Understanding Young Chinese Backpackers: The Pursuit of Freedom and Its Risks (China Perspectives)

Synopsis

An activity that originated in Western societies, backpacking has gained increasing popularity among Chinese millennials. In a spirit of the ‘search for self’, young Chinese backpackers have sought to display their pursuit of freedom, independence and responsibility within an increasingly individualised society through backpacking. This volume investigates contemporary young Chinese persons’ views on backpacking culture and backpackers. A group of Chinese backpackers are studied using interview and participant observation, and focus groups are conducted to study young professionals’ and university students’ attitudes towards backpacking. The results indicate a profound cultural change along with a degree of division. On the one hand, the backpackers often begin their journey due to a desire to pursue freedom, and use the pursuit as a process of reflexive awareness; on the other hand, the risks of pursuing a freewheeling lifestyle within an individualised society drive the majority of them to return home. The author concludes that this phenomenon is a kind of ‘staged individualism’, describing how Chinese millennials strike a balance between individual interests and wider social obligations. Students and scholars of sociology tourism, and youth culture will be interested in this volume.

Copyright:

2021

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

134 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781000410570

Related ISBNs:

9781032040059, 9781003190172, 9781032039985

Publisher:

Taylor and Francis

Date of Addition:

07/27/21

Copyrighted By:

Jia Xie

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Nonfiction, Sports, Teens, Travel, Outdoors and Nature, Business and Finance, Sociology

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.