Since June, media reports have highlighted a form of escapism where young people, exhausted by high-stress environments, seek refuge in “youth retirement resorts.”
Cafes, bars, B&Bs, hostels and agritourism farms nationwide are transforming into resorts that offer a taste of “retired life” to stressed young professionals. These venues provide communal living where young people gather to chat, drink coffee, sunbathe, barbecue, sing, dance, pet animals and engage in activities like fruit picking and vegetable growing. Many of these resorts only accept individuals under 45.
These facilities embrace the “lying flat” philosophy – a movement among Chinese youth who reject relentless overwork and unattainable societal expectations in favor of a leisurely, nonmaterialistic lifestyle. On China’s Instagram-like platform Xiaohongshu (RED), the hashtag “youth retirement resorts” has racked up 5.09 million views. For many, these facilities offer a reset, allowing them to recharge before returning to their daily grind.
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