Faced with work pressure or high unemployment rates, young people in China used to seek out internet cafes or bathhouses to spend the night. Now, they’ve discovered that 24-hour gyms have become a new favorite for overnight stays: all you need is a monthly membership card that costs 200 RMB (about 118 ringgit). In addition, some office workers are now using gyms as a place for lunchtime naps.
According to a report by Sanlian Life Week, some gyms in China are now being slept in by young people as if they were hotels—yoga mats become mattresses, the sound of others running on the treadmills serves as white noise to help them sleep, and there are showers available, too. The article describes how some young people have found more restful sleep in 24-hour gyms than at home, and even a new trend dubbed “national sleeping tour” has emerged.
The report mentions that some young Chinese people feel that although internet cafes are cheaper, the noisy gaming environment makes it hard to sleep; bathhouses seem comfortable but if you can’t snag a private room, you’re stuck with bunk beds and have to undress; while gyms don’t require you to fight for a sleeping spot, letting you “use the sky as a quilt and the floor as a bed.” Some say it feels even better than sleeping at home because while everyone else is focused on working out, they can sneak some rest, making the experience extra restful.
The article says that it was first discovered by office workers squeezing in gym time during their lunch break. As a result, yoga and meditation classes started turning into group naps. Fewer people actually followed the exercises, and more just lay down to the sounds of meditation music—as long as no one snores, sleeping in the gym is considered “advanced meditation.” After this, 24-hour gyms in Chinese cities became packed with young people who have no intention of exercising, just wanting a place to sleep.
Some people have pointed out that buying a gym membership means you never have to worry about where to stay, even in another city. With nationwide gym chains, you can go on a “national sleeping tour.”