appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Fran Lu

A new social category has emerged in China which reflects a desire among the country’s young people to follow the path of least resistance in life.
The popularity of the phenomenon has become clear on the Xiaohongshu social media platform where the hashtag “light people” has attracted 175,000 views.
Young people are adopting a lifestyle characterised by an indifference to everything that happens to them, a stable mental state and a strong sense of personal boundaries.
Some have likened the trend to that of tang ping, or lying flat, a viral way of living that sees people do nothing more than what is absolutely essential to get by.
The origins of tang ping lie in the reaction of people to the slings and arrows of modern life.

However, the new light people living concept differs from tang ping in a number of ways.
Here, the Post explains.
What is light living?
Light people tend to adopt an emotion-free approach to life and treat everything that happens to them, especially negative experiences, as simply matters of fate which should be dealt with elegantly.
They have little desire for the trappings of material success and are not obsessed with relationships.
If they have a crush on someone, they simply let it pass in the expectation that if they embraced it, the relationship would eventually falter.
This approach can be encapsulated in the expression: “Forget it. Let it be.”
Some describe light people as “half dead” and say their lifestyle is bland.
Dense living
“Dense” people are the antithesis of those favouring a “light” lifestyle, as such they tend to be extroverts.
They have an outgoing personality, including in their fashion choices, and are the type of people who end every chat message with one, or several, exclamation marks.
People of the “dense” persuasion are also like to express their ideas and hope to inspire or move others.
Light life vs tang ping
The tang ping notion went viral a few years ago as increasing numbers of young people retreated to their comfort zone.
This reflected a tiredness with hard work and dissatisfaction with not being able to afford a place to live.

In China’s first-tier cities, to buy a flat costs 40 to 50 times the average annual salary.
However, it can be argued that the so-called light living is not the same as its exponents do not really lie flat.
They sometimes take the opportunity to “stand up” and enjoy life, but only to an extent because they do not want to use up too much energy.
Light idols
Light people adore celebrities with carefree personalities such as the mainland actress Yan Ni, who often forgets her lines in public speeches.
They also like American rapper Ice Spice, whose calm rapping style, described by the New York Times as “drawing you in before pushing you away”, is seen as a perfect expression of the light lifestyle.


China ‘Wheel Queen’: from tractor driver to owner of US$1.6 billion manufacturing empire

Chinese man climbs out of 27th-floor flat to ‘seek immortality’ after eating magic mushrooms

Chinese boy, 7, ends up in ICU with severe abdominal pain after drinking iced beverages

Chinese son kowtows to adoptive mum, thanking her for funding medical bills by driving cabs

Trending in China

What is ‘light living’? New China lifestyle choice with a twist on ‘tang ping’, how to practise it, reap benefits

A new lifestyle choice has emerged among China’s younger generation. They call themselves “light people”, and here, the Post explains why. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

Let it be: increasing numbers of young people in China are adopting the new carefree lifestyle. Photo: Shutterstock

The social phenomenon is seen as a reaction to the stresses and strains of modern life. Photo: Shutterstock

Pet passion: dying China cat clings to owner with last breath, dog refuses to leave funeral, many moved to tears

Pet passion: a dying cat hangs onto its owner’s sweater with its last breath and a disabled dog refuses to leave its master’s funeral, moving many people in China to tears. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Heartbreaking: the student’s dying cat waited for her to come home before passing away in her loving owner’s arms. Photo: Douyin

Going nowhere: this loyal disabled dog refused to leave the scene of its owner’s funeral. Photo: Douyin

China’s ‘hero-to-zero’ mindset: why people are embracing losers as way to reflect on own struggles, redefine heroism

Growing numbers of people in China are choosing to laud losers instead of good-looking, successful characters in films and TV series. The Post explains why. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

People in China traditionally worship superhero characters in films, but things are changing. Photo: AP

Now, more and more people are seeing the value in identifying with life’s losers. Photo: Shutterstock

What is Japan’s Death Festival? Visitors pay US$7 to lie in coffin, experience prompts rethink on life, confronts dying

What is Japan’s Death Festival? A busy district in Tokyo recently hosted a festival about passing away. It is a phenomenon mirrored in other parts of Asia. The Post finds out why. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

Tokyo festival visitors can “experience” death by lying in a coffin before being welcomed back to “life”. Photo:  Weibo

Similar festivals are held across Asia, some of them to appease the spirits of ancestors. Photo: Weibo

China twin sisters reunited after 3 decades share same hairstyle, fashion sense, sons both called Kevin

Twin sisters in China who have been reunited after three decades apart, share the identical hairstyle, fashion sense and even gave their sons the same name. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Douyin

The identical twins are making up for lost time after being separated for three decades. Photo: Baidu

The sisters appeared on a TV show and say they use their identical looks to play pranks on family and friends. Photo:  Baidu

China social media stunned by weather-beaten woman, 28, who looks decades older after long hikes but has ‘no appearance anxiety’

A young woman hiker in China has hit back at critics online who say her weather-beaten face makes her look decades older than her 28 years. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

Solo hiker Xiaxia has covered thousands of kilometres on her travels across China. Photo: Douyin

Online observers say exposure to the elements has blighted Xiaxia’s looks, but she disagrees. Photo: Douyin

News

People & Culture

Way of living reflects growing desire by young to take path of least resistance in life
Sees increasing numbers adopt indifferent attitude to ups and downs of existence


A new social category has emerged in China which denotes young individuals who adopt the path of least resistance in life as “light people”.


China society

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)
 


Explainer

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Way of living reflects growing desire by young to take path of least resistance in life Sees increasing numbers adopt indifferent attitude to ups and downs of existence

Way of living reflects growing desire by young to take path of least resistance in life

Sees increasing numbers adopt indifferent attitude to ups and downs of existence