Original subtitles

AMANPOUR: I last visited Shanghai in 1978,

when China was truly Communist

and love was reserved for the revolution.

Sex was strictly controlled.

Conformity was the opiate of the masses.

[ Dynamic chime music plays ]

[ Flourishing music plays ]

Today, it's another universe.

Communism meets capitalism.

Attitudes to love and sex are shifting.

But as with everything here...

...it's complicated.

MAN: In China, getting married

is the most important event in a person's life.

[ Dynamic electronic music plays ]

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

[ People speaking native language ]

WOMAN: In Chinese tradition

you take wedding photos before the wedding day.

[ Camera shutter clicking ]

AMANPOUR: In Shanghai,

lavish photo studios provide costume designers,

makeup artists, photographers, and fairy-tale sets

to help turn every couple's fantasy into reality.

We have six sets of costumes today.

We're going to share these photos with family and friends

on our wedding day.

They will consider our wedding and our marriage

as heavenly beautiful.

AMANPOUR: For some couples, this photo shoot

will be the biggest luxury of their lives.

Both of us are from rural areas of China.

We won't be holding a wedding celebration in a hotel.

For us migrant workers,

we need long-term savings in order to do that.

That's why we decided to take professional wedding photos

for remembrance.

AMANPOUR: For years, marriage and relationships here

have been controlled by three sacred pillars --

family, tradition, and state.

I'm curious to find out to what extent

people are taking back control of their relationships,

their love,

their desire,

and their sexuality.

[ Dynamic chime music play ]

[ Electronic music plays ]

DONG: In our country, on the Internet, you cannot show

any exposed body part like nipples or genitals.

However, I think there is a demand for this kind of art.

[ Exotic ambient music plays ]

AMANPOUR: Wanimal is an artist who dares to dance

on the edge of self-expression and censorship,

undaunted by China's conservative values.

[ Soft piano music plays ]

DONG: My father, when he was young, was a painter.

He would paint naked women.

I grew up in this type of environment from a young age.

-So this is normal for you? -Yeah, yeah, yeah.

AMANPOUR: The models in Wanimal's photographs

are always nude,

and his provocative images explore varying forms

of sexual identity and intimacy.

This bit looks kind of sweet.

So you don't mind doing this for the world to see?

I feel very shy, but happy doing this together with him.

Shy but happy to be with him.

After the shoot, I sat down to chat with Wanimal

and two of his muses -- wife Xiang and model Blair.

I'd asked your two models whether they were in love,

and they said yes, that they're partners.

Why is it important for you, intimacy?

Because two people together should be intimate.

If there's a distance, it just doesn't look good.

It's not like I shoot with the intention of making pornography.

I just like the look of people merging together as one.

So what do you think about posing nude for your husband

and for the world?

I think that being naked is the most beautiful,

most natural state of the body.

And furthermore, this photography

is incredibly beautiful and artistic.

Let me ask you, Blair. Are any of these you?

One of these is you, no?

-BLAIR: Yeah, this is me. -AMANPOUR: This is you.

You love doing this kind of modeling?

Yeah, because I think female body's definitely art.

What about your own parents? Did they --

-They don't know. -They haven't seen this book?

No, never.

-And I'm never gonna tell them. -[ Laughs ]

Why?

Well, because China have

a really, like, conservative, like, history, right?

And all the womens are just very mentally restricted.

My parents, they're, like, just really, really conservative.

And they think, like, your body's

not for you to show other people,

and you cannot have sex before marriage,

and I don't think I will ever change their mind.

AMANPOUR: What are you looking for in a partner?

What do you want from a guy?

I mean, first, he has to be handsome,

or you just cannot have sex with him, you know?

And, uh, I think size really matter, too.

-Size really matters? -Yeah. [ Laughs ]

You mean tall?

-No, I mean the... -Penis.

-[ Laughs ] -Yeah.

I mean, what you were thinking it is, yeah. [ Laughs ]

AMANPOUR: All right.

I can see you two,

very intimate, and you work together.

Does this work help your sex life?

In reality, we're working.

And it's a really arduous work process.

If we want it, then we'll have sex.

If not, then we won't.

I think in our sex life I'm very much the initiator.

She initiates sex more than I do.

-Ah. Interesting. -Yeah, in the sexual --

So you take a lot of initiative?

Yes.

[ Laughter ]

[ Both speaking native language ]

It's great.

[laughter]

Sex is important.

I think a married couple who doesn't have sex

cannot be considered a normal couple.

I don't agree with him.

Video games are enough, right?

A physical relationship is very important to me.

Humans can't live without a physical relationship, right?

Human's nature at birth is good...

Stop talking.

Can I skip this question?

[ Laughs ]

[ Soft, revitalizing music plays ]

[ Singing in native language ]

-XING: Perfect day. -AMANPOUR: Perfect day.

It's a great, beautiful park.

Lots of people out doing their own thing.

A whole village is following us, Jin.

-And that's because of you. -[ Laughs ]

You are an incredibly popular person.

How many people watch your show every week?

Every Wednesday night, I think all over the world

we have 150 million Chinese people.

-150 million? -Million, yes.

[ Upbeat music plays ]

AMANPOUR: Already renowned as a dancer and choreographer,

Jin Xing shot to superstardom as a TV personality.

One of the many immensely popular programs she hosts

is a dating show with a twist,

where it's the parents who get to choose dates

for their children.

How important is it in Chinese culture and tradition

-for the parents... -Mm.

...to actually see their children married,

to make their children have a happy match?

For Chinese people, the idea of a happy family

is four generations under one roof.

The parents in China also retire earlier.

After they're retired

they want to be grandparents as soon as possible.

AMANPOUR: According to Jin Xing,

marriage in China is still a family affair,

and a weekly gathering in this park shows

just what lengths parents will go to

to find a good match for their child.

-Oh, look, here we are. -XING: Look. Look at this.

-AMANPOUR: Whoa, what is this? -XING: Look. Do you see this?

Do you see they put the umbrellas here?

-Yeah. -This one say that girl...

-Okay, what does this one say? -A girl.

-'87. Born in 1987. -Right?

Height -- one meter, 67.

And they're working for the government company.

Every month, income 10,000.

AMANPOUR: This is a marriage market.

The idea is a Shanghai phenomenon

that's now spread across China,

where parents gather in the park

to advertise not goods, but their children.

So, all these elderly, well, you know, middle-aged people...

-XING: Yeah. -...they are here

trying to snare a match for their child?

For their children. Yes, yes, exactly.

AMANPOUR: Flyers are pinned to umbrellas,

detailing each child's best selling points --

job, income, education.

XING: Look at this one.

"Ms. Liu, born in 1984."

-Yeah. -"Not married.

1 meter, 60, height.

And after graduation, working for the foreign company."

-Okay. -And she has her own apartment.

[ Gasps ] That's major, to have her own apartment.

Exactly, a girl.

And her request is, "Must be Shanghainese."

-Right. -XING: "And must have apartment

and the same kind of education

and must be only five years above her."

Whoa, I mean, that's pretty...

-Precise. [ Laughs ] -...pretty precise.

So, she wants an educated Shanghainese

-who's five years older... -Older.

...and specifically 10 centimeters higher than her.

Do the young people know that their parents are doing this?

80%, they have no idea.

Most of the young kids, they feel ashamed.

-Do they? -They say,

"I need to find my own love by myself."

No matter. Doesn't stop the parents.

The marriage is not like two young people's issue.

-It's a family issue. -Wow, it is incredible, really.

And also looking for the reward.

Yeah. What reward?

After I'm getting old, you have to look after me.

Ah.

-That's what it's all about. -Nothing for free. [ Laughs ]

Nothing for -- No -- No free lunch.

-Exactly. -No free marriage.

Exactly, exactly.

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

KING: In traditional Chinese culture

all parents have intense expectations for their children.

It's a big pressure that's put on us.

My name is Aaron King.

I am conductor and composer

from the Rainbow Chamber Singers.

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Ah ♪

[ Speaking native language ]

AMANPOUR: The choir became famous

for its original compositions,

which blend traditional music with humorous lyrics.

One of their biggest hits

highlights the parental pressure that young people face

when it comes to their love lives.

[ Speaks native language ]

♪ Any dates lately? ♪

♪ Nope ♪

♪ Anyone you like at all? ♪

♪ Way out of my league ♪

KING: Filial obedience is the most important character trait.

We have to work together with our parents.

We have to listen to their advice.

♪ Great! Why don't you go on this date ♪

♪ I set up for you tomorrow? ♪

♪ And it's about time you lose a few pounds too! ♪

♪ Just skip this meal! ♪

This song illustrates that issue.

♪ It's all for your own good! ♪

♪ It's all for your own good! ♪

♪ You have really let your parents down! ♪

♪ It's all for your own good! ♪

When we sing, everyone really resonates with it.

The boys will get really emotional

and the girls all feel like the song is about them.

♪ The dreams of the entire family ♪

♪ Weighing down on my shoulders ♪

♪ Become a CEO a month after graduation ♪

♪ Blind date, get married, and make babies ♪

♪ Twins? Even better! ♪

What young people desire the most

is for adults in their lives to understand their intentions.

[ Cheers and applause ]

AMANPOUR: Shanghainese women have a reputation

for being ambitious, successful, and uncompromising.

WOMAN: The reason I came to Shanghai

it's all about my career.

To find the right long-term relationship partner for me

is very similar to find the right CEO

or manager in the firm.

Love is actually a science.

You have to learn the theory, then you have to practice.

For my mom, my dad is her first love.

This story for me is insane. [ Laughs ]

I would never marry someone who is my first love.

Without practicing, how can we find the right one?

[ Laughs ]

AMANPOUR: Young people here are determined to get ahead,

believing that with enough practice,

anything can be learned.

And yet, when it comes to their love lives,

many are absolute beginners.

DI: Traditionally, we are a reserved people.

In our Chinese culture,

a human being should control his emotion,

control his sexual desire.

Anyone want to join us? This is a fun game.

I received the same education.

But I'm just not a "good" girl.

AMANPOUR: In China, unmarried women over 27

are unflatteringly known as "sheng nu,"

meaning "leftovers,"

while unmarried men are "guangun,"

meaning "bare branches."

DI: Get ready for the flowers.

Let's see who will be the next lucky bride.

AMANPOUR: Wu Di aims to dispel the stigma surrounding sheng nu

and help these young singletons.

DI: The mission of my date camp is

change your definition of relationships and marriage.

Introduce new vocabulary to them such as

emotion, intimacy, sex pleasure,

body contact.

We're also going to watch a video.

Twenty minutes of a video on how to have sex

from foreplay to finish.

[ Laughter ]

AMANPOUR: Her date camp takes the form of weekly seminars,

counseling and private tutoring

in everything from how to flirt to how to dress for a date.

I joined the dating guru for a tutoring session

at a local boutique with a couple of her students --

27-year-old Eve and 32-year-old Stella.

Have you ever dated?

Yes, but [Sighs] most of time, after first date,

the boys will not contact with me...

-Again? [ Gasps ] -...again, yes.

After the first date, you've never had another call?

Yes, I think maybe there's something wrong

with myself some--

No, nothing wrong with you.

Today's mission is we want to find

a beautiful dress for a date.

What's attractive is bright color.

So, you think I have a good chance of getting a date?

Yeah, yeah. Little V-neck.

AMANPOUR: I could open it more.

-[ Laughs ] -Unbutton the --

-There you go. -No, no, no, no, no.

-No? -It's too deep.

-Too much? -This is too much?

Your face, I mean, you look horrified.

-Really? I don't know. -[ Laughter ]

It's just a little button.

-We are good girls. -You're good girls?

Yeah, we are good girls.

I'm trying to train them to be bad girls.

-Bad girls? -Bad girls, yes.

AMANPOUR: Well, I'm a little bit shocked.

They not only look younger, they act young.

Yes, yes. They don't look like the adult women, right?

But they are well-educated.

They work for the multinational company,

have very decent pay.

-Really? -Yes.

They're very naive.

Unfortunately, yes.

-Oh, look, here they come. -Yeah.

Wow! [ Laughs ] [ Speaks native language ]

Wow! That's gorgeous.

AMANPOUR: I want to ask you girls,

do you think about romantic and love satisfaction?

Do you feel you're missing something?

Yes. Yes.

Everyone told us study very hard,

to go to a very good university,

to get a very good job,

but no one tell us

how to have a very good intimate relationship

with the boys.

How did you grow up?

What did you see between your parents?

-Just normal family... -Hugging, kissing,

-did you see any of that? -No, no, no, no, no, never.

You didn't even get kisses from your parents?

Never, never.

-No hug? No kiss? -No hug and no kiss.

I sometimes feel very nervous to have the body touched.

-The body contact. -Yeah.

Have you ever had sex?

-Are you a virgin? -Yeah.

-AMANPOUR: You're a virgin? -Yeah.

So that's the lesson we learned from the parents, right?

"Don't let him think you are an easy girl.

Don't have sex with him before the engagement.

Otherwise, he will treat you as a bitch." Yeah.

AMANPOUR: The thought that these two young women

had never been hugged or kissed was heartbreaking.

But I was encouraged to see that Wu Di

was trying to teach her students a whole new set of rules.

DI: Emotion is a new vocabulary for today's Chinese.

Intimacy, body contact, kiss...

For example, sex.

Can women have sex only for pleasure?

Well, that's a serious question.

I really want to help them

to have a big vision of this world.

[ Laid-back electronic music plays ]

WOMAN: The family concept that I had since childhood,

falling in love, getting married,

have a baby, happily ever after,

is completely different to where I'm now.

[ Engine idling ]

I actually had my first marriage,

and now I am on the fourth marriage.

And then I have two kids from two different fathers.

And also, continuously living the way

that it's not a traditional family life.

Motherhood is something very new for me,

because I didn't feel I've learned enough from my parents.

They never come and cuddle me, say, "I love you."

Expression of love is very limited in most Chinese family.

So with my kids, I try to be very open, you know.

I try to show them maximum, my unconditional love.

With my daughter, I want to give her the comfort

that she can talk to me about anything.

Whenever she feel, like, really down,

she says, "Oh, my God, I feel...

if I lose this boyfriend, I will never find any man."

I say, "Don't worry. Look at me.

I had one, two, three, four, you know." [ Laughs ]

If it's not yours, it's not going to be there,

and if it's yours, it will stay with you forever.

[ Light synth music plays ]

AMANPOUR: When I first came to Shanghai in the '70s,

individuality was unthinkable.

All these years later,

I find the city is full of self-expression.

Women have reclaimed control of their appearance,

their sexuality, and how they use it.

[ Electronic music plays ]

Hello, I'm Petite Sweet Cake and I'm a live streamer.

As a live streamer

you make people happy by singing and dancing for them

and talking with them.

You become their friend.

Their online friend.

AMANPOUR: In the world's most populous city,

where social dynamics are always changing

and urban isolation is growing,

many people retreat online for a personal connection.

PETITE SWEET CAKE: From the moment I start my computer

and log on

I see they're waiting for me.

Waiting for me.

Hello.

Hello. Welcome.

[ Laughs ]

[ Smooches ]

[ Chiming ]

Please click to subscribe.

Click, click, click!

Most of my fans are male.

Some of them just like me as a friend.

But others are interested in me romantically.

They all love me.

AMANPOUR: But Petite Sweet Cake isn't just live-streaming

for the love of her fans.

For me, live streaming is a full-time job.

It's my career.

Another 300 hearts.

AMANPOUR: These live streams can be very lucrative.

Her fans show their appreciation by buying her virtual gifts,

which translate into hard cash for Petite Sweet Cake.

Last year alone, she earned over $300,000.

Thank you for the roses.

1,314 treasure boxes?

Wow...Thank you!

It's just a way for them to express their love.

I'm gonna spin the turntable and see what we get today.

After becoming a live streamer

your personal life will definitely be affected.

Push-ups.

Friends in real life grow more and more distant.

I'm gonna start with the first one.

I am really bad at it.

[ Grunting, clears throat ]

[ Grunts, laughs ]

[ Grunts ]

You shouldn't have a boyfriend because most

of your time should be dedicated to your work.

And I really love my work.

But if I meet my true love during this time

I'm willing to take a break for him.

♪ I got the fever, baby ♪

[ Dynamic synth music plays ]

FENG: The big shift in China is knowledge.

Now women start realizing

what social norms are available to them

that weren't available to them before.

Women do have a right to earn their own happiness.

AMANPOUR: For a bit of R&R,

I've met up with a well-known voice

in the Chinese music industry.

In China, before, sex was perceived

as not something you ever talk about in public,

and, um, it is still

not talked about amongst people so much--

-Polite company. -Yes.

AMANPOUR: But Helen has never been one

to shy away from an awkward conversation.

And she's perhaps best known as the frontwoman

of sexy and provocative indie rock band Nova Heart.

One of your videos, one of your songs,

"Beautiful Boys,"

is all about the idea of sex workers, right?

FENG: Yes.

♪ We came this far for money ♪

I wanted to have a conversation about

these different roles in society

that we consider roles in the sex trade.

♪ When they're rolling down the windows ♪

You have, like, the streetwalker...

...massage parlor.

♪ Glisten all night, glisten all night ♪

You have, like, the KTV girl.

And we portray the character as honestly as we can.

And then at the end of it, we reveal that it's a man.

And we show that it's actually a loving man with a family.

I thought it was a pretty cool project

because of the debate it stirred up.

Some people said, "Oh, this is disgusting,"

et cetera, et cetera.

Certain people were saying, "I was crying.

Look what this poor man had to do

in order to feed his family."

But one of the things that really kind of got me

was that until they realized it was a man,

"Oh, it's just another sex worker."

So, the whole sex-worker trade has been very, very prevalent.

Has been. Definitely going down now.

Why do you think that is?

It's just a different generation.

Society no longer sees it as being kosher.

Secondly, there's been a crackdown

on the sex trade in general,

so the availability has gone down.

Third, it's economics.

As women become the primary educated group in China...

-Which is remarkable. -Yeah, it is.

-In a very short period of time. -Very short period of time.

They're not gonna choose this option.

People don't know what they can do

until they've been shown that it's possible.

[ Mellow music plays ]

[ Percussive music plays ]

XING: I love to be onstage.

I love dancing.

Jin Xing is my given name. It means Golden Star.

I had a very happy childhood with my parents.

But I'm still a little bit doubting.

Who am I? Something's different with me.

[ Dramatic music plays ]

I cannot live my life with a mask.

I only live once.

I want to be myself. That's it.

You don't know this woman.

Because biologically I born as a boy.

AMANPOUR: So you were a man?

Yes, I was a man.

Up to 6, 7 years old,

I know I should be a girl like my sister.

I have an older sister.

Then I say, "Okay, I should be like her, but I don't know how.

Where this thinking come from?"

Then I just keep this, you know, little thinking into my heart.

And, of course, after I become a dancer,

I did more and more discovery of myself.

"I should be a girl."

AMANPOUR: But as a 9-year-old boy in the 1970s,

Jin Xing was admitted

to the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

It was only in 1995

that Jin Xing finally decided to fulfill

her innermost ambition.

You transitioned when you were 28 years old, right?

Yes, yes.

And this was way before transgender was so open.

Homosexuality was considered a mental illness.

Transgender was never talked about.

We don't even think about it in China.

You didn't even have a name for it.

-No, no. -Was it scary, though?

Because, I mean, let's face it,

China wasn't known for its transgender surgery,

for its sexual reassignment.

I mean, did you know that you would be able

to do this safely here?

I was the first case.

I gambling with myself.

Once, 50% I leave to the doctor.

50% I throw on the sky.

Was it difficult physically?

Was it difficult emotionally when you transitioned?

XING: I'm a dancer.

I can bear a lot of physical pain.

But I think most difficult is psychologically.

Facing society.

That's new challenge.

But my soul, my body become one.

That's what I want.

AMANPOUR: Where does sexuality --

How does it fit into this very traditional culture?

I think Chinese culture have a lot of space for tolerance.

-Really? -XING: Yeah.

But we just don't talk about it.

That's a big thing between Chinese and the Western.

Western love to labelize everything.

Sometimes in life, certain things you cannot explain.

Just let it be.

I think I follow my heart.

So tell me about matters of the heart.

-You're married... -XING: Yes.

AMANPOUR: ...to a German citizen.

XING: Yes.

AMANPOUR: How did you fall in love?

XING: In that time, he have no idea who I am.

He only know I'm a dancer.

So I tell all my story.

I was a man. I was transgender.

"This woman's a huge package."

He complete blow away.

And after the one day, he come back.

"Yes, I still want to date you."

2005, we married.

My personal opinion is,

love and marriage is separate things.

-[ Laughs ] -Maybe Westerners think,

"Because we love so much, we get married."

But in China, love is love.

Marriage is another issue.

Marriage, I think two people must be working together.

That's kind of like a job.

It is. It is.

Do you have a good sex life?

Very good. Very good.

My husband once told me,

"Mmm, I'm very happy I'm still attracted by you."

-I say, "Good." -[ Laughs ]

"Come on, we are facing a life,

so you need to talk."

So we're laughing about it.

Are there many women, public women like you,

in China who are as sassy,

who are willing to push the boundaries

and talk as bluntly as you do?

I can tell you, Shanghainese women are famous for that.

-Wow. -Wow.

XING: Make your life. You'll want it.

And you'll go for it.

-Cheers. -Cheers.

[ Indistinct conversations ]

WOMAN: Traditional Chinese love is about sacrifice.

In China, happiness is a luxury.

Family is so much more important.

And happiness is something not 100% necessary.

But I think in order to know how to love

you have to love yourself first.

This is what I believe.

What do you love about Angela?

Wow. Honest.

-Honesty. -Yeah.

Only one? [ Laughs ]

AMANPOUR: Homosexuality was only decriminalized here in 1997,

but for many gay couples, the biggest hurdle to overcome

is not the judgment of society,

but the judgment of their families.

You didn't come out till you were 31?

Yeah.

What was your mother and your father thinking?

-Because in China... -Right.

...it's kind of odd for a girl not to be married, right?

Oh, I was married.

-You were married? -Yes.

That's very famous in Chinese homosexual society.

This is a way that we help each other.

A lot of us is doing that.

That's a marriage for convenience.

Just so I'm clear, you got married

in order to kind of divert your parents' attention?

Right, yeah.

I was under a lot of stress and pressure

as the only child.

My dad was also dying at the time.

But I knew my parents' wish

was always for me to get married,

-and, um, going on... -Have a baby.

-That is so hard. -ANGELA: Yeah.

This marriage was so much more complicated than I thought.

So, what happened?

We've been dating for four years.

I thought, you know, she was really the love of my life.

I shouldn't,

and I couldn't continue a life with all the lies,

so I decided to end that marriage.

Yeah.

All right.

So, what did you tell your mother?

Well, basically that I was born like this,

and that it was nobody's fault,

and there was nothing wrong with me.

My own mother should be able to accept me

-at the end of the day. -And did she?

-She did, after 4 1/2 years. -What?

She only came around and accepted us last year.

-Really? -Yeah.

Yeah.

AMANPOUR: You two have both struggled quite mightily

to be in love and to be together.

How important has your inner life been to you,

your emotional life, your sexual satisfaction?

I feel quite satisfied on all levels in our relationship,

emotionally and sexually.

And we share the same shoes.

[ Laughs ]

-ANGELA: Yes. -I like it.

AMANPOUR: What would Confucius make

of a modern Shanghainese family?

[ Machinery hissing ]

Zhang Huan is one of China's best-known artists.

Thank you. It's so nice to see you.

He invited me to meet his family...

...wife and fellow artist Junjun and son Sean.

What is the concept of love and partnership in China,

especially in Shanghai today?

Western people, they always show love each other,

like many movies we see, you know?

Chinese people actually not really kiss in public.

-Do you guys kiss in public? -No.

-[ Laughter ] -You're Chinese people.

[ Laughter ]

But we love each other.

That's true.

[ Laughter ]

So, when he declares his love for you,

-what do you think? -No, I just give a joke.

I said, "Liar, you're a liar."

I always told Junjun, "I'm not liar.

We love more than 25 years,

so please believe me."

-[ Laughs ] -"I really love you."

Yeah, so he's saying he hasn't been pretending.

[ Laughs ] Yeah, right.

What do you think when you hear your parents

declare that kind of raw emotion?

I've actually never heard that. It's the first time.

I mean, they rarely talk about stuff,

I mean, like, the emotional side of their relationship.

So are you blushing?

-No, I'm not. No. -[ Laughter ]

No, but I'm just kind of, like, confused at this whole...

I think it's the conventional way in China,

is that the child tend to feel a need

to actually keep to themselves about things like that,

except in my family,

'cause I think we're more open about things.

And what do you share?

Any sort of close intimacy I've had.

[ Laughs ]

I tend to just feel happier

if I'm doing well in that regard.

I'm very happy that he can talk everything to us.

I think I'm very lucky.

That is very lucky, actually,

especially to have your son talk to you as a mom

-about intimate things. -Right, right.

-You don't judge? -Yeah, yeah.

I think she just guides us along.

My family, the children, the name, everything,

Junjun decide everything.

[ Laughter ]

She is my boss.

Really. [ Chuckles ]

I just focus my art.

-This is what you do? -Yeah, I just focus my art.

I think the most important thing in my future is that...

Don't cheat on me.

Never cheat on me!

Everyone wants a huge house.

I have the same dream.

Travel around the world. See new places.

I would like to have two children.

And then...

one Husky.

[ Giggles ]

But still, I want to emphasize this.

Never cheat on me.

[ Mid-tempo music plays ]

AMANPOUR: Shanghai is a city that's charging into the future

while still devoted to ancient traditions.

Attitudes to love and sex

have certainly come a long way since the days of Mao.

And while there is a moral rigidity to society,

there's a fluidity to the people...

...as they navigate their complex

and ever-changing environment,

finding their own paths to self-expression.