Young Chinese people are increasingly turning to mysticism and fortune telling, a trend dubbed the 'spiritual economy,' driven by rising anxiety about slowing economic growth and future prospects. This phenomenon is evident in the proliferation of fortune telling bars, such as 'One As All' in Beijing, and the widespread adoption of astrology apps like Tencent-backed 'Cece.' While addressing emotional needs, this resurgence also reflects a growing cultural confidence in traditional Chinese practices, despite the Communist Party's official atheism and past crackdowns on 'superstitious beliefs.'
The spiritual economy: young Chinese turn to fortune tellers as anxiety about the future rises
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Young Chinese people are increasingly turning to mysticism and fortune telling, a trend dubbed the 'spiritual economy,' driven by rising anxiety about slowing economic growth and future prospects. This phenomenon is evident in the proliferation of fortune telling bars, such as 'One As All' in Beijing, and the widespread adoption of astrology apps like Tencent-backed 'Cece.' While addressing emotional needs, this resurgence also reflects a growing cultural confidence in traditional Chinese practices, despite the Communist Party's official atheism and past crackdowns on 'superstitious beliefs.'
Trending- 1 April last year: One As All fortune telling bar opened in Beijing
- 2 2018-2024: Nearly 300 people 'criminally dealt with' for spiritualism activities in China
- 3 Recent months: Several Chinese brands and products (e.g., Labubus, DeepSeek) have gone global
- 4 2023: Animated film 'Ne Zha 2' broke worldwide records for Chinese box office takings
- Growth of businesses catering to spiritual practices (e.g., fortune telling bars)
- Increased consumption in the 'spiritual economy' sector
- Potential for tension with the officially atheist Communist Party, despite careful navigation by businesses
- Reflection of societal anxieties and cultural shifts among young Chinese
What: Young Chinese people are increasingly engaging with mysticism, fortune telling, and spiritual practices, leading to the emergence of a 'spiritual economy.' This includes the opening of fortune telling bars and the popularity of astrology apps.
When: The trend has become more common in the past two years. The bar 'One As All' opened in April last year. The article was published on June 30, 2025.
Where: China, specifically Beijing (Fengtai district), Shanghai, and other Chinese cities.
Why: The growing popularity is attributed to rising anxiety among young people about slowing economic growth, job prospects, and relationships. It provides an outlet for emotions and a sense of guidance. It also reflects an increasing sense of cultural confidence in traditional Chinese culture.
How: Young people are seeking out fortune tellers, visiting fortune telling bars that combine spiritual services with social settings, and using digital platforms like astrology apps. Traditional divination methods like qiuqian (Chinese lottery sticks) are experiencing a resurgence.