Young people in China turn to tarot reading and traditional divination for advice.
By Susan Sun
Yang Jiayi turns to tarot cards whenever she feels overwhelmed by making countless decisions about choosing courses, applying for internships and handling personal relationships in her university life.
She has spent more than RMB ¥5,000 (US $727) on tarot readings over the past year, paying between RMB ¥100 (US $14.5) and RMB ¥300 (US $44) for each session.
The 21-year-old student says she first turned to tarot in 2023, when she felt stressed about whether she should drop an elective course.
Yang sometimes draws a card before exams because she worries that she has not revised enough.
“Tarot doesn’t really give me answers, but it helps me slow down and think more clearly,” the accounting student says.
Yang does the same when she has relationship problems. She once pulled a card when deciding whether she should apologise to her boyfriend after a fight.
She says that the card did not predict anything but helped her reflect instead of reacting impulsively.
“I know it sounds silly, but it helps me calm down before responding,” she says.
For the past year, scrolling through tarot videos on Xiaohongshu and Bilibili before bed has become part of her nightly routine.
“Sometimes it feels like the cards understand exactly what I’m worried about, and it makes me feel less lonely,” she says, adding that many of her friends also rely on tarot for advice in their lives.
Interest in tarot and fortune-telling has grown sharply among young mainland users.
A national survey on cyber-mysticism shows that 36.4 per cent of Gen Z users choose tarot as their main spiritual service, according to a 2024 report by iiMedia Research.
The survey also finds that nearly three-quarters of respondents aged 18 to 30 turn to these practices to ease stress and anxiety, while about half seek advice on school, work or relationship problems.
On Bilibili, tarot-tagged videos have gained millions of views among users aged 20 to 29, according to platform statistics. Searches for astrology and metaphysics content also remain high on Xiaohongshu, based on publicly available platform data.
A 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center finds that 30 per cent of American adults consult astrology or tarot at least once a year.
Researchers say such practices appeal to young people when they feel overwhelmed and want quick emotional reassurance.
The growing demand has created job opportunities for young tarot readers like Wang Qianyu, 19.
Wang says he began reading tarot for friends during his final year of high school after learning the basics from online tutorials.
“At first it was just curiosity. Friends asked me to read cards for fun, and then more people started messaging me for help,” Wang says.
Wang now offers paid readings through WeChat and social media platforms, charging RMB ¥50 (US $7) to RMB ¥100 (US $14.5) per session, depending on the duration.
Most of his clients are students in their late teens or early twenties. They usually ask about exams, career choices and romantic relationships.
“Many feel lost about the future. They don’t always want answers—sometimes they just want someone to listen,” the student says.
Wang reminds clients that tarot should not be treated as a prediction of fate. He describes his role as helping people organise their thoughts rather than telling them what will happen.
“I always tell them the cards are only a reference, and they still need to make their own decisions,” he adds.
Wang says that the demand for his services shows how tarot reading has evolved into a small online service economy among young people.
Qing Feng Ming Yue, also known among students as Master Qing, has taught tarot reading for more than five years.
Qing says the number of students enrolling in her tarot courses has increased steadily in recent years, from fewer than 10 students in her first class to more than 100 students in total to date.
Her course costs around RMB ¥1,000 (US $145) for a series of lessons. Each class lasts about two hours and covers card symbolism, interpretation methods and ethical issues.
“Readers should avoid making absolute predictions or giving advice on medical or legal matters. Tarot should be used as guidance in reflection. It should not be used to control people,” Qing says.
She says some of her students offer reading services online as a part-time job, while others study tarot out of personal interest.
“The rising interest shows young people need emotional support when facing pressure from study, work, and relationships,” she adds.
Li Hang, a lecturer in Sociology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, says the popularity of tarot among young people is not entirely new, but is part of a broader set of coping strategies.
“Fortune-telling has always been one of the more accessible ways to provide emotional comfort,” he says.
Similar to Feng Shui practices in China, tarot reading has developed into a small-scale service economy, particularly online. While he does not see commercialisation itself as a major issue, he warns that the quality of services can vary when intangible practices are monetised.
“When these kinds of intangible services become commercialised, the main concern is quality. Without clear standards, some service providers may exaggerate their interpretations or create unnecessary dependence, which can mislead users,” Li warns.
Edited By Akshat Jain
Sub-edited by Suzana Li
