Mission
We build communities for critical thinking, discussion, and collaborative learning among young people facing unequal access to education in China's cultural plains.
About Nexus
Zhihe NEXUS builds communities for critical thinking, discussion, and collaborative learning in China's cultural plains.
Vision
More cities, more possibilities for education
Cultural Plain
Cultural Plains
“Cultural plains” refers to urban regions across China where cultural development lags behind economic growth. Compared with “cultural highlands,” the gap shows especially in cultural capital—arts, science, museums, libraries, theaters, and other infrastructure.
These regions often correlate with uneven educational resources. Because quality education and cultural capital concentrate in “highlands,” residents of cultural plains struggle to acquire formal institutional cultural capital (such as advanced degrees). Cultural plains are not only places poor in cultural resources geographically—they symbolize a socially disadvantaged position in cultural capital.
Geographically, cultural plains are widespread in industrial cities, third- and fourth-tier cities, and some county towns in China. Migrant communities in first-tier cities are also an important presence.
Locations
Where Zhihe camps take place
Since 2024, Zhihe has run reading camps in these cities.
Feedback
Voices from participants
「Every day at camp was fulfilling. Having a platform to think and then speak—to be heard by others, or to hear yourself—that feeling can only be called beautiful.」
「Past Zhihe experiences led me to hope it might heal me—but it gave me far more love and happiness than I expected, and as before, it continues to shape me deeply and lastingly.」
「Talking about the Republic and Nietzsche with a few people amid breeze and birdsong, discussing social construction and oral history, listening to excellent seniors on morality, philosophy, life and expression—nothing is more captivating than minds meeting in collision and fusion.」