Li Xiaoyang is a Beijing high school student who was born in 1994. She recently developed a tense relationship with her mother, Liu Lifen, who is a businesswoman and seldom has time to take care of her.

The tension began after Liu sent Li to a new middle school when she found out her daughter was skipping classes with some "bad friends." Li refused to go to the new school. "I miss my friends from the old school. My mother has no right to send me to another school without my permission," she complained.

The "cold war" between the mother and daughter means they don not talk to each other, and Li often locks herself in her bedroom and turns on loud rock music. Upset by the situation, Liu asked for help from a friend who arranged a meeting between the mother and daughter at a karaoke bar where Liu sang a song expressing her love for her daughter.

Li welled up with tears singing the song with her mother. "I know she is very tired everyday, and I know she loves me a lot. I just don't like her way of arranging my life, and teenagers of my age are really rebellious. I am not as bad as she thinks. I just don't want to express myself," said Li.

This is not a special case. The post-90s generation still have to turn to their parents for money, but they make their own decisions on how to spend it and on their future plans.

Xiao Jian is a waitress at a karaoke bar in Shanghai. Since June 8, the last day of the annual college entrance exam, she has seen many of the post-90s generation in the bar. "They always come here after midnight, and sing until daybreak, because the price is cheaper than during other periods. They are all very energetic and good at bargaining. They know how to choose the right, inexpensive beverages."

Horizon Research Consultancy Group, a research and consultancy firm, conducted a survey in 2007 on the consuming habits of the post-90s generation. The result showed that many of them are wise in their consuming habits. Their money mostly comes from their parents, so they might occasionally overspend, but they all know how to save. On average they use 40 percent of the money from their parents for daily consumption, while 60 percent is saved.

"I served as an information service volunteer during Olympics" said Jin Honglei, who was born in 1992 and is now a student of Beijing No 4 Middle School, one of the best in the capital. "As a local Beijing boy, I am happy that I made some contribution to the Olympics. I will take part in more activities like this in the future. This is quite a precious experience. For my future, I would prefer to study mathematics, but I would like to get my bachelor's degree first in China and go abroad for further study."

Like Lin, many other post-90s children have detailed plans for the future, and dare to be different and seek fun from life. They are also eager to obtain their independence from their parents. Lan Shiyun, also born in 1990, is a new student at Peking University. She took the train by herself from southwestern Guizhou Province. "I just want to prove to my parents that I have already grown up."

"The post-90s generation has grown up under better living conditions. There is no doubt they are more active and confident, and they believe nothing is impossible," said Chen Qi, a professor at Beijing Normal University. "Like all teenagers, they show their rebellious side, tend to be self-centered and pretend to be cool. Teachers and parents should know this and guide them in a positive direction."