Dongbei renaissance: why stories from China’s rust belt are so popular

Dongbei, as China’s cold and gritty north-east is known, has traditionally been more famous for its economic struggles than for its cultural exports. Once booming under Mao because of its coal mines and steel mills, the region has endured decades of decline and poverty. But from these hardships, a powerful literary movement has emerged. David Rennie, The Economist’s geopolitics editor, and Alice Su, our senior China correspondent, analyse “Winter Swimming”, a short story by Ban Yu, and ask: why are stories from China’s rust belt resonating with so many readers around the country? Transcripts of our podcasts are available via economist.com/podcasts. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.