Dao Insights share their China predictions for 2021 in three key areas: digital society, healthy lifestyles and travel trends.
It’s no secret that 2020 was a year many would like to forget. But while much of the global community is still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, China is in a quite different situation. In fact, thanks to strict lockdowns in areas where cases pop up, the country managed to turn the rudder 180 degrees, ramped up domestic consumption, and is heading for a 7.9% GDP increase in 2021, according to the World Bank. Here are the three main areas of change based on key trends that emerged in 2020.
1. China’s digital society will advance to new heights in 2021
Think of China these days and it’s hard not to talk about its technology and digital advancements which, quite often, are ahead of many Western countries’. Here’s what we can expect from digital China in 2021:
Digital governance
Beijing is encouraging the use of electronic chops and seals to verify documents
With 940 million internet users, China has used digital transformation as a new means to modernise China’
The digitalisation of documentation has also extended to the property market, allowing Beijing residents to purchase Beijing-based properties wholly online since 1 January 2021, ending the need to visit registration halls in person.
Beijing residents can purchase Beijing-based properties wholly online since 1 January 2021
This is only the start for the Chinese government, as the expansion of e-government services will be ongoing in 2021. For example, Beijing is encouraging the use of electronic chops and seals to verify
Online medical consultations
Online medical consultation will also grow this year
Unsurprisingly, the Covid-19 pandemic has hastened the digitisation of China’s medical sphere as several tech giants launched new online medical consultation services. As well as preventing cross-infections
One example is JD Health, e-commerce platform JD’s healthcare subsidiary, which launched
Thanks to the convenience of online medical consultation services like JD Health, these are rapidly becoming patients’ preferred option over traditional face-to-face appointments and will only grow more popular in 2021.
Smart education
Smart education is seeing a rapid uptake due to an increase in home learning
China is home to the largest population of young netizens, with 93.1% of the country’s under 18-year-olds (
The rapid uptake of online education among schools, parents, and the general population looking to develop new skills, resulted in the development of countless
For example, China’s largest online education start-up, Zuoyebang, which
As educators and parents continue to discover the benefits of online education services, technology will become deeply ingrained in education – both through online learning and within the physical classroom.
5G expands to 6G
Shenzhen and Beijing have already achieved full 5G coverage
Does your smartphone have 5G capabilities? If you’re in China and the answer is no, you’re clearly missing out on some high-speed internet.
Fun fact: China constructed 718,
While 5G will continue to be applied to develop key industries, authorities have announced that plans to rollout 6G in 2029 are already underway.
2. Covid-19 has re-invigorated China’s deep-rooted focus on health
Chinese consumers have declared 2021 a year oriented around health, as Covid-19 still lingers in the country. The pandemic has inspired people
The power of plant-based
Plant-based products and veganism are on the rise
It has emerged that an increasing number of people are consuming less meat and more vegetables – a completely new lifestyle for most Chinese people, particularly those in lower-tier cities. According to the South China Morning Post, China’s vegetarian market is expected to grow by more than 17% between 2015 and 2020. Also, the demand for plant-based food is surging, resulting in an exponential growth of the meatless market. Several famous food brands took a step into China’s plant-based meat
Dietary supplements
Dietary supplement demand grew as a result of the outbreak but those combating hairloss and skin problems prevail
The demand for dietary supplements grew as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, as consumers sought to boost their health in order to fight the virus. In particular, supplements to regulate blood flow, protect organs and improve the immune system have skyrocketed in popularity. Those most popular among the post-90s generation are supplements to combat hair loss, skin and sleep problems.
Due to quality and trust issues towards China-
3. China’s wanderlust is unstoppable
Due to travel restrictions and self-quarantine rules, Chinese tourists were unable to travel abroad in 2020. As confidence in containment of the virus grew throughout the year, so did travel within China, resulting in a boost for the domestic travel industry.
Domestic tourism booms
The outbreak has reignited interest in domestic travel
What many people – even Chinese people – sometimes forget, is that China is a vast country brimming with incredible landscapes and historical sights. Thanks to the pandemic and several booster campaigns by local governments and travel agents, many have been reminded of this and found their passion to travel domestically reignite once more.
According to a report by the China Tourism Academy, China’s in-land travel market is expected to grow continually over the next five years, reaching 10 trillion RMB in annual tourism consumption. In fact, 10 billion domestic trips are predicted to take place per year by the end of 2025. We can expect continuous promotions of domestic travel destinations through campaigns, events and discounts.
While Covid-19 will still affect people’s international travel plans, at least for the first half of 2021, international destinations should also prepare for an influx of Chinese travellers.
International travel remains on pause – for now
The pace of recovery of international travel depends on national and international vaccine deployment and the ability to control the pandemic in a global context. According to a recent survey by the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRL), about 20% of Chinese travellers want to travel abroad as soon as possible within the Asia-Pacific region, with Europe being the most popular further-afield destination for Chinese tourists. South-East Asian countries are also keen to see Chinese tourists return, with Thailand even recognising the upcoming Chinese New Year as a special holiday for the first time to entice more tourists to come during the national holiday.
Yet, the virus has changed the way in which Chinese people travel. When Chinese tourists restart their outbound travel, they will look to destinations which offer nature, authenticity, local culture and family-based
China rapidly moves into the future
China has made huge progress in digitising all aspects of society in 2020, from currency to bureaucracy to e-commerce – a transition
This article was compiled by the team at Dao Insights. Visit their website for more.
