Fact check
“Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxiety.”
Reasoning
The supplied BBC article reports that Chinese youth refer to Professor Biao Xiang as an "idol" and express strong admiration for his guidance on anxiety, confirming the claim.
On confidence: Multiple excerpts from a reputable BBC News article directly describe young Chinese people fangirling over Professor Biao Xiang and citing his discussions on anxiety.
Important context
The phenomenon is described within the broader context of Chinese Gen Z anxiety about future prospects and a search for meaning, with the professor positioned as a cultural figure.
Evidence
Supporting (5)
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceBiao Xiang: Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxiety - BBC News
Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxiety Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Young Chinese people are anxious about their future in a rapdily changing country By Fan Wang Published 26 September…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceBiao Xiang: Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxiety - BBC News
about: anxiety and how to navigate it. China's economy and tech have grown at breakneck speed, but there is plenty worrying its Gen Z, from jobs to romantic prospects to the sheer pressure of keeping up. "The transition from school to the…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceBiao Xiang: Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxiety - BBC News
ask Biao Xiang," has become a saying, according to Chinese media. Image caption, About 500 people heard Biao Xiang speak in Singapore recently In Sinapore, Xiang spoke of the recognition young people seek in today's China, where they often…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceBiao Xiang: Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxiety - BBC News
Chinese society is at a "turning point", where people are searching for meaning while making sense of rapid social and economic change. He sees contradictions – uncertain youth in a powerful, assertive country; disillusionment despite huge…
- Tier 1 — Primary sourceBiao Xiang: Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxiety - BBC News
competitive China, Xiang says Xiang has catchy names for what is causing this. "Floating" is how he describes people working relentlessly just to survive, like a hummingbird that keeps flapping its wings to stay mid-air. "The nearby"…
Limitations
The evidence is limited to a single media source; no independent surveys or quantitative data are provided to measure the extent of the fandom.
- Last verified:
- Sep 27, 2026, 4:31 AM CDT
- Pipeline:
- 2.1.0
- Claim type:
- Factual
Where this claim appeared
Young people in China are fangirling over a professor who gets their anxietyBBC News · Fan Wang