Wang Sicong, the son of the richest man in China, did an incredibly frank interview with the BBC for its three-part documentary on Chinese youth.
We caught the interview via Shanghaiist.
He said that for people in his generation, escaping China’s strict political system “would be suicide.”
Screenshot, YouTube
“Your parents would kill you,” he said. “There’s no way of succeeding outside the system.”
Wang’s father is Wang Jianlin, founder of the Chinese retail and real-estate conglomerate Dalian Wanda. He is estimated to be worth $31.5 billion.
Wang Sicong has his own professional online-gaming team, and in his interview he explained why the hobby was so popular in China: It allows people to escape that system.
For young people, living in the system doesn’t just mean loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and all of its teachings — it means an incredibly fierce competition to get into top schools in China and around the world. Young people study around the clock under intense pressure.
Students after taking an SAT exam at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong in 2013
REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
“The state chooses what’s mainstream and you have to conform to that,” he said from his luxurious high-rise apartment. “If your ideals are not mainstream, then you’re wrong.
“Of course, everyone has their own ideas, so what they do is they put on a mask and they go through life with a mask. Why is online gaming so popular in China? Because once you go online you can take off that mask and say what you really think.”
His tone isn’t angry. It is resigned.
“I think at some point, you just accept it,” he said, arguing that that acceptance was why protests are not prevalent in China.
Watch Wang’s interview below.
New interview series with China’s unmarried women shows, shrinks attitude gap between generations
Wisteria season starts early with blooming of Japan’s Great Wisteria in its beautiful garden
Japanese bento shop sells croquettes for 13 cents, but are they any good?
Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Japan has new rules for bicycle riders, and these 14 things could get you a fine or a court date
Japanese government wants overseas anime market to roughly triple in 10 years, but are they crazy?
Starbucks Japan releases FIVE new Frappuccinos in a day, and we try them all in 90 minutes
No, that’s not French bread, it’s Japan’s crazy-big gobo!
Pringles Chocolate, but with a Japanese twist, is the snack hack you should be trying right now
Lawson convenience store at popular tourist site is one of the most unusual in Japan
The 5 best Japanese bento to buy at Kyoto Station
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Mt. Fuji decorated with a 500,000-flower pink carpet is Japan’s ultimate spring view
Japanese trains in Sapporo might be better than those in Tokyo, thanks to one special feature
30 Pikachus want to share a Tokyo hotel room with you that has separate Grass, Water, Fire spaces
Man bites woman at cherry blossom park in Japan, dies shortly after
Howl’s Moving Castle’s scene-stealing dog is here to clean your home as a plushie mop
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says