The burden of wealth

Author Wang Daqi, a fu'erdai himself, explores the real lives of six "second-generation rich" people in his nonfiction book titled Children of the Wealth.[Photo/China Daily]

The children of China's wealthy are often criticized for their extravagant lifestyle, but a new book paints a more complex picture of the group. Xing Yi reports.

Fu'erdai, the Chinese slang for "second-generation rich", refers to the children of wealthy people.

With their extravagant lifestyle, these heirs to great fortunes often come under public scrutiny for their supposed moral failings, but their lives are also far removed and often mysterious to the public.

Children of the Wealth, a nonfiction book exposing the real lives of six fu'erdai, will be published in May.

"I want readers to really understand this group instead of simply labeling them," says author Wang Daqi, who is the son of Wang Zhigang, a well-known strategic consultant who owns a company that provides advice to local governments on land development.

Wang thinks the media's reporting on rich youth who flaunt their extravagant lifestyle with sports cars, designer bags and other luxury possessions is simply feeding into a stereotype.

"They (reports) are shallow and superficial," says Wang. "People and media consume their stories just as they consume celebrity gossip."

Wang doesn't like to be called a fu'erdai, but he has no choice but to use the term. He does, however, omit the character fu, which means rich. "How does wealth relate to me? Without wealth, who am I?" These are the questions Wang has been struggling with throughout his life.

Born in 1985, Wang spent his childhood in Guangzhou. He attended high school in the United States and college in Canada. Sending children overseas for their education is common for wealthy Chinese families.