Summary of the Key Points
This article, based on the author's personal experiences living in Cuihu, Shanghai, explores the real reasons behind Xintiandi becoming a "holy ground for international students to dance to the music 'Douban'": It's neither about an excessive admiration for foreign things nor a deliberate choice of an "international" atmosphere. Instead, it stems from the fact that international students want to show off their newly bought Bape clothing while being concerned about their image. They choose to dance around the corner near the Bape store, and this behavior has gradually evolved into a way for them to socialize with each other. It also dispels the misconception that all international students are wealthy heirs who spend money recklessly—although they may look impressive, their pocket money is limited, forcing them to engage in low-cost social activities. The article also discusses the distorted spread of information on social media and the reality that anyone can be criticized online.
Detailed Analysis
1. The Birth of the "Douban Dance Holy Ground": Not About an "International Atmosphere," but About Showing Off After Buying Bape
Many people think international students choose Xintiandi because it has a foreign vibe, but the author argues that this is a misunderstanding. There are many places in Shanghai with a more genuine international feel (such as the French Concession). The real reason is quite practical: there's a Bape store nearby. After buying a Bape hoodie, Chris, an international student, didn't want to wear it right away in the store (to maintain an air of sophistication) but wanted to show off his new clothing. So he took his friend who helped him buy it to the corner near the store and started dancing to "Douban" (pretending it was just part of their casual day). Over time, that corner became the accepted place for showing off clothes, and eventually, it turned into a popular spot for dancing.
The author even mentions that he considered renting out his unused Bape and Crocs items from his storage room to these students for some extra money but gave up due to concerns about complaints from neighbors—this indirectly confirms that Xintiandi's appeal to international students is indeed related to the opportunity to show off their brand preferences.
2. The "Face Game" of International Students: Using a Genuine Item to Establish Credibility
There is competition among international students, but it's cleverly done. Chris buys a genuine Bape item not to wear it himself, but to convince his friend to go back to school and testify that he bought it from the official store. This way, even if the other items he wears (like Crocs or ERD) are fake, others will assume they're real. The author compares this to a situation where a student from a public school buys an Allen Walker hoodie while one from an international school buys Bape, both trying to prove their taste through their clothing choices—although their family backgrounds differ.
3. Dancing as a Social Medium: An International Student's "Online and Offline Networking Spot"
Today, young people meet the opposite sex through short videos rather than dating apps. Dancing to "Douban" in Xintiandi has become a secret signal for international students to identify each other: if you dance there, it shows that you're an international student from Shanghai who understands the culture and isn't clueless. People in the same circle will take notice of you.
The author notes that "top high schools don't mix with vocational schools; international students prefer to hang out with other international students." Dancing serves as a large-scale networking opportunity: you can meet people from the same community by dancing, recording a video, and posting it on Douyin, which is more natural than trying to strike up a conversation directly. As more people joined in, dancing became a trend in itself, but its purpose remains social interaction.
4. The Misunderstood "Wealthy Heirs": Low-Cost Socializing Behind the Glitzy Appearance
Many people think international students have plenty of money to spend freely, but the author reveals the truth: their annual tuition fees can amount to hundreds of thousands of yuan, and while their clothing can cost tens of thousands, they might not even have 500 yuan on them. This is because parents from the 1980s generation (with high education and income) are cautious about letting their children spend too much money and may only give them a limited amount of pocket money, which gets spent quickly on clothing and fancy meals.
As a result, their social activities are characterized by low-cost, pretentious sophistication: dancing for free, strolling around for free, visiting free exhibitions—just like ordinary young people. The author concludes that "material conditions may change one's appearance, but not one's inner nature; kids everywhere are the same."
5. The "Vicious Circle" of Social Media: From Trend to Criticism—the Norm on the Internet
Recently, many people have criticized these international students, but the author sees this as normal. Nowadays, anyone can be criticized—for getting into a good school, you might be accused of being achievement-oriented; even Fields Medalists can be criticized for not understanding mathematics well. The only ones who escape criticism are those who go unnoticed.
The evolution of dancing from simply showing off clothing to becoming a social activity for international students, and then to being widely imitated and criticized, is a natural consequence of how information spreads on social media. Any behavior that becomes popular is subject to exaggerated interpretation or attack, but that's just the way the internet works.
Final Thoughts
This article avoids using technical jargon and uses comparisons between characters like Chris and Jiahao, along with the author's personal experiences, to clearly explain the underlying reasons behind international students' dancing habits. It highlights the vanity of young people, their social needs, and the magnifying effect of social media. In the end, the difference between international students and ordinary young people might just be the brands of clothing they wear; their inner motivations are quite similar.