“It’s My Choice”: 29-Year-Old Man Lives in Tent So He Doesn’t Have to Work

In a Nutshell:

• Li Shu, a 29-year-old man, embodies China’s rising ‘lying down’ culture, choosing to live a minimalist life in a tent in an abandoned parking lot for 200 days.
• Having quit his job in 2018, Li reduced his daily expenses to just 10 yuan ($1.5), and subsists on simple meals. He values the peace and relaxation his lifestyle offers over traditional pursuits of success.
• Li’s lifestyle emphasizes the growing trend of the ‘lying down’ movement in China, a reaction against the country’s overly competitive work culture, where individuals opt for a minimalist lifestyle over the pursuit of financial and professional achievement.

In a unique display of China’s rising “lying down” culture, a 29-year-old man named Li Shu has chosen to live a minimalist life in a tent pitched in an abandoned parking lot.

This trend, known as “lying down”, involves individuals actively rejecting societal pressures for professional success, choosing instead to do only the bare minimum to get by.

In 2018, Li quit his job in Sichuan Province and began spending most of his time in his rented apartment.

However, with no income, he soon realized he would run through his savings.

Rejecting the prospect of seeking employment, he decided to move outdoors, purchasing a second-hand tent for 400 yuan ($57), reducing his daily expenses to just 10 yuan ($1.5), and relying on simple meals.

Despite what many would perceive as a harsh existence, Li is happy with his choice.

“It’s my choice,” Li said. “When you let go of unfulfilling pursuits in life, you will slowly feel peace and become used to changed circumstances. It’s relaxing.”

Living off noodles and dumplings, using a basic stove for cooking, and journeying long distances to find water and charge his phone, he cherishes the peace and relaxation his lifestyle brings.

Li’s friends have tried to help him find better accommodations and offered him loans to start a small business, but he prefers his current way of life.

He’s left a note on his tent, asking passers-by to respect his property, and offering to relocate if he’s causing inconvenience.

Li Shu’s story highlights China’s growing “lying down” movement, a phenomenon viewed as a reaction to the country’s highly competitive work environment.

This trend is particularly popular among young people who prefer a minimalist lifestyle over pursuing conventional financial and professional success.

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