Essayer OR - Gratuit
Selling crystals and coffee: China's students run side gigs from dorm rooms
The Straits Times
|January 01, 2025
They test out business ideas with little risk or cost amid high youth unemployment
BEIJING - Over the weekend, a queue of around 10 to 15 students waited patiently for their turn to enter the newest "shop" on campus - dormitory room 403 at Qingdao University of Science and Technology in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong.
Once in the six-bed dorm room, they headed to a carefully decorated table in the narrow space between two bunk beds to pick their preferred crystals to be strung into a bracelet or necklace.
It was the first day of business for first-year master's student Wang Rui, 22, and her five roommates, who converted their shared dorm room into a "shop" selling crystals by pooling around 3,000 yuan (S$560) in capital to get their small business rolling.
They are among a small but growing group of Chinese students hustling for work experience while juggling school by getting creative with what they can sell or the services they can offer out of their dorm rooms.
Flowers, snacks, cut fruit, nail art and even a printing "shop" for lazy students who cannot be bothered to walk to the bookshop at the other end of the campus - these are some examples of dorm-based businesses sprouting up across Chinese universities and vocational colleges in recent years.
At a time when China's economic malaise has caused youth unemployment to remain high and many youth are concerned about their employment prospects, this small group of young entrepreneurs are hoping to get a leg-up by leaning into the hustle culture even before they graduate.
On Chinese social media platforms, there are thousands of posts tagged "dormitory entrepreneurship". Some posts have more than 32,000 likes and a lively comment section where young people trade tips and seek advice on starting similar ventures.
Cette histoire est tirée de l'édition January 01, 2025 de The Straits Times.
Abonnez-vous à Magzter GOLD pour accéder à des milliers d'histoires premium sélectionnées et à plus de 9 000 magazines et journaux.
Déjà abonné ? Se connecter
PLUS D'HISTOIRES DE The Straits Times
The Straits Times
Lakers out to clip wings in battle of Los Angeles rivals
One month into their National Basketball Association (NBA) mid-season revival, the Los Angeles Clippers will mark the occasion by returning to the matchup where it all began, with a visit from the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan 22 night (Jan 23 morning, Singapore time) at Inglewood, California.
2 mins
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
Review booking system at driving centres
I am writing to express my frustration regarding the registration and appointment-booking process at ComfortDelGro Driving Centre for new students.
1 min
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
Trump launches Board of Peace that some fear rivals UN
US President Donald Trump on Jan 22 launched his Board of Peace, initially focused on shoring up Gaza’s ceasefire, but with a potentially broader role that could unsettle other global powers, even as he said it would work with the United Nations.
3 mins
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
Singapore stocks rise as Trump softens stance on Greenland
Singapore stocks ended higher on Jan 22, tracking a global relief rally after US President Donald Trump softened his stance on Greenland.
1 min
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
GIC's third-party agent pays $105k fine for short-sale breach in S. Korea
The third-party agent of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC has paid a 120.6 million won (S$105,000) fine for naked short-selling, according to the documents filed by South Korean regulators.
2 mins
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
The old rules-based order is over
'Values-based realism' that rests on principles and pragmatism is the way forward for countries dealing with hegemons, said Canada's Prime Minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan 20. Here is an edited transcript of his speech.
8 mins
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
Digital tech playbook, local carbon metrics launched to help firms go greener
During the Covid-19 pandemic, sales staff from textile manufacturer Ghim Li Group were unable to travel to the US and Europe to present their seasonal designs to their customers.
3 mins
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
SGX plans to expand client base
FROM A22
2 mins
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
Chevron plans to finalise sale of oil assets in Singapore in first quarter
Chevron plans to close a deal to sell its oil refining and distribution assets in Singapore in the first quarter of the year as it engages in a final round of talks with Japanese refiner ENEOS and Glencore, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.
2 mins
January 23, 2026
The Straits Times
China, Indonesia, Malaysia top Changi's passenger markets
China, Indonesia and Malaysia were Changi Airport's top passenger markets in 2025, the airport operator said on Jan 22, amid a record 69.98 million passengers passing through its terminals over the year.
2 mins
January 23, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size

