Latest news with #ZhangYunlai
News18
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- News18
Canteen Meals, Gym Showers: Chinese Techie Living In Car For 4 Years Despite Having A House
Last Updated: The man, Zhang Yunlai, revealed the unconventional lifestyle has helped him save nearly 100,000 yuan (around Rs 11.63 lakh) in just three years A Chinese software programmer has surprised many by revealing that he has been living in his car for the past four years in Shenzhen, despite owning a four-storey house in his hometown. The man, Zhang Yunlai, revealed the unconventional lifestyle has helped him save nearly 100,000 yuan (around Rs 11.63 lakh) in just three years. Zhang, 41, hails from Yangjiang in Guangdong province and moved to the southern tech hub of Shenzhen six years ago for work. For the first two years, he led a typical urban life — renting a flat and commuting to work. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the techie got the idea for this carefree lifestyle during a camping trip in a park. He bought an electric vehicle, discovered the back seat could fit a mattress, and has since turned his car into a weekday home. 'An electric car lets you use air conditioning and fit a mattress inside, so sleeping there actually feels pretty comfortable," Zhang noted. His routine includes dinner at the office canteen, showers at a gym, and then parking overnight at quiet park areas. He uses clean public toilets — which he calls 'five-star" — and returns home on weekends to do laundry and see family. Though Zhang's daily expenses are modest — about 100 yuan (Rs 1,160) per day, including meals — he insists the decision wasn't about money. 'I do not have much financial pressure. Even if someone offered me free rent, I would not move. The park environment is far better than a typical flat, and it gives me freedom," he explained. Zhang continues to work as a programmer, earning several tens of thousands of yuan monthly. He remains grateful for still being employed, given the tech industry's tendency to sideline workers over 35. Despite living in his car, Zhang owns a 400-square-metre house in Yangjiang and drives 300 kilometres home each weekend to be with family. 'Being in Shenzhen is purely about making more money," he added. First Published: April 30, 2025, 21:14 IST
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Techie chooses to live in his car despite owning a home and Rs 12 lakh savings. Here's why
The Discovery of Comfort in a Car Financial Freedom, Not Necessity A Chinese programmer, Zhang Yunlai, has drawn widespread attention for his unconventional lifestyle. Despite owning a four-storey house in his hometown of Yangjiang, Guangdong province, Zhang has chosen to live in his electric vehicle (EV) for the past four years. His unique decision has sparked conversations online, with many questioning his reasons and admiring his story began six years ago when he moved to Shenzhen for work. Initially, he rented a flat for about 2,500 yuan (approximately Rs 29,000) per month. However, after a camping experience in a local park, Zhang became inspired by the simplicity and freedom of living in a more nomadic way. This experience planted the seed for what would become a major shift in his years ago, Zhang bought an electric car, and upon realizing that the back seat could easily accommodate a mattress, his living situation transformed. He quickly adapted to the idea of sleeping in his car during the workweek. 'An electric car lets you use air conditioning and fit a mattress inside, so sleeping there actually feels pretty comfortable,' Zhang explained. This discovery led to a new daily routine that he has maintained ever weekdays, Zhang enjoys a rather minimalist lifestyle. His meals are provided at his company's cafeteria, and he showers at the gym after work. He then drives to a local charging station to recharge his car, before heading to a peaceful park where he parks his vehicle and sleeps. Zhang notes that the park has "five-star" public toilets, which he uses to wash up. His expenses are remarkably low, averaging around 100 yuan (approximately Rs 1,100) per day, covering his meals and other basic needs. Parking fees are minimal, costing just 6 yuan (around Rs 70) per night, with an additional charge of 20 yuan (about Rs 230) for parking at his saving a significant amount of money—approximately 100,000 yuan (around Rs 12 lakh) over the past three years—Zhang insists that his decision is not driven by financial strain. Instead, he emphasizes that the lifestyle offers him freedom and comfort that he values. "I do not have much financial pressure. Even if someone offered me free rent, I would not move. The park environment is far better than a typical flat, and it gives me freedom," Zhang Zhang's four-storey house in Yangjiang remains empty, he returns there every weekend. This visit serves two purposes: to do laundry and to spend quality time with his family. Despite his busy work schedule in Shenzhen, Zhang makes a 300-kilometer trip home every week. 'It is a 300-kilometre trip, but I manage to spend three nights a week at home. Being in Shenzhen is purely about making more money,' Zhang who once earned over 10,000 yuan (around Rs 1,400) a month while working remotely, now enjoys a much higher salary as a programmer in Shenzhen. However, he is aware of the fleeting nature of his profession. "Many programmers are phased out after they reach 35. I am fortunate to still have a job in Shenzhen. I plan to work a few more years and then return home to be with my family," Zhang noted. His decision to live in a car, while financially advantageous, is ultimately a lifestyle choice that prioritizes personal freedom and comfort over traditional norms.
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
"Gives Me Freedom": Chinese Techie Lives In Car For 4 Years, Despite Owning Big Home
In a story that has left many people surprised, a Chinese programmer has revealed that he has been living in his car for the past four years, despite owning a sprawling four-storey house in his hometown, the South China Morning Post reported. Zhang Yunlai, 41, originally from Yangjiang in China's Guangdong province, moved to Shenzhen six years ago for work. While most would expect a tech professional in one of China's booming cities to settle into urban apartment life, Zhang took a completely different route. His choice wasn't driven by financial troubles, but by a desire for freedom and comfort, he says. A camping trip to a park sparked the idea, and soon after, he transformed his electric car into his home-on-wheels. "An electric car lets you use air conditioning and fit a mattress inside, so sleeping there feels pretty comfortable," Zhang told local media. During the week, Zhang's routine is finely tuned: he eats at his office cafeteria, showers at a gym, charges his car at public stations, and parks overnight near a park where he folds down the seats to sleep. His laundry is taken care of during weekend visits to his family home, which spans a spacious 400 square metres. Zhang claims that his daily expenses have dropped to about 100 yuan (roughly Rs 1,200), with minimal parking and utility costs. Over the past three years, this lifestyle has saved him over 100,000 yuan (around Rs 11.6 lakh). But for Zhang, it's not about the money. "I do not have much financial pressure. Even if someone offered me free rent, I would not move. The park environment is far better than a typical flat, and it gives me freedom," he said. Before moving to Shenzhen, Zhang worked remotely and now earns several tens of thousands of yuan a month as a programmer. Despite his financial stability and property back home, he says he has no plans to return to conventional living anytime soon.
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- NDTV
Why Chinese Man Who Owns 4-Storey House Has Been Living In Car For 4 Years
A Chinese programmer has opted for a "comfortable" workweek living in the back of a parked electric car over a spacious four-storey house. Zhang Yunlai, 41, from Yangjiang in Guangdong province, southern China, revealed he has been living in his car for the last four years, despite owning a 400-square-metre four-storey house in his hometown. He adopted this unusual way of life that goes against the norm, not because he is financially unstable, but because he appreciates the freedom it provides, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. Mr Yunlai initially lived a normal life in a rented flat after moving to Shenzhen six years ago for work. He commuted from home to work and paid about 2,500 yuan (almost Rs 29,000) in rent every month. But a park camping trip four years ago changed his life, making him reevaluate his living conditions. Next, he bought an electric car and decided to try sleeping in it after noticing the back seat could accommodate a mattress. And it's been like that ever since. The space and comfort of the air conditioner solidified Mr Yunlai's decision to forego his spacious house for the backseat of his car. His daily schedule consists of taking a shower at the gym and eating at the company cafeteria. He finds a peaceful park to sleep in after work and then drives to a car charging station. Mr Yunlai claimed he could wash up in the park's "five-star" public restrooms. He comes home on the weekends with his laundry and to spend quality time with his family. With meals and other expenses totalling about 100 yuan (US$14) per day on average, Mr Yunlai's lifestyle remains incredibly economical. Parking is reasonably priced, costing 6 yuan (8 US cents) per night, with an extra 20 yuan for office parking. Mr Yunlai said he chose this lifestyle because he enjoyed it and felt comfortable and free, adding it had nothing to do with finances. "I do not have much financial pressure. Even if someone offered me free rent, I would not move. The park environment is far better than a typical flat, and it gives me freedom," Mr Yunlai said.
The Star
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
China programmer lives in car for four years, despite owning house as he enjoys free lifestyle
BEIJING (SCMP): A Chinese programmer shocked many people after revealing that, despite owning a four-storey house in his hometown, he has been living in his car for four years. His unusual lifestyle choice is not designed to save money, but simply because he enjoys living that way. Zhang Yunlai, 41, who is originally from Yangjiang in Guangdong province, southern China, moved to Shenzhen, which is also in the south of the country, for work six years ago. Initially, he led a routine life, commuting between his flat and office, paying about 2,500 yuan (US$340) a month in rent. However, a camping experience in a park inspired him to adopt a new way of living. Zhang bought an electric vehicle four years ago and discovered that the back seat could accommodate a mattress, making it comfortable to sleep in. Since then, he has been sleeping in his car during the working week. 'An electric car lets you use air conditioning and fit a mattress inside, so sleeping there actually feels pretty comfortable,' said Zhang. During workdays, he eats at the company cafeteria after work, showers at the gym and drives to a charging station for his car. He then finds a quiet place in a park where he folds down the vehicle's back seats, lays out a mattress, and sleeps. Zhang said that the park has 'five-star' public toilets where he can wash up. He takes his laundry home on the weekend. He also revealed that by adopting such a lifestyle, his average daily expenses average around 100 yuan (US$14), including meals and other costs. Parking costs about 6 yuan (8 US cents) per night, with an additional parking fee at the office of 20 yuan a day. However, Zhang insists that his car-living lifestyle is not motivated by financial hardship, but he chose it simply because he enjoys the lifestyle, feeling free and comfortable. 'I do not have much financial pressure. Even if someone offered me free rent, I would not move. The park environment is far better than a typical flat, and it gives me freedom,' he said. He acknowledges that his lifestyle choice has saved him about 100,000 yuan (US$14,000) over three years. Zhang owns a spacious 400-square-metre four-storey house in his hometown. Before relocating to Shenzhen, he worked remotely, earning more than 10,000 yuan a month. After that project ended, he moved to Shenzhen to work as a programmer, where he now earns several tens of thousands of yuan each month. 'Many programmers are phased out after they reach 35. I am fortunate to still have a job in Shenzhen. I plan to work a few more years and then return home to be with my family,' said Zhang. He drives home every week, not only to do laundry but also to spend quality time with them. 'It is a 300-kilometre trip, but I manage to spend three nights a week at home. Being in Shenzhen is purely about making more money,' said Zhang. His story, reported by the Guangdong Radio and Television station, has sparked a lively discussion on mainland social media. One online observer said: 'His health must be great, and the winter in Shenzhen must be warm. I feel jealous of both.' While another added: 'He probably spends all the money he saves on highway tolls.' - South China Morning Post
