It's the final countdown to the realization of his dream. Xu Chuan is working around the clock to ensure his new coffee shop is everything he wanted it to be. His coffee, quite unique and based on years of study and global experiences, incorporates all kinds of tastes and flavors, including mint and a host of different fruits.

However, getting to this point took a significant leap of faith, after he became disillusioned with his job as a product manager for an online education company.

"I decided to quit my job, not only because I felt I was not interested in it but also because of the limited potential of the industry. And six months later, I decided to start my own business. My goal is to make it a popular beverage among young people in China," said Xu.

And he's not alone. More and more young Chinese are taking to what's being called a "naked resignation," where they quit their jobs without any backup plan or without knowing where their next paycheck is coming from.

Uki Jin, 25, is another example. She resigned from an advertisement agency a month ago, but unlike Xu, who had a clear vision of his future, Uki is less certain about hers. For now, she's exploring her favorite pastimes and hobbies, such as diving and surfing. She is happy to put her career on hold while she is still young, free and undaunted by the prospect of being unemployed.

"I'm not anxious about that at all. I felt so tired about the endless 9-to-5 grind. Work is not everything, so I decided to take a rest and enjoy my life for now," said Uki.

A recent survey showed that more than 70 percent of respondents had either gone through with naked resignation, or were considering it. It all points to a dramatic social change in China: from the "job-is-everything" approach to pursuing one's personal interests or a childhood dream. This used to be seen as a casual and slapdash attitude and was hardly imaginable a decade ago. What's behind the generational shift in values?

"Economic growth and asset accumulation in society are the reasons. People have more freedom to pursue their happiness now without worrying about basic living needs. On top of that, job opportunities are diversifying more and more and you don't have to stay in the office to make a living," said Yin Zheng, a blogger on career development.

He said young people nowadays aren't burdened with the same financial or emotional constraints as their parents. He praised their carefree attitude to life, but expressed his opposition to irrational and impulsive decisions to quit their jobs.

For China's younger generations, a secure job and a stable career are important, but maybe not as much as for their parents. Instead, they want rewarding life experiences that give them pleasure, freedom and peace of mind.