Articles by Fio Zhang

In Shanghai, style now arrives before experience

While on the surface, life in China’s urban cities are becoming more shiny, more aestheticised, look closer and one sees that contemporary culture in China everywhere has become a rapid localisation of modernity itself, says Lianhe Zaobao foreign journalist Fio Zhang.

Fio Zhang

18 Sep 2026

Is Ai Weiwei a figure of the past?

By embodying recognisable themes of political dissent, ideological trauma and cultural memory, early Chinese contemporary artists like Ai Weiwei acted as interfaces that helped the West understand China. But the milieu has changed, requiring new-gen artists to reexamine their identity and their art. Lianhe Zaobao visual journalist Fio Zhang gives her take on the issue.

Fio Zhang

29 May 2026

Not all heroes shout: How The Legend of Hei 2 reimagines Chinese animation

While Ne Zha signals industrial ambition and cultural export, The Legend of Hei reveals a gentler path — hand-drawn, community-made and emotionally grounded in coexistence rather than spectacle. Lianhe Zaobao visual journalist Fio Zhang explains its appeal and understated value.

Fio Zhang

20 Feb 2026

VTubers: China’s youth find comfort in virtual idols

In today’s China, young people live under immense academic and economic pressures, navigating precarious jobs and chronic self-doubt, while family communication often struggles to keep pace with these realities. Lianhe Zaobao visual journalist Fio Zhang explores how digital avatars reshape emotional connections, generational dialogue and companionship.

Fio Zhang

28 Nov 2025