The story revolves around Frank Zhao, who thrived in China's prosperous years by embracing bowling and collaborating with Americans. However, as China's business environment changed, and the pandemic and evolving views on factory work impacted his bowling empire, Zhao's faith in the future of China has been tested. Many Chinese, who witnessed the country's reform-and-opening era, now face an uncertain future rooted in the past, characterized by unease over China's trajectory.
The recent struggles of China's bowling ball king shows what made China such a manufacturing powerhouse, and just how uncertain its future has become. Sign up to the WSJChina newsletter to read more: https://t.co/5t4XC6NF1X
How China’s changing business environment, the pandemic and a changing view of factory work affected the king of a bowling empire https://t.co/UALSHyxvwS https://t.co/UALSHyxvwS
Back in September, I met Frank Zhao. His life captures so much of the essence of China – and the unease that many Chinese are harboring over its future. "A Bowling Kingpin Lived the Chinese Dream. Now His Faith is Being Tested." https://t.co/m174PQy95T
Frank Zhao thrived in China’s go-go years by embracing bowling and teaming up with Americans. As getting ahead got tougher, he has battled to stay afloat. https://t.co/0RqvVZdJjn https://t.co/0RqvVZdJjn
For many Chinese, esp those who came of age during the past 40 years of reform-and-opening, China appeared to be on an irreversible path forward, toward more growth, openness and opportunity. Now, people are facing an uncertain future rooted in the past. https://t.co/wqxTJIybbQ