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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
The techie bought an electric vehicle, discovered the back seat could fit a mattress, and has since turned his car into a weekday home. (Representational image via AP)
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 Postthe 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.
