In July 2024, China's youth unemployment rate hit a record 17.1, leaving millions of recent college graduates grappling with a bleak job market. As many are forced into low-paying jobs or to rely on their parents' pensions, a new term, ‘rotten-tail kids,’ has emerged. This reflects not just their uncertain future, but also China's broader economic challenges. The degrees that once promised a bright future now leave these young people with limited prospects and a tough path ahead.