Activities In China Research Articles

Особые экономические зоны как точки роста для развития экономики России

The subject of the study is the special economic zones of Russia (SEZ) under the conditions of sanctions imposed by the countries of the collective West. The purpose of the work is to substantiate the possibilities of the SEZ in terms of increasing the potential of internal sources of economic growth that contribute to ensuring technological sovereignty and innovative development, as well as the formation of a supply—side economy. It is shown that the state is interested in creating SEZs as sources of new industries and jobs, including in new territories of Russia. The potential for economic recovery of Russian regions applying a preferential economic cooperation regime is noted, similar to the effect obtained from the activities of China's special economic zones, which ensure employment growth and poverty reduction of the local population. It has been established that among the Russian SEZs, industrial production and technical implementation zones prevail, which are in demand and effective, despite the sanctions against the Russian economy. It has been revealed that private investors in the SEZ of Russia are mainly domestic residents due to the introduction of a sanctions ban on foreign residents, overcome through the use of offshore zones that allow foreign businesses to invest capital in the Russian economy. Conclusions are drawn about the need for state support for SEZs in Russia.

Atividades do corpo da paz nas grandes cidades da China: uma exceção à filosofia diplomática americana?

Abstract: The Peace Corps program was once considered an unconventional approach to American diplomacy centered on pragmatic philosophy. The iniciative of Peace Corps in China was perceived as an extraordinary endeavor, yet it has been effectively operating in China for nearly thirty years. The volunteers involved in the program have been instrumental in promoting people-to-people exchanges between the United States and China, drawing from their experiences in cultural immersion. The creation of the “U.S.-China Friendship Volunteers” path was intended to improve bilateral relations between the two nations. Despite opposition from the U.S. Congress, the Peace Corps has not surpassed the foreign policy of the Untied States. However, when the Peace Corps program goes against the policy between the United States and China , it has to end its development in China. This contradicts the claimed political neutrality of the Peace Corps. Throughout the “U.S.-China Friendship Volunteers” program, most volunteers have worked in universities in large cities. Consequently, the cultural adaptation environment for Peace Corps volunteers in China is unique. They are presented with more challenging cultural differences, with relatively lower acculturation stress in their material life. The Peace Corps enables most volunteers to bolster cultural exchanges between China and the United States through active cultural learning support. The development of the Peace Corps project in China reveals no fundamental distinction between its activities in China and other countries. Hence, the “U.S.-China Friendship Volunteers” program of the Peace Corps is not an exception to the pragmatic diplomatic philosophy of the United States.

Role of 2-day critical ultrasound training curriculum in guiding clinical activities in China

Role of 2-day critical ultrasound training curriculum in guiding clinical activities in China

Bletilla striata polysaccharide attenuated the progression of pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevanceBletilla striata, a traditional medicinal plant, has been utilized as a folk medicine for many years because of its superior biological activity in China. However, Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) has received less attention, and its specific mechanism for ameliorating pulmonary fibrosis is completely unclear. Aims of the studyIn this study, we aim to assess BSP on the treatment of PF and explore potential mechanisms. Materials and methodsBSP was successfully extracted and purified from Bletilla striata. The mechanisms were assessed in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model and lung fibroblasts activated by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Histological analysis, immunofluorescence, Western blot and flow cytometry were used to explore the alterations after BSP intervention. ResultsThe results in vivo showed an anti-PF effect of BSP treatment, which reduced pathogenic damages. Furthermore, TGF-β1-induced abnormal migration and upregulated expression of collagen I (COL1A1), vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were suppressed by BSP in L929 cells. Moreover, the abnormal proliferation was retarded by inhibiting the cell cycle of G1 to S phase. Immunofluorescence assay showed that BSP activated autophagy and played an antifibrotic role by inhibiting the expression of p62 and phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR). Last but not least, the suppression of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway was critical for BSP to perform therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo. ConclusionThe possible mechanisms were involved in improving ECM deposition, regulating cell migration and proliferation, and promoting cellular autophagy. Briefly, all of the above revealed that BSP might be a novel therapy for treating pulmonary fibrosis.

FinTech Development, Shadow Banking, and Stock Market Activity in China: Insights from a TVP-SV-VAR Modeling

FinTech Development, Shadow Banking, and Stock Market Activity in China: Insights from a TVP-SV-VAR Modeling

Social Credit System: A Discussion about the Utility of Chinese Digital Project in a European Union Settings

The Social Credit System (SCS, 社会信用体系, shèhuì xìnyòng tĭxì), is an extremely interesting, ultimately nationwide pilot project, consisting of establishing the system of social rating, which, based on data collected over decades and stored both analog and with the use of state-of-the-art technologies will create profiles of citizens and businesses in the People’s Republic of China. The system focuses on four main spheres – national enterprises and economy, society, the judiciary, and public administration. It is in them that a higher level of social trust and security will be ensured, law regulations better observed, corruption eliminated, and proper transparency guaranteed. In analyzing the issue of the Western world’s attitude to the mechanism of digital surveillance and control of business and social activity in China, I should seek answers to the following questions, intriguing from the cognitive and practical perspective: Which of the above interpretations seems to be closer to the truth?; can the SCS have, at least partially, a universal character in the European Union, especially in the societies with a different system of values and the countries with a different political system than the one of the PRC?

Melting Ice, Rising Tensions: China's Arctic Presence and Implications for the United States

The Arctic Ocean Region is experiencing a transformation and is remoulding abruptly from an ice-covered region to an economic zone, influenced by the rising Global temperatures. This transformation has unplugged new avenues for maritime activities as well as intensified the Geopolitical dynamics. This study investigates and analyzes the rising tensions prompted by the increasing presence and activities of China in the Arctic region and the potential implications for the USA. Adopting a Qualitative approach, this research analyzes and examines the PRC's involvement and activities in the region along with the Arctic Policies of the PRC and the United States. The study explores the complex interplay of interests and motives of both powers and potential implications and challenges arising from the growing Chinese presence of the USA in the strategically important region.

Immunomodulatory Activity and Its Mechanisms of Two Polysaccharides from Poria cocos.

Polyporaceae is an important fungal family that has been a source of natural products with a range of pharmaceutical activities in China. In our previous study, two polysaccharides, PCWPW and PCWPS, with significant antioxidant and antidepressant activity were obtained from Poria cocos. In this study, we evaluated their potential molecular mechanisms in the immunomodulation of macrophages. PCWPW and PCWPS were characterized by GC-MS analysis to contain 1,3-linked Glcp. ELISA assays results demonstrated that the secretion of TNF-α was significantly enhanced by PCWPW/PCWPS. RNA-seq data demonstrated that PCWPS treatment modulated the expression of immune-related genes in macrophages, which was further confirmed by RT-qPCR assays. The activation of TNF-α secretion was found to be mannose receptor (MR) dependent and suppressed by MR inhibitor pretreatment. Moreover, the amount of TNF-α cytokine secretion in PCWPW/PCWPS-induced RAW264.7 cells was decreased when pretreated with NF-κB or MAPK signaling pathway inhibitors. Collectively, our results suggested that PCWPW and PCWPS possessed immunomodulatory activity that regulates TNF-α expression through the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway by binding to mannose receptors. Therefore, PCWPW and PCWPS isolated from Poria cocos have potential as drug candidates for immune-related disease treatment.

Five-Year Analysis of Lightning Activities in Different Climatic Regions of Sichuan Province, China

Sichuan is a high-incidence area of thunderstorm activity in China. Based on the data of the total lightning location system from 2018 to 2022, the total lightning, cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning, and intracloud (IC) lightning activity regularity for the Sichuan province (SC) and its three climate subregions: Sichuan Basin (SB), Panxi district (PD), and West Sichuan Plateau (WSP) are analyzed, and the influences of different climate and topography conditions on lightning activities are also discussed. The results show that (1) for the whole province, the annual mean value of total lightning is about 850 thousand. The SB has the most lightning occurrences, and the WSP has the largest IC and +CG proportion. The southwest of PD, the north-center of PD, and the southeast of SB are the three high-value centers of lightning density. (2) For SB, the better thermodynamic and moisture conditions account for the most lightning occurrences. For PD, the lightning distribution is attributed to the joint effect of specific meteorological conditions and mountainous topography. For WSP, the convections are weak and shallow, which lead to high IC and +CG proportion. (3) The IC lightning mainly occurs below 12 km, and the IC height is much lower on WSP. The spatial and seasonal variation of IC height corresponds well to the cloud base height (CBH) and cloud top height (CTH). (4) The seasonal lightning frequency distribution in the three regions is similar, but the diurnal variation is quite different. The lightning activity mainly occurs between 1400 and 2200 LT on WSP but shows obvious nocturnal in SB. (5) Most CG intensity concentrates in the range below 50 kA, and IC concentrates in the range below 75 kA.

Characteristics of cloud-to-ground lightning (CG) and differences between +CG and −CG strokes in China regarding the China National Lightning Detection Network

Abstract. A lightning location system consisting of multiple ground-based stations is an effective means of lightning observation. The dataset from CNLDN (China National Lightning Detection Network) in 2016–2022 is employed to analyze the temporal and spatial lightning distributions and the differences between +CG (positive cloud-to-ground lightning) and −CG (negative cloud-to-ground lightning) strokes in China. On the annual scale, lightning activity is most prevalent during the summer months (June, July, and August), accounting for 72.6 % of the year. Spring sees more lightning than autumn, and winter has only a small amount in southeastern coastal areas. During the day, the frequency of lightning peaks at 15:00–17:00 CST (China standard time) and is lowest at 8:00–10:00 CST. For the period with high CG stroke frequency (summer of a year or afternoon of a day), the proportion of +CG strokes and the discharge peak current are relatively small. Winter in a year and morning or midnight in a day correspond to a greater +CG stroke proportion and discharge current. Spatially, low latitudes, undulating terrain, the seaside, and humid surfaces are favorable factors for lightning occurrence. Thus, the southeast coastland has the largest lightning stroke density, while the northwest deserts and basins and the western and northern Tibetan Plateau, with altitudes over 6000 m, have almost no lightning. The proportion of +CG strokes and the peak current are low in the southern region with high density but diverse in other regions. The Tibetan Plateau causes the diversity of lightning activity in China and lays the foundation for studying the impact of surface elevation on lightning. Results indicate that the +CG stroke proportion on the eastern and southern Tibetan Plateau is up to 15 %, larger than the plain regions. The peak current of −CG strokes is positively correlated with altitude, but +CG strokes show a negative correlation, resulting in a large difference in peak current between +CG and −CG on the plain and a small difference on the plateau.

Evaluating the Determinants of Young Runners' Continuance Intentions toward Wearable Devices

Running has gained popularity as a fitness activity in China, with a growing number of young runners utilizing wearable devices to monitor their running routines and engage in quantified self-practices. The continuous evolution of wearable devices in terms of products and services has expanded the choices available to young runners. Therefore, there is a need to analyze the factors influencing the continuance intention of young runners, providing insights into how to promote the sustained growth of these products or services in the market. This study is grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior, with an extension incorporating the quantified self to explore the impact of users' continuance intentions to use wearable devices. A survey was conducted among 468 young runners who already used wearable devices, and the data collected were analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results indicate that perceived usefulness and attitudes from the Technology Acceptance Model positively influence intentions for continued use. Additionally, subjective norms according to the Theory of Planned Behavior positively influence continuance use intentions. However, perceived behavioral control does not have a significant effect on continuance use intentions. Conversely, the Quantified-Self positively influences continuance use intentions and partially mediates the relationship between perceived usefulness and continuance use intentions. This research has several theoretical implications for the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Technology Acceptance Model, and the Quantified-Self research construct. Moreover, this study has practical implications for practitioners concerning the adoption and acceptance of wearable devices by young people. This approach enables practitioners to target and implement precise strategies to meet the current demands of the young runner market. Doi: 10.28991/HIJ-2023-04-04-02 Full Text: PDF

Analysis of key roles in large‐scale online learning: Interactive participation characteristics and knowledge construction behaviour patterns

AbstractOnline teacher professional development is a branch of online learning, which offers educators opportunities to refine their pedagogical skills and collaboratively construct knowledge within professional learning communities. During these interactions, teachers often engage in knowledge construction while exhibiting diverse role characteristics. Investigating these role characteristics and knowledge construction patterns can enhance the comprehension of the interaction process and contribute to online teacher professional development design, addressing challenges such as weak activity and low collaboration. This study examined the key roles that actively interact or contribute to the online community in online teacher professional development, analysing interactive participation characteristics and knowledge construction behaviour patterns. Data were collected from an online teacher professional development activity in China. Statistical, content and lag sequence analysis methods were employed. Results showed that the three key roles had weak interaction persistence and different content quality in interactive participation characteristics. Knowledge construction behaviours of key roles were generally at a high level, with different patterns observed. Finally, the study proposed practical implications based on key roles' interactive participation characteristics and knowledge construction behaviour patterns. These implications may inspire the learning designs that promote online interaction and deep learning based on role characteristics in online teacher professional development.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Online teacher professional development is an evolving and increasingly recognized field within education, positioned as a subset of online learning. Within professional learning communities, teachers engage in knowledge construction and display varied role characteristics. In large‐scale online teacher professional development, only a few consistently maintained knowledge sharing and interaction. These active participants, or ‘key roles’, account for the majority of interactions. The interactive characteristics of the key roles are rarely discussed. What this paper adds Key roles, while actively participating in the online community, do not necessarily maintain consistent activity throughout the learning process. The interactive participation behaviour of key roles tends to learn more towards ‘following’ rather than ‘initiating’. The quality of interactive content from key roles varies widely. While they are responsible for a significant portion of interactions, it is not guaranteed that these interactions will always be of high quality. Knowledge construction behaviour patterns vary among key roles. Overall, their knowledge construction behaviours are generally at a high level and primarily transit among high stages of knowledge construction. Implications for practice Maintain continuous interaction and posting high‐quality content prove to be challenging even for key roles. Course administrators should monitor and strategically enhance their engagement to prevent them from becoming lurkers. Understanding the behaviour patterns of key roles offers insights for increasing interaction enthusiasm among active participants. It is necessary to develop role‐specific scripts in professional learning communities, to tailor content for opinion leaders, contributors and boundary spanners.

The geographic disparity of agglomeration economies: Evidence from industrial activities in China's emerging greater bay area

There has been growing interest in understanding how industrial variation and locational preferences are connected in recent years. However, little research has focused on the geographic disparities of industrial activities within megacities in terms of their spatial and functional variations. This study aims to addresses this issue by examining industrial agglomerations in China's Greater Bay Area (GBA) using points of interest (POIs) data. By extracting keywords from POIs' names that provide valuable insights into the specific characteristics of local industrial sectors, it first identifies different thematic topics related to industrial activities using topic modeling. Industrial agglomerations are then clustered, given their topic importance, in order to depict the spatial and functional variation within the region. In this connection, a dual-center layout with distinct professional tendencies is reported in the central and southeastern GBA. These two subregions are further selected and investigated to understand their spatial-functional characteristics and locational preferences. Our findings indicate that the garment and electronic sectors are the dominant sectors in the central and southeastern subregions, respectively, whereby industries can obtain more competitive advantages by concentrating geographically. Practical implications of regional industrial activities, including upgrading conventional manufacturing modes and spatial-functional inequality, are discussed.

The “fish tank”: social sorting of LGBTQ+ activists in China

ABSTRACT Since 2013, LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and other) activism in China has existed in a gray area between non-criminalization in legal terms and fragmented strategies of suppression. The expansion of home-grown social media platforms has provided a (relatively) safe haven for LGBTQ+ people to connect, and a growing number of LGBTQ+ groups have established themselves in the country. However, in recent years, laws, policies, and mass closures of LGBTQ+ social media accounts have chipped away at organizational capacity. In this exploratory study, we center the voices of LGBTQ+ activist communities in China. Drawing from 26 interviews, we explore the effects of increased surveillance in digital and physical spaces on queer communities via the theoretical concept of “social sorting.” The findings suggest that LGBTQ+ communities were already under extensive institutional and digital surveillance prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has further amplified state-led surveillance and censorship. The norm setting of an ideal citizen of China has occurred through enhanced institutional marginalization, digital censorship, and police monitoring and harassment. These practices have harmed but not broken the resolve of LGBTQ+ communities, who had been finding unconventional ways to connect prior to the pandemic, albeit constrained as if in a metaphorical fish tank.

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry 13-year data collection and analysis: geographic distribution, financial support, research phase, duration, and disease categories.

To evaluate the current status of trial registration on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR). In this descriptive study, a multi-dimensional grouping analysis was conducted to estimate trends in the annual trial registration, geographical distribution, sources of funding, targeted diseases, and trial subtypes. We have analyzed all clinical trial records (over 30,000) registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) from 2007 to 2020 executed in China. The main outcome was the baseline characteristics of registered trials. These trials were categorized and analyzed based on geographical distribution, year of implementation, disease type, resource and funding type, trial duration, trial phase, and the type of experimental approach. From 2008 to 2017, a consistent upward trend in clinical trial registrations was observed, showing an average annual growth rate of 29.2%. The most significant year-on-year (yoy%) growth in registrations occurred in 2014 (62%) and 2018 (68.5%). Public funding represented the predominant source of funding in the Chinese healthcare system. The top five ChiCTR registration sites for all disease types were highly populated urban regions of China, including Shanghai (5,658 trials, 18%), Beijing (5,127 trials, 16%), Guangdong (3,612 trials, 11%), Sichuan (2,448 trials, 8%), and Jiangsu (2,196 trials, 7%). Trials targeting neoplastic diseases accounted for the largest portion of registrations, followed by cardio/cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) and orthopedic diseases-related trials. The largest proportions of registration trial duration were 1-2 years, less than 1 year, and 2-3 years (at 27.36, 26.71, and 22.46%). In the case of the research phase, the top three types of all the registered trials are exploratory research, post-marketing drugs, and clinical trials of new therapeutic technology. Oncological and cardiovascular diseases receive the highest share of national public funding for medical clinical trial-based research in China. Publicly funded trials represent a major segment of the ChiCTR registry, indicating the dominating role of public governance in this health research sector. Furthermore, the growing number of analyzed records reflect the escalation of clinical research activities in China. The tendency to distribute funding resources toward exceedingly populated areas with the highest incidence of oncological and cardiovascular diseases reveals an aim to reduce the dominating disease burden in the urban conglomerates in China.

Digital economy, government intellectual property protection, and entrepreneurial activity in China

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the relationship between the digital economy and entrepreneurial activity from the perspective of government intellectual property protection. Based on data of 191 Chinese prefectural-and-above (PAA) level cities from 2015 to 2020, this empirical study conducts hierarchical regressions and spatial econometric analysis. The results show that the digital economy positively influences entrepreneurial activity. Meanwhile, the digital economy makes entrepreneurial activity show inter-city spatial dependence. Besides, government intellectual property protection plays a mediating role between the digital economy and entrepreneurial activity. Further, heterogeneity analysis shows that maintaining a high level of digital economic development and high-standard government intellectual property protection will be conducive to cities’ innovation and entrepreneurship.

Climatology of Large Peak Current Cloud‐to‐Ground Lightning Flashes in China’s Most Populous Areas

AbstractUsing a 10‐year data set of cloud‐to‐ground lightning (CG) flashes, the climatological characteristics of ±CG flashes with a large peak current (>75 kA or <−75 kA) (±LPCCGs) are for the first time obtained in China’s most populous areas in terms of density distribution, seasonal variation, and monthly and diurnal evolution. The results show that the distribution of +LPCCG flashes has evident seasonal variations, while the activity center of −LPCCG flashes always remains in Southwest China. The diurnal evolution of +LPCCG flash percentages in southern China’s Mainland shows an opposite trend to that in the north. Furthermore, the peak current distributions of +LPCCG flashes in most of China’s mainland are found to be distinct from those shown in other regions of the world. Additionally, Southwest China is found to be an important and special area for LPCCG flash activity in China. Not only is it the density center of ±LPCCG flashes, but the peak current distribution of −LPCCG flashes in this region also shows an evidently different pattern from those in other regions. The diurnal evolution of the ‐LPCCG/+LPCCG flash frequencies in Southwest China also shows a different pattern from that in other regions.

Medicinal Plants, Economical and Natural Agents with Antioxidant Activity

Abstract: Over the past few decades, the multifaceted anticancer action of various plant-derived flavonoids has been demonstrated both in in vitro and in vivo preclinical experiments as well as in clinical trials and large-scale epidemiological studies. These secondary metabolites, synthesized in plants in response to different environmental stresses, can exert diverse biological activities in the human body after ingestion of plant-based foods. Flavonoids are indeed well-known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, proapoptotic, anti-migratory, antiinvasive, anti-metastatic, and anti-angiogenic properties, thereby preventing and slowing the development of different types of human cancers. Accordingly, more and more people all over the world have increased their everyday intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and spices to get the benefits of flavonoids. In this commentary article, a critical view is presented on the possible gradual decrease in the health-promoting effects of edible and medicinal plant products related to changes in their flavonoid content and composition as a consequence of global warming. It is indeed generally accepted that biosynthesis and accumulation of certain flavonoids can be higher in plants cultivated in colder conditions, while a high temperature may even block the production of these agents. It only remains to be determined in the future as to what extent the lowering of flavonoids content in plant-based diets during global warming can contribute to continuously increasing worldwide incidence of new cancer cases, revealing the actual costs of human-induced environmental changes. : Important traditional medicinal plants with antioxidant activities in China are Asparagus, bindii, blueberries, barberry fruit, borage, calendula, camellia, coriander, cumin, Chinese bayberry, bitter Chinese melon, Chinese cabbage, Chinese cherry, Chinese jujube, Chinese olive, pomegranate, Chinese rose tea, Chinese toon, Chinese watermelon, black tea, green tea, knotweed, Chinese quince, Chinese rhubarb, pomegranate, sumac, thyme, wolfberry, dendrobium, drumstick tree, rosemary, black Zira, rose, Fiscus species, ginger, ginkgo, goji berry, grape, Jerusalem thorn, jujube, kiwifruit seed oil, and liquorice root. : The main derived exogenous natural antioxidants are derived from medicinal plants, fruits, foods, flowers, and traditional herbal medicines. Among various medicinal plants, the medicinal plants common in Asian traditional medicine have shown enormous potential as great sources of natural antioxidants. Polyphenols, and some other secondary bioactive compounds like anthocyanins, isoflavones, pterostilbene, resveratol, quercetin and catechins have shown potent antioxidant activity.

The impact of air quality on innovation activities in China

Severe air quality hurts human capital and threatens innovative outcomes. Using unique data containing 12.8 million patent applications in China, this paper examines the causal effect of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) on patent innovation. We estimate a two-stage least square model with thermal inversion as an instrumental variable. Our findings show that a one μg/m3 increase in the annual average PM2.5 concentration leads to a 1.3% decrease in the number of patents. Annual fluctuations in PM2.5 concentration levels across cities caused the total number of patents to decrease by 1.1% during the 2006–2010 period. From 2011 to 2015, the improvement in air quality increased the number by about 2.0%. It demonstrates another innovation co-benefit of improving air quality due to the tightened regulation.

Identity Struggles as Online Activism in China: A Case Study Based on "The Inviting Plan for 985 Fives" Community on Douban

Online communities support the well-being of their members by encouraging their social identity formation. In the context of an online community, online activism in the form of identity struggles can be particularly helpful for marginalized individuals or groups. Since May 2020, students from the 985 universities, an elite educational project in China, have been coming to an online community named "The Inviting Plan for 985 Fives" on Douban, an interest-based Social Network Site (SNS), to discuss their failure and dissatisfaction in life. Students who were once recognized for their academic excellence now identify as "fives" (or "garbage"). The present study examines how the Douban group, as a social network and collaborative system, supports the group members in their identity struggles in the context of increasingly fierce peer competition in China. We employ a qualitative approach, combining ethnographic methods such as participant observation and semi-structured interviews, with in-depth analysis of the top discussion threads. We discover that while peer competition and social stratification in contemporary China cause students at the top universities to feel anxious and lost, the online community they build collectively supports them to create a new social identity, the identity of "five," which is the basis of their online activism. Through this new identity, they seek unofficial democracy, civic participation, and possibilities of social change.