Table of Contents
- What Is ‘Lying Flat’?
- From Burnout to Breakthrough
- Scouting China’s Most Affordable Cities
- The Economics Behind the Movement
- Living the Dream on a Budget
- Sources
What Is ‘Lying Flat’?
In a society long defined by hustle culture and sky-high expectations, a quiet rebellion is spreading across China. Dubbed “tangping” or “lying flat,” this minimalist lifestyle rejects the pressure to overwork, chase promotions, buy property, or marry by 30. Instead, young people are choosing simplicity—low income, low stress, and low desire.
What started as an online meme has evolved into a real-world movement, especially among Gen Z and millennials disillusioned by economic stagnation and housing market collapse.
From Burnout to Breakthrough
Enter Tom Jia, a 28-year-old former tech worker from Shenzhen—one of China’s most expensive and competitive cities. After years of grinding 12-hour days, he hit a wall. “I was exhausted, anxious, and felt like I was running in place,” he says in a recent New York Times feature.
In 2023, Tom quit his job, bought an RV, and launched a mission: to find the best places in China to live the “lying flat” life. Today, he’s a social media sensation with over 400,000 followers and a growing catalog of practical guides for those seeking escape from urban burnout.
Scouting China’s Most Affordable Cities
Tom doesn’t just theorize—he lives it. His journey takes him to small towns and mid-sized cities where rent is a fraction of what it costs in Beijing or Shanghai. In Haikou, for example, he tours empty apartments left over from the post-2021 housing bust. In Kunming, he now rents a mountain-view apartment for just one-fifth of his former Shenzhen rent.
Each location is evaluated using a detailed rubric:
| Criteria | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Affordability | Rent, groceries, utilities |
| Public Transit | Access without a car |
| Nature Access | Parks, hiking, clean air |
| Internet Speed | For remote work or content creation |
| Community Vibe | Friendly locals, low stress |
His fourth edition of the “Lying Flat City Guide” now covers over 100 locations—each rated, reviewed, and filmed on-site.
The Economics Behind the Movement
The rise of “lying flat” isn’t just cultural—it’s deeply economic. After China’s property bubble burst in 2021, millions of new apartments sat empty in smaller cities. With youth unemployment hovering near record highs and home ownership increasingly out of reach, many young Chinese see little point in chasing the traditional markers of success.
“Why work yourself to death for a life you can’t afford?” Tom asks. His content resonates because it offers an alternative—not just philosophically, but practically.
Living the Dream on a Budget
Surprisingly, Tom’s lifestyle isn’t free—but it’s sustainable. Half his monthly expenses are covered by streaming revenue and viewer donations. The rest? Minimalist budgeting, strategic location choices, and a rejection of consumerism.
His message isn’t anti-ambition; it’s pro-balance. “You don’t have to give up your dreams,” he says. “But maybe your dream doesn’t need a 996 schedule or a mortgage in Shanghai.”
As more young people question the cost of “success,” Tom Jia’s experiment may be less of a fringe trend and more of a blueprint for a new Chinese dream.
