身份证办理时，因访问量过高，连续多天无法刷进预约系统。

Today, the influx of mainland elites into Hong Kong has even overwhelmed the capacity of the Immigration Department's website servers. One applicant who successfully passed the "Top Talent Pass Scheme" had difficulties booking an appointment for identity card processing due to the high volume of traffic, leading to several days of unsuccessful attempts to access the reservation system.

理想的情况是，这些内地精英可以填补香港流失的劳动力空缺，缓解香港的人才焦虑。然而热闹的表象下，是尴尬的另一面：这些申请者中，相当比例的人并不真正打算去香港工作和生活。

Ideally, these mainland elites could fill the labor gaps left by the emigration from Hong Kong and alleviate the talent anxiety in the region. However, beneath the lively appearance lies an awkward reality: a considerable proportion of these applicants do not actually intend to work and live in Hong Kong.

一位刚刚通过优才计划拿到香港身份的消费公司中层管理者说，“只是因为小孩，想给他多一个选择的可能性”。她坦言，自己的生活和工作圈子都是在内地，不太可能去香港。优才计划和高才计划每两年需要一次续签审批，她正在发愁“不去香港怎么续签通过”。

A mid-level manager in a consumer company, who just obtained Hong Kong residency through the "Top Talent Pass Scheme," said, "It's just for the sake of my child, to give them an additional possibility for the future." She admitted that her life and social circle are primarily in the Chinese mainland, making it unlikely for her to relocate to Hong Kong. The "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme" and "Highly Skilled Professionals Scheme" require renewal approval every two years, and she is now concerned about how to renew her residency if she doesn't plan to move to Hong Kong.

这也是龚武的客户们最关心的问题。在他接受过咨询和实际办理的客户里，互联网大厂的人最多，尤其是程序员。

This is also the most concerning issue for Gong Wu's clients. Among the customers he has consulted and assisted, the majority are from internet giants, particularly programmers.

除了中产人群，年轻的00后清华金融系在校生David也填报了“高才计划”申请。提交一天就被审批通过，他感叹港府的高效。

In addition to the middle-class population, David, a young post-00s student majoring in finance at Tsinghua University, also applied for the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme." His application was approved within a day, leaving him amazed by the efficiency of the Hong Kong government.

David是北方人，从深圳去香港办理身份证时，他经历了一次小小的culture shock（文化冲击）。穿梭于香港的大街小巷，他能看懂街头的广告牌文字、菜单，却听不懂同样肤色和面孔的人嘴里的粤语，甚至无法用普通话让对方理解。“一种很错配的感觉。”

David is from northern China, and when he went to Hong Kong to apply for his identity card from Shenzhen, he experienced a small culture shock. Walking through the streets and alleys of Hong Kong, he could understand the text on street advertisements and menus, but he couldn't comprehend the Cantonese spoken by people with the same appearance and ethnicity as him. He even struggled to make himself understood when using Mandarin. "It felt like a mismatch," he said.

David加了很多个已通过“高才计划”的人的微信群，里面各行各业的都有，“问了一圈，没人真的想要去香港工作”。身边同学和朋友对香港亦无太多向往，“大家基本把它当作一个两年的旅游签证来对待。”

David joined several WeChat groups of people who have been approved through the "Quality Migrant Admission Scheme," and the members come from various professions. After asking around, he found that no one really intends to work in Hong Kong. Even his classmates and friends show little enthusiasm for Hong Kong, regarding it more as a two-year tourist visa opportunity.

Comments: While it's encouraging to see the desire for Hong Kong's permanent residency, the government must be cautious about the actual intentions of the applicants. Focusing solely on attracting elites might not address the broader talent needs of the city. Instead, it should strike a balance between attracting top-tier talent and nurturing local talent to foster a diverse and sustainable workforce. Ensuring genuine integration and commitment from applicants will be crucial for Hong Kong's long-term growth and prosperity.

4.Young people are finding jobs for their parents 帮父母找工作的年轻人

Overview: This article discusses the challenges that the "younger elderly" (under 70) are facing in finding appropriate jobs after retirement age. They still need work to do to fix financial difficulties or to achieve better self-actualization. Their children, trying to help them, find that people of old age are in a way already "excluded" from the callous employment market. Ironically, they are in the same predicament as the younger generation to find a job.

This is a report by 真故研究室 [Zhengu Lab], a niche Wechat official account that delves into controversial social issues.

Highlights:

像柯蕊和刘钊父母这样的人，这几年社会上有一个形容他们的新词，叫“低龄老年人”。指的是那些年龄在70岁以下，突然完全闲下来，但还有参与社会工作的需求的人。

These years, the phrase "younger elderly" was coined to refer to the population group which Ke Rui's and Liu Zhao's parents belong to—those under the age of 70, idle, but still in need of a job.

长期以来，年轻人是社会活动、舆论场的主体，所以市场下行之下，年轻人的就业率一直是大众关注的焦点。而老年人由于“性格稳重”，发声机会少，从而成为了隐形的失业人群。

The younger generation has always been the dominant agent of social activities and public opinions, their employment being the focus of public concern in today's downward market. In contrast, the conservative and inert elders' voice is seldom heard, making them a latent unemployed group.

数据统计显示，我国超六成低龄老人仍然有就业意愿。他们的就业需求同样需要被满足。

Data shows that over 60 percent of younger elderly in China still have the will to work. Their needs should be met.

这种需求更多是被动的。拿柯蕊的例子来说，父母以务农为生，缺乏养老思维。他们退休后的生计保障主要依靠新农合，60岁后每个月拿100多元，完全无法覆盖日常开销。而以刘钊的例子来看，硕士毕业的他还没有扎稳脚跟便遇上工作不稳，同时又是独生子，家庭经济压力可见一斑。

It should also be noted that this need is often passively incurred. Let's take Ke Rui's case as an example. Her parents are farmers their whole lives, not considering much for old-age care. They mainly depend on the new rural social pension insurance to support themselves after retirement, getting only over 100 yuan (about 14 U.S. dollars) per month after 60 years old, which is impossible to cover daily expenses. In Liu Zhao's case, he was troubled by insecure jobs shortly after entering the workforce from MA studies. Worse, he is the only child of his parents, bearing a even heavier economic burden for his family.

[Note: The original text here is "新农合" (new rural medical insurance). The author might have confused it with "新农保"—new rural social pension insurance which was launched in 2009 to provide old-age care for the farmers. It is voluntarily paid by individuals and subsidized by communities and government. Those over 60 can get a sum of pension (usually no more than a few hundred yuan) proportionate to how much they have chosen to pay. In contrast, urban old-age insurance is largely paid by one's employer according to how much one earns. Normally, urban pensions are much higher than rural pensions. ]

“有闲没钱”可能是大多数低龄老年人的现状。此前，已有专家公开表示应该建立“自愿原则下的延迟退休”，开拓老年人就业市场，以缓解生育率低下、未来劳动力不足的问题。

"Much time, no money" can best describe the current state of most younger elderly. Previously, some experts proposed a policy of "voluntary postponed retirement" in order to expand job market for the old-aged and address the problems of low birth rate and labor shortage.

但问题在于，当老人愿意走出圈子、抛弃此前三四十年的工作方式，重新寻找工作时，可供选择的工作机会却少之又少。年龄，以及社会对老人的包容性依旧掣肘着他们的就业。

But here follows another problem. When the elderly take a step out and give up their familiar workstyle for new jobs, they are offered few available choices. Their old age and society's intolerance hinder them from being employed.

柯蕊曾根据网友的建议，列了一份适合母亲的工作清单，包括保安、保洁、开店、陪护等九大类。看似可以尝试的工作很多，但结合母亲文化程度、识路能力、工作经验、经济情况、身体情况等因素，到头来能做的工作寥寥无几。

Ke Rui, taking netizens' advice, listed some jobs suitable for her mother. They are mainly nine types of work, including janitor, cleaner, shopkeeper, caregiver and so forth. It seems plenty of options, but other factors such as the mother's degree of education, sense of direction, working experience, economic and physical conditions should also be taken into consideration. In the end, there's not much work she can do.

Comments: In China's rapidly aging society with low birth-rate, the "younger elderly" are expected to continue working as part of the labor force. Paradoxically, they are not given much choice by the employers even though they are willing to learn new things to overcome their incapability. They are both discriminated and ignored by the society. In the meantime, the younger generation is under dual pressure of employment insecurity for themselves and old-age care for their parents.

To address this issue, it is important for the policy-makers to take into account the needs of the aging population. While focusing on youth unemployment is crucial, it's equally important to understand and cater to the demands of the elderly. By doing so, China could potentially harness the capabilities of its elderly population and foster a more balanced job market.

5.Summer holiday college campus tour: a money-wasting trap 暑假奇葩研学团，坑人又坑钱

Overview: The article reveals the fraudulent nature of holiday college campus trips designed for pupils and secondary school students that are said to be helpful in enhancing their capabilities. Participants end up finding themselves in completely opposite situation as the tour agencies have hyped up, neither enjoying their trips nor learning anything valuable. The real story behind the costly and glamorous study tours are the anxiety and comparing mentality of the parents.

Not only the children and parents are bothered, though. People who live or work in the colleges, museums, and offices being visited—their lives are also disrupted. Even the attendant tutors are victims deceived by the agencies; their real job is more like a babysitter and photographer.

This report comes from 每日人物 [Daily Person], a platform that focuses on the individuals involved in everyday events. It features humanistic care and in-depth analyses of social phenomena through accounts of small stories.

Highlights:

一片混乱中，陈龄见到了那句让他“错愕”的标语：“在京一周，影响一生”。这行字印在白T恤正中间，被研学团的孩子们穿在身上，尤其显眼。“家长的心情可以理解，但在一个城市短短待几天就能影响一生，我觉得过于理想化了。”

In chaos, Chen Ling saw the slogan that astounded him a lot—"a week in Beijing, a life in triumph". This line was printed right in the center of the white T-shirts conspicuously worn by the kids in the study tour group. He said, "I understand what parents are worried about. But it's not realistic that a few days' stay in a city can change a child's whole life."

参加研学能不能改变一生并不确定，不过可以确定的是，研学团的到来，改变了大学生们的正常生活。陈龄至今记得在西门拍毕业照的时候，他和同学们眼睛要尖、动作要快，才能拍到一张没有研学团当背景板的照片。

Whether it can or can not is uncertain. But it is sure that the flood of study tours has affected the normal life of college students. Chen recalled that when he was taking graduation photos at west gate of his school, he and his mates had to be quick to snap a picture without those kids in the background.

而拍毕业照的学生们，本身也成为了研学的一部分。陈龄自己，就被几位家长拉着跟孩子合了影。

At the same time, university students like him became part of the study trip themselves. For example, Chen was asked by some parents to take photos with their kids.

这样的情况，不单单出现在北京。

This was not seen merely in Beijing.

厦门的裴芸，在西安博物馆外面，遇到了一群研学团的孩子。那是个阴天，刮着风，孩子们正在博物馆门口朗诵诗经，有研学老师专门负责拍摄。

Pei Yun from Xiamen once ran across a bunch of study trip children outside Xi'an Museum. It was a cloudy, windy day, but the little ones were still reciting the Book of Songs in front of the gate while the teachers filmed them.

裴芸看到，老师很敬业，力图给每个孩子拍出最精神的照片。但进入馆内，孩子们除了挨个拍照打卡，全程不见人讲解。

Pei noticed that the teachers were very careful in capturing the most active expression of every kid. After entering the museum, however, the children were left to themselves, no guide service for them to learn something, only pictures taken.

拍完照，老师又带着孩子，奔向下一个博物馆。

When the photography was done, they were urged by the teachers towards the next museum.

更为奇葩的是，还有的研学团，跑到互联网公司里去研学。

What's more ridiculous, some study tours even found their way into Internet companies.

“现在的小学生研学已经研到我的工位了。”26岁的酥酥在北京一家互联网公司做视频策划，从六月底开始，小学生就开始出没在公司大楼。前几天周末加班，进入公司大厅，她一度感觉自己进入了游乐园。

"They were already 'studying' my office," said 26-year-old Susu who does video planning for a Beijing-based company. According to her, the pupils kept emerging in her working building since the end of June. On weekend a few days ago, she felt like she was in an amusement park when stepping into the company.

酥酥在网上描述了“工位研学”的具体过程：“先绕我们工位一周，参观当代互联网打工人惨状，然后又去到公司健身房，围观不认真上班的人摸鱼健身。”

Susu described this "office study tour" and posted it online. "First, they walked around the office, watching us working like dogs. Then they went to visit the gym, watching those who slack off exercising."

某种意义上，研学的意义被简单抽象成了提前见识未来的生活。她曾在公司大厅遇到一所县级中学的孩子们前来研学，她感觉到，真实的工作与孩子们中间，间隔最远的或许是认知上的差异，而这种渴望打破信息差的焦虑，正是研学团火热的重要原因。

In a sense, the meaning of study trips was reduced to learning about future life in advance. She once met a group of kids from a county-level middle school and felt that what lies between the real workplace and children's simple perception is the knowledge of the adult world. The desire and anxiety to bridge this information gap are what makes the study tour so popular.

Comments: Many Chinese parents believe that setting a clear goal for their children at an early age can motivate them to study more purposefully and diligently during their primary and secondary school years. In Western countries, activities that allow middle school students to experience an enriching cultural environment in advance are not uncommon. However, such study programs in China seem to need more standardization and oversight, or they might lead to greater controversies in the future.

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