China youth trend: Early retirement at age 30

A growing trend of young people in China is opting for “early retirement” at age 30, moving away from urban career competition and overtime culture toward more personal lifestyles in suburban or rural areas.

On the social media platform Xiaohongshu, many individuals share their experiences through vlogs. These lifestyles vary significantly: some focus on building homes and farming in the countryside, while others pursue personal hobbies or engage in freelance work that no longer takes center stage in their lives.

One notable example is a creator in Zhejiang who transitioned from city life to a 300-square-meter villa in the countryside. This individual balances artistic pursuits, such as still-life photography and interior design, with a lifestyle focused on personal space and comfort, challenging the perception that such a transition is merely a continuous vacation.