Imagine living in a bathroom to save on rent!
Yang is a young Chinese woman working in a furniture wholesale store in China’s southeast Hunan province. For nearly a month, she’s been living in her office bathroom because on a salary of 3000 Yuan ($413), she cannot afford anything else. In fact, she even turned down space in the office because there was no door and hence no privacy or safety.
So how does she live in the bathroom? In a video going viral on the net, Yang showed her folding bed in the bathroom which she moves out during the day, hangs her clothes on a hanger stand, and keeps some personal belongings and daily necessities there. She even cooks noodles in the bathroom at night.
How long does she think she can live like this? Yang had earlier been living in the home of her boss, inviting questions about her relationship with him? Was she paying rent, asked netizens, did she pay for food or anything? Why did she move out?
At this point, there are no answers to those questions. Some netizens believe the video she shot is basically an attention-seeking stunt. Others sympathised with her situation. China’s housing crisis is very well known and finding affordable places to stay is a huge challenge for young people.
Yang says she will move out of the bathroom into the office once the door is repaired and reinstalled. She also intends to stay on there until her current employment lasts.
Some netizens commented on her being excessively frugal, warning that she was setting a bad example by being too extreme in her pursuit of savings. Some raised concerns about hygiene while others wondered about the reaction of her parents if they knew about her living situation.
In 2023, the average rent in metro cities like Beijing and Shanghai for a small apartment (around 30–50 square meters) ranged from ¥4,000 ($551) to ¥8,000 ($1,102) per month, depending on the location. For many young professionals just starting their careers, this represents a significant portion of their monthly income.
Currently, around 25% of China’s urban population live in rented accommodation. In several major cities, the rent-to-income ratio has already exceeded 20%, with first-tier cities surpassing 30%, indicating a higher rent burden on residents.
While the government has tried to address the issue by implementing affordable housing policies and providing subsidies to lower-income groups, China’s Hukou system which limits people to rural or urban locations is seen as a big obstacle.
Moreover, the gap in income levels makes it challenging for many young renters to afford housing. Until more sustainable solutions are put in place, many will continue to face challenges in securing a decent and affordable place to live in urban China. The plight of Yang underscores this challenge.
