

Young and Restless in China:

Discussion Questions


  • Why do you think Miranda Hong describes her generation of Chinese as "confused"?
  • Why do you think the Chinese government has nicknamed the young people coming home from abroad "returning turtles?"
    • How do you think their work or educational experiences abroad have affected their ambitions in China?
    • Why do you think these young people have returned to China?
  • In what ways do you think Ben Wu, the entrepreneur launching the Internet cafe, is representative of the "new" China?
  • What do you think are important historical, social or economic factors that have shaped the outlook of the Chinese generation profiled in the film?
    • What do you think are important historical, social or economic factors that have shaped earlier generations in China?
    • What differences or similarities do you see between these two generations?
  • Why do you think that several of the profiled characters have turned to religion or spiritual outlets?
  • Lu Dong likens Chinese ambition to a poor kid going into a candy store and grabbing too much candy because he has been hungry for so long.
    • Is this an apt analogy about China?
    • Propose another analogy to describe Chinese ambition.
  • To what extent are the struggles of the rapper, Wang Xiaolei, unique as a Chinese artist?
    • Do you think that his life is typical of artists elsewhere? Explain your position.
  • Who do you think is the happiest of the young people profiled in this documentary and why?
  • Why do you think FRONTLINE producers named this program Young & Restless In China?
    • Do you think this is an appropriate title? Why or why not?
    • What other titles would aptly describe this program?

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