The Cultural Definition and Reproduction Path of City Walk in China: From Youth Subculture to Media Spectacle

Abstract

City Walk, as a form of urban walking, originated in 19th-century Britain and entered the Chinese market after 2015, quickly gaining popularity in major cities. Initially part of youth subculture, it promoted a sense of freedom, relaxation, and spontaneous urban exploration. However, with the rise of social media and mass media, City Walk gradually transitioned from a subculture into a commodified and symbolized media spectacle. This paper aims to explore the cultural definition of City Walk in China and its pathways of cultural reproduction, analyzing how it shifted from a youth subculture to the mainstream and eventually transformed into a media spectacle. Throughout this process, the paper reveals how City Walk, under the collusion of consumerism and media forces, has gradually lost its original attributes of freedom and resistance, becoming a symbol of the refined lifestyle of the urban middle class.