Panic Selling Hits Shanghai, No Jobs, No Hope— Girl Breaks Down After Failing Job Hunt

Shanghai's bustling area is in ruins. A wave of store closures and desperate sales has begun, signaling the start of a painful era of unemployment and bankruptcies. Girls are crying because they can't find a job, and the once thriving city is slipping into silence. Man, recently many of my friends who worked hard in Shanghai with me have left the city one after another. When we came to Shanghai ten years ago, we were still very ambitious and thought that we could make a name for ourselves in this city. The dividends of the times have passed, and the past two years have become increasingly difficult. Man, this is Shanghai, a prosperous metropolis. It's not easy for wanderers in the metropolis to live in the metropolis. Hello everyone, welcome to the program Watching the Mainland. I am Mei Ling. Shanghai was once a first-tier city in China, but with the deterioration of China's overall economy, Shanghai has inevitably declined. Woman, to be honest, I feel that Shanghai's economy this year is worse than that of third-tier cities. Man, is this the most prosperous place in Shanghai? This looks similar to our towns. Look at all the shops that have closed down. Are they going to be demolished? Look at this place, it's so shabby. Zhejiang Middle Road is for rent, for rent and for sale. It shouldn't be demolished. Maybe the rent is too expensive. This is not the Bund. Isn't this the countryside? Man, is it really so difficult to find a decent job in Shanghai? I've been in Shanghai for three days and have interviewed for 12 jobs. All of them are sales. Really, all of them are sales. Hey, is there a shortage of people in other industries, or is it just sales that's short of people? This is Shanghai, the number one city in the country. You say it's so difficult for us to find a job now. By June, more than 10 million college students will graduate. Where will they be placed? Woman, why has Shanghai become a city with a declining population? From last year to now, it's obvious that a large number of people are no longer coming to Shanghai. According to the latest census in Shanghai, the permanent population last year was 24.86 million. The peak of Shanghai's permanent population was more than 30 million. Now it has decreased by at least 5 million. Man, more and more people are fleeing Shanghai. I won't accept any rebuttals. Because we are in logistics, we have personal experience. Look at how many electric cars I sent today. One, two, three, four, five, six. Six electric cars. Brothers, you can handle it. When there are more, we have more than ten. Today there are six, and one will be sent from Pudong later. Seven electric cars, all of which are leaving Shanghai. I also received two yesterday, right? The economic situation is really bad right now. The situation in Zhongnanhai is chaotic, and news about Hu Jintao has led to speculation. Before the fourth plenary session of the CPC Central Committee, various factions at the top level were fighting fiercely, and news was leaking frequently from Beijing. Recently, the news that former CPC leader Hu Jintao is in critical condition has been widely circulated online, attracting much attention. On June 30, Yin Ke, net name Zhang Wangjiang, a political commentator living in Australia, broke the news on the overseas X platform that Hu Jintao was critically ill. He said that Hu's daughter-in-law, Hu Haifeng's wife and grandson, took a special plane from Shanghai to Beijing that day, and that the Central Propaganda Department had notified major websites to prepare black-and-white boards. On July 6, Zhang Wangjiang reported again that Cai Qi visited Hu Jintao on behalf of CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping. At about 6.45 a.m. that day, Cai Qi brought three secretaries, one of whom had followed him since his time in Zhejiang, to the 301 hospital. Hu Jintao reportedly woke up around 7.20. Zhang Wangjiang stated that Hu Jintao was awake for about two hours every morning, and occasionally for about an hour in the afternoon. Hu Haifeng was reportedly granted special permission by the CPC Central Committee to visit the 301 hospital daily to care for Hu Jintao. He went to the hospital every morning to wait for Hu to wake up, and returned again after work each day before going home. However, the above information has not been independently verified. Nonetheless, before the fourth plenary session of the CPC Central Committee, various rumors spread, highlighting the intense infighting among the top leadership. In fact, reports about Hu Jintao's death or serious illness have surfaced many times in recent years. The news of his alleged critical condition has again attracted attention from various circles. Independent commentator Cai Shenkun said in his program on July 4 that recently, overseas independent media have been discussing Hu Jintao's condition. He said he had no definite information about Hu's health or whether he was critically ill. A few days earlier, a reporter from the Beijing Bureau of Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun told Cai that someone said Hu Jintao had died. In response, Cai Shenkun said that Hu Jintao was an important leader of the Communist Party of China, and keeping his death a secret would be difficult to accept, either domestically or internationally. After all, Hu was quite different from others rumored to have died within the military, where confidentiality may apply. But if Hu Jintao had indeed passed away and no announcement was made, it would be a heavy responsibility for those involved. Regarding whether Hu Jintao was in critical condition, Cai Shenkun analyzed that Hu's public appearances after leaving office did not suggest robust health. He might suffer from advanced Parkinson's disease or symptoms of Alzheimer's. If he were critically ill, given the medical standards for senior leaders of the CPC, as long as life support remained, he could be kept alive. Cai Shenkun noted that Hu Jintao is nearly 83 years old, so news of his deteriorating health would not be too surprising. If he had indeed passed away, it would be unlikely for the CPC leadership not to release an official statement. Since last year, there have been recurring claims that Xi Jinping's authority has weakened. Some netizens on the X platform suggested that news of Hu Jintao's illness may be tied to the current political climate. Others believed the information to be a mix of truth and speculation, with clear signs of factional struggle. During Hu Jintao's decade in power, Jiang Zemin's influence was significantly reduced. At the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Hu Jintao, then at the peak of his power, retired completely, ending the tradition of retired leaders continuing to wield influence and handed over full authority to Xi Jinping. Hu Jintao is often associated with the Youth League faction. At the 20th National Congress in 2022, Hu was unexpectedly escorted out of the venue, which shocked the world and was seen as a symbolic end to the Youth League's influence. This incident was widely interpreted as a reflection of deep internal tensions. Some online opinions even criticized the move as a sign of political ruthlessness. Since the 20th National Congress, Hu Jintao has rarely appeared in public. At the end of September 2024, he was also absent from a series of high-level activities in October. On June 8th and 12th this year, Xu Qiliang, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Reidy, a vice state-level senior official, were cremated at Beijing's Baobaoshan Cemetery. CCTV footage showed that after filming the wreaths from the seven Politburo Standing Committee members and Vice President Han Zheng, the camera intentionally lingered on Hu Jintao's wreath, suggesting his continuing symbolic status. On June 9th, over 500 petitioners from Shaanxi province jointly submitted a letter addressed to Hu Jintao and Wang Yang. They expressed dissatisfaction with the political direction under Xi Jinping and claimed that the number of wrongful cases in Shaanxi had surged. They also mentioned hearing rumors that Beijing was planning to correct certain hardline policies. The fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, originally scheduled for fall 2024, has yet to be held, further highlighting escalating internal political tensions. In February this year, Kai Shenkun cited domestic sources claiming that Xi Jinping's control over the military had diminished and that three senior political figures were playing roles behind the scenes. He said these three were Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and Hu Deping, and Xi'an city suddenly imposes exit ban. All international exit points were suddenly blocked. There have been frequent reports that the Chinese Communist Party, CCP, is tightening control over citizens attempting to leave the country. According to online accounts, Xi'an, Fujian province, was abruptly shut down overnight. All exit routes from the city were reportedly blocked and several high-end residential compounds were placed under quiet surveillance. Numerous individuals preparing to leave the country were summoned for questioning at local police stations. One professor at Xiamen University allegedly lost contact with friends after posting, I would rather die than live without freedom. As panic spread, a growing number of middle and upper class residents in Xiamen began expressing deep concern. Some netizens speculated, if this is true, it could expand nationwide. The city's lockdown came without any prior notice, warning, or official explanation. On June 30th, the ex-platform account Liuguang Youyi shared a video featuring Sister Breaking News, who stated, Do you know what it means to quietly shut down a city? It's not a pandemic, not a natural disaster, just a city silently cutting off every escape route overnight. No notice, no warning, no explanation. This is Xiamen, she continued. This is the most chilling urban crisis of 2025. No fire, no smoke, just cold suppression. Some say it's a modern siege, but the ones trapped aren't criminals or rebels. They're ordinary families who simply wanted to leave the country. The incident reportedly happened late on a weekend in June 2025. Early the next morning, many Xiamen residents received texts saying entry-exit services were suspended for system upgrades. Within minutes, airport exits were shut, customs halted, and shipping terminals cleared out. A departing ship was stopped for a technical inspection. By morning, all exit routes were effectively frozen. Authorities began inspecting upscale neighborhoods, suspending passports, and questioning residents preparing to travel abroad. A Taiwanese businessman shared online that he was stopped while taking his child to school and was asked if he was leaving the country. Officers even checked the navigation history on his phone. Screenshots of what appeared to be internal notices later circulated online, showing that Xiamen's exit and entry approval processes had been frozen across all departments. Special attention was reportedly given to individuals applying for immigration or overseas travel, with their data synchronized with the public security system. In the following days, many wealthy and middle-class residents panicked as they discovered their passports could no longer be issued and previously approved foreign exchange transactions were frozen. In a more alarming turn, several people scheduled to leave the country received sudden calls from local police, requesting a talk. Upon arrival, they were questioned not only about their travel plans, but also about their ID cards, WeChat chat history, financial transfers, and visa applications. Questions included, Are you going abroad? Are you in contact with anyone overseas? Is your child studying abroad? This was not limited to a few isolated cases. Several executives in Xiamen's tech and manufacturing sectors reported that dozens of employees with overseas backgrounds had their phones confiscated and company servers subjected to technical inspections. Some claimed that as long as you show any intention to emigrate, your data can be flagged and you'll be placed on a government monitoring list. Sending children to study abroad, visa in hand but unable to leave, families on the verge of collapse. Overnight, all major immigration agencies in Xiamen abruptly ceased operations. One well-known agency specializing in overseas immigration was shut down, its doors sealed, and its business license revoked. The owner of another European and American immigration agency reportedly fled, taking all of the client's money and personal information with him. This isn't simply a crackdown on illegal intermediaries. Behind it appears to be a systematic and deliberate effort to block people from leaving. Wealthy individuals with million yuan annual incomes, foreign green cards and overseas assets have become key targets in this sweeping campaign. Residents in Xiamen's upscale Guanyinshan neighborhood reportedly went silent overnight. In WeChat groups, people warned each other, don't speak, don't comment, don't become the next example. Some middle-class families who had secured visas to send their children abroad nearly broke down after discovering they could no longer leave the country. It's also rumored that a senior executive from a major real estate developer in Xiamen was invited for tea by authorities, accused of facilitating capital outflows and immigration arrangements. His entire family was said to have obtained foreign citizenship, and now even short-term travel requires prior approval. Observers say this is no longer an isolated case, but a broader effort to block the exit of the city's elite. Official news has been completely censored. A Xiamen University professor disappeared after posting no freedom, no life. Currently, a search for Xiamen immigration lockdown on Baidu yields almost no results. On WeChat, Weibo and Douyin, posts related to Xiamen's exit restrictions were wiped overnight, accounts suspended, content deleted and comment sections locked. One professor at Xiamen University reportedly wrote in his WeChat moments, no freedom, no life. Shortly after, his account was banned, his phone confiscated, and he went missing. What's even more chilling is that many Taiwanese, Hong Kongers and foreign nationals living in Xiamen also admitted, this wave is too strong, even we don't dare to speak out. Some representatives of American companies based in Xiamen have even chosen to terminate their partnerships early and leave the region altogether. Xiamen has become a giant black box. Outsiders have no idea what's happening inside, and those inside don't dare to speak. Quit the job, sell the house, buy the ticket, still can't leave the country. The most devastated victims of Xiamen's lockdown aren't the ultra-rich or the working poor, but the middle class. Over the past few years, they scraped together modest wealth through foreign trade, tech or finance, and many made the tough decision to send their children abroad. They applied for visas, exchanged currency, bought plane tickets, packed their bags, only to find themselves suddenly unable to leave. Can you imagine that moment? Flights booked. House listed for sale. Children's schools overseas already contacted. Then, a phone call from the community office. You are on a restricted list. You are temporarily barred from leaving the country. Some had already quit their jobs and sold their homes. Now they're trapped in limbo. Xi Ming, a sales manager at a machinery export company in Xiamen, posted online, My family of three applied for Canadian investment immigration. We were supposed to fly today, but this morning we were summoned to the police station for questioning. I was shocked. Others failed quietly. Too afraid to speak up, they've been forced to stay silent, find new jobs, rent apartments, and rebuild a broken life from scratch. Some netizens mockingly call them the new disabled class. Because if the middle class can't leave, they've truly lost everything. Even Xiamen's working class and government employees are caught in the storm. This crackdown has reached the city's lowest levels. As foreign capital pulls out, orders at local electronics and manufacturing plants have plummeted. Layoffs are widespread. Dormitories once crowded with workers are now empty. Some landlords have posted signs. Rent renewals for Xiamen locals only. Outsiders don't bother. This isn't just policy. It's exclusion in action. More and more workers are losing their jobs overnight, left without income or shelter. One couple from Pudian, Fujian, broke down crying while holding their child at night. The boss ran away. We haven't been paid in three months. Now we can't even afford the bus fare home. Xiamen is no longer a city of opportunity. It's a hollow shell of surface prosperity and internal collapse. A government worker in Xiamen lamented privately, I thought the system was safest. Now anyone with overseas ties can be targeted anytime. Rumors say a local official with family abroad must now request travel permission, and his phone was thoroughly searched. A state-owned enterprise executive was summoned for questioning after moving assets via Hong Kong. In today's Xiamen, wanting to leave makes you sensitive. The most terrifying thing about a country isn't poverty. It's when it fears its people leaving. Over the past year, cities like Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Shanghai have cracked down on capital flight. But Xiamen is the harshest, cutting off all exits. People can't leave. Money can't move. Speech is silenced. Even dreams are crushed. The whistleblower concluded, When capital flees, factories are empty, the rich are scared, the middle class collapses, and the poor despair. What's left? Just a hollow shell of a city by the sea with people trapped inside.