From guanxi to lianjie : stranger intimacy and co-living in contemporary China

Urban youth in China increasingly prioritize lianjie (连接)—a social matrix and lifestyle based on connections with strangers, distinguishing it from guanxi, which is rooted in acquaintance relations and obligations. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted in two urban co-living houses in China, this paper explores the processes, motivations, and nuances of lianjie. Co-living youth develop lianjie through shared public activities that foster interaction, self-disclosure, and the creation of intimate encounters with strangers. Lianjie provides personal benefits such as social connection, emotional release, and potential friendships or co-living arrangements, while also emphasizing individual autonomy and boundaries. Lianjie represents a transformation in the relational self among youth, highlighting individuality and evolving moral attitudes toward strangers. This shift reflects a growing sense of social trust and solidarity within Chinese society. The article contributes to the study of strangership within Chinese culture and the evolving social networks of youth in general.