[Video] Chinese youths turn to ‘retirement homes’ for laid-back living

Along the bank of a tributary of the Gan River in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, a brightly painted house stands out among the old houses.

Fan Wenqiang, a 41-year-old from Nanchang, manages this house. He told Lianhe Zaobao that he and three friends born in the 1990s rented this old bungalow for 7,600 RMB (US$1,065) per year in May last year and transformed it into their “youth retirement home”.

When Fan rented the 40-year-old house, it was in a state of disrepair and required a thorough renovation. Apart from repainting the walls, they also replaced the electrical wiring and built an outdoor toilet.

He said, “The renovation didn’t cost much, and we did most of it ourselves. During that time, we worked hard every day, not only getting fit but also feeling very happy.”

Fan is an artist and designer with a relatively flexible work schedule. He drives from his home in Nanchang to this “retirement home” at least three days a week.

He and his friends busy themselves in the vegetable garden next to the yard. After a day of toil, they brew a pot of tea and chat away under the shade of the trees while enjoying the river breeze. And when they start to feel drowsy, they take a rest in a hammock hung between two pomelo trees.

Fan said, “This is our haven from our busy life. It gives us a space to decompress; it is the ballad and the faraway escape in our hearts.”

A slow-paced lifestyle like Fan’s seems more fitting for retirees. However, amid the intensifying competition in China’s job market and the general environment of severe “involution” in various aspects of life, many young people have begun to yearn for a simple, peaceful and leisurely life. This trend has led to the emergence of youth retirement homes across China.

Social media posts about youth retirement homes have been trending. Some netizens share their experiences of transforming old houses into “private retirement homes”, as what Fan and his friends did. Others see operating youth retirement homes as a business, recruiting like-minded individuals through social media.

Guan Feng, 34, quit her job as a travel planner last May and took over a homestay at the foot of Mount Lu in Jiangxi. At the end of last year, she put up a sign declaring it a youth retirement home. Like Fan, she hopes to create a place for young people to get away from the madding crowd, and tend to their mind and body.

She said, “Many people hope to relax in places like Dali, Xinjiang, Tibet or abroad, but these options are impractical for these youths. This little courtyard is just 30 minutes away from downtown Jiujiang. You can quietly read, chat, and enjoy meals or drinks with friends over here.”

Guan recalled that a previous guest had come to the youth retirement home to seek solace for his troubled spirit after a failed business venture left him disheartened. He kept to a structured routine every day, climbing Lushan, reading, interacting with others and adjusting his mindset.     

She said, “After half a month of ‘retirement’ life, he gradually found himself again. The retirement home offered him an environment for relaxation and self-reflection, allowing him to escape the pressures and responsibilities at home.”

Posts about youth retirement homes often attract envious comments from young netizens, with many expressing a desire to experience a stay for themselves. Some industry practitioners even claimed that their retirement homes have been fully booked before they were opened, sparking an investment fever. However, when I visited Guan’s youth retirement home in mid-July, there were no long-term tenants there. 

Guan admitted that while there had been many enquiries from netizens after the youth retirement home service went online, few people actually came to rent a place. Over the past six months, there have been very few long-term tenants. She thinks that this is mainly due to limited publicity channels and high rental costs. 

As the tourism market enters the off-season, Guan intends to reduce the rental fees of the youth retirement home from 2,500 RMB to 1,500 RMB per month. She also plans to host more gatherings and events to boost the attractiveness of the place.

But she also noted that she is not operating a youth retirement home solely to earn money or to fill every room. “I’m more interested in finding people on the same wavelength and attracting those who really need this place. I just need to make enough to cover my rent, utilities and other basic expenses,” she said.

While youth retirement homes can help people relax their body and soul, some youths think that this form of relaxation is more suitable for the better-off. 

Huang Linkai (pseudonym), 33, was retrenched from a Shenzhen tech company last year and is currently a ride-hailing driver. He said when interviewed that he has been unable to find a suitable job over the past six months due to the unfavourable employment situation. However, he would feel even more anxious if he does nothing at all. 

“I’d also love to visit a youth retirement home to rest and relax, but that’s just impossible. I will have zero income as soon as I stop working — who is going to pay for my mortgage and family expenses?” he lamented. 

Wei Zhizhong, chief psychological counsellor at Guangzhou’s Yiweiduxin Psychology Counselling Clinic (一苇渡心心理咨询), pointed out in an interview that youth retirement homes are a commercial project aimed at allaying the anxiety of specific groups and meeting their psychological needs. Fuelled by subculture and social media, they have become an emerging consumer psychiatric product for society to cope with excessive anxiety.

He thinks that the anxiety of youths today in terms of career planning, personal development, life pressures and self-realisation has driven the rise of such products and services. However, these solutions often provide only temporary relief from anxiety and do not tackle the root of the problem.

Wei likens youth retirement homes to getting a massage when one is feeling unwell — although the treatment can provide temporary relief from physical fatigue, it cannot fundamentally improve one’s physical well-being. Similarly, youth retirement homes can only offer temporary psychological relief and cannot address the long-term challenges and anxieties they face.

He stressed that the key to truly overcoming anxiety lies in positive action and persistent effort. He said, “It’s like regular physical exercise — it’s only through consistent exercise that fitness and health can be strengthened and youths can truly improve their self-worth and mental resilience.”

However, Guan thinks that the outside world’s criticisms about youth retirement homes often stem from biases and misconceptions, thinking that these homes symbolise “lying flat” and going “goblin mode”. Yet, these naysayers have never truly experienced life over there or interacted with the tenants before. 

She believes that youths who opt for a youth retirement home are less concerned with external perceptions and more focused on adjusting their mindsets and self-care. “These individuals may be financially secure but are mentally stressed, so they seek rest and relaxation,” she noted.

However, Fan thinks that it is impossible for youths to “lie flat”. He explained, “There is a price to pay for ‘lying flat’. Work hard when you have to; you can rest and enjoy life after completing your tasks.”

This article was first published in Lianhe Zaobao as “向往宁静悠闲生活催生“青年养老院””.

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