Chasing a different China Dream, young digital nomads head for the hills

[Collection]In Dali, China, a mountain town attracting migrants seeking open discussion and exchange of ideas, President Xi Jinping's tightening grip on personal freedoms and the struggling economy have pushed people to escape the pressure. Dali's cheap rents, mild climate, and relative tolerance have made it a haven. The town challenges Xi's vision of a prosperous, ideologically loyal nation. Dali tries to attract tech talent and digital nomads, but state monitoring and surveillance persist.