China’s economy is deteriorating, with a soaring unemployment rate, leading to an increasing number of young people facing the dilemma of being unable to rise or move forward, thus giving rise to the emergence of “Youth Retirement Homes” in various parts of China.
Recently, “Youth Retirement Homes” have been popping up in the outskirts and rural areas of cities such as Zhengzhou in Henan, Dali in Yunnan, Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, Chongqing, Hefei in Anhui, and Ningbo in Zhejiang. These establishments are not the traditional retirement homes but rather places designed for young people to temporarily escape, relax, recharge, and heal.
On social media in mainland China, cafes, guesthouses, farms, and bars in various regions have innovatively transformed into “Youth Retirement Homes,” where a group of young people create a retirement home atmosphere to attract others to experience a “retirement” lifestyle.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media, “Youth Retirement Homes” serve as havens for relaxation where individuals can come together to drink tea, chat, farm, sunbathe, raise livestock, watch movies, or simply lounge in slippers and eat simple meals.
These homes provide a place for young people who are under high pressure to relax and unwind, enabling them to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and alleviate the tension. They also cater to young individuals experiencing a sense of stagnation and a need to escape reality, offering a carefree atmosphere.
Recently, a young man born in 1993 from Northeast China shared his daily life in a retirement home on social media. For 1700 RMB a month, he can stay in a double room where cleanliness is maintained regularly, and he doesn’t have to worry about utilities or food costs. Though mundane, he expressed satisfaction with his stay.
He mentioned that he had previously owned a company and a store but due to the current tough environment where he couldn’t earn money, he suddenly decided to move into a retirement home.
On July 7th, Voice of America reported that the Chinese “Youth Retirement Homes” are providing an early “retirement” option for young people trapped in the rat race of urban workplaces due to their affordability, closeness to nature, and cultural appeal.
In the outskirts of Suzhou, a brand-new Youth Retirement Home is set to open in early July, offering accommodation for 500 RMB per person per week. The founder, Xiaoxu, mentioned that although the facilities are undergoing inspection, hundreds of people are already waiting to move in.
An article published on Sohu’s website titled “Between Overwork and Lying Flat, This Generation of Young People Chooses to Live in Retirement Homes,” explains that these establishments are not traditional retirement homes with medical facilities but rather a concept that reflects young people’s pursuit of a slow-paced lifestyle.
The article addresses how young individuals face incessant work pressure and end up in a “45-degree” life angle where they are unable to either advance or relax, perpetually stuck in an “up and down” state. In response to stress and confusion, “retirement” has become a collective aspiration.
A survey by Renmin University of China at the end of last year revealed that 28.5% of young people are living a “45-degree” life, while only 12.8% are “lying flat”. The majority, 58.7%, are stuck in a state of overwork.
At that time, an online poll by Sanlian Life Weekly showed that out of 3,608 respondents, 3,608 considered themselves as “lying flat,” 2,442 as living a “45-degree” life, and only 731 felt they were “upright” from being in the rat race.
The founder of the Young Retirement Home in Manding Village, Yunnan, Lu Baoku, told The Paper that young people need to balance their lives, and these homes serve as places for both rest and spiritual healing.
According to Lu, the residents at the Youth Retirement Home mainly consist of two groups: freelancers seeking social opportunities and young individuals facing bottlenecks in work, life, family, and relationships who need rest and a fresh start after readjustment.
He mentioned, “In our Youth Retirement Home, we don’t accept those over 45 years old or those who have never worked before. Here, no one dictates your daily routine, there’s no workplace anxiety or family conflicts; you can live freely.”
The founder, Tim, shared during the trial operation period, his social media platform was inundated with consultation requests, with him having to add over a hundred new friends each day.
This model has not only attracted many large companies for potential collaborations, but numerous places like Guangzhou, Anhui, and Luoyang have expressed interest in further developing and planning this concept.
One resident of a Youth Retirement Home, a post-90s individual named Xiaowu, described the place not just as a retirement home but also as a form of “hospital” for him.
Vincent, who opened a Youth Retirement Home in Jiangmen City, Guangdong, explained that the venue was originally an old warehouse which he transformed into a café. Later on, he rebranded it as “Wan Shi Wu · Youth Retirement Home.”
Vincent acknowledged that “Wan Shi Wu” still functions as a café but aims to alleviate some mental stress for consumers through its unique style.
Different from typical cafés, “Wan Shi Wu” is located in a quiet area with simple decor, featuring thick layers of pine bark on the floor instead of tiles or wooden flooring, simple furnishings resembling the style of the 1970s, dim lighting, muted colors, and basic amenities.
Vincent serves as both the owner and the staff, and due to the unconventional setting, the café has attracted a crowd of young people, with around thirty to forty customers daily, including police officers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, civil servants, and business professionals.
Vincent views that some young people today are unable to find direction due to life and work pressures, leading them to seek refuge in Youth Retirement Homes to relieve both life and mental stress.
Lu, the founder of “Wen Chao · Youth Retirement Home” in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, mentioned that currently, residents are required to pay 1500 RMB monthly for accommodation, with additional expenses covered based on individual participation.
Compared to Lu’s previous youth hostel and guesthouse projects, the Youth Retirement Home offers more social activities, such as farming together, raising livestock, watching movies, and chatting around the fire.
According to Lu’s customer statistics, the main age group of clients at the Youth Retirement Home are middle-aged individuals over 25-26 years old, mainly consisting of post-90s individuals. Many of those coming for “retirement” are accompanied by their parents.
David Xu, founder of the Hong Kong talent hunting company IMC Talent, analyzed for Voice of America that the rise of Youth Retirement Homes reflects the deteriorating work environment in China, which has become increasingly harsh and hostile to young people, evident in excessive overtime, complex interpersonal relationships, meaningless tasks, and lengthy administrative processes. This has left many young individuals disappointed with the workplace, prompting them to seek escape.
Wang Guochen, a research assistant at the Chinese Academy of Economic Research, stated that young people’s affinity for Youth Retirement Homes reflects the high youth unemployment rate in China and the escalating pressure to conform to intense work environments. In the face of low wages, unattainable housing, and the struggle to start families, many young people choose to “lie flat” directly.
He believes that Youth Retirement Homes are not sustainable in the long run, unless individuals resort to living off their parents. Otherwise, paying to reside without working, lacking economic foundations, and defying economic logic would eventually impact the Chinese economy.