Have we reached peak China? Inside the 15 September Guardian Weekly

China's economic crisis. Plus: ChatGPT and Proust
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China is often depicted as an angry dragon, but its current economic circumstances called for a more melancholic take on the Guardian Weekly's cover this week.

Much of the world's attention towards the world's second-biggest economy of late has focused on its geopolitical ambitions, but a picture is emerging from within the country that could have equally profound consequences. A Covid-battered economy - tainted by slowing demand and a deepening property crisis - coupled with an ageing population, have left many analysts wondering if China's economic rise is stalling.