CNBC AI News, July 7th – A software engineer’s unconventional living arrangement in Shenzhen has captured widespread attention online, with the individual reportedly choosing to sleep in his Tesla rather than rent an apartment. This “car-living” lifestyle, as it’s being dubbed, blends cost-saving with a quest for personal freedom, sparking a lively debate among netizens.
The engineer, who commutes weekly between Yangjiang and Shenzhen, has spent three years demonstrating that residing in his vehicle isn’t just an economic strategy, but a deliberate embrace of a more liberated way of life.
According to his own accounts, the engineer has forgone renting for the past four years, opting to sleep in his car during workdays. He utilizes public restrooms in parks for his daily ablutions, incurs a modest parking fee of just 6 yuan per night, and maintains daily expenses around 100 yuan, reportedly saving approximately 100,000 yuan over three years.
Since establishing his “car-living” base at Shenzhen Bay Park, Zhang Yunlai has meticulously reorganized his daily routine. Mornings begin with a wash at a park’s public sink, followed by a 12-kilometer drive to his tech sector workplace. Lunch breaks are spent napping inside his car, and evenings are dictated by his mood, choosing different parks to park for the night.
To address his hygiene needs, he subscribes to a 24-hour gym membership for showers, while laundry is handled during his weekly visits back to Yangjiang. This streamlined approach, factoring in monthly parking, charging, and living expenses, is estimated at around 3,000 yuan – a significant saving compared to his previous renting costs.
When confronted with questions about adapting to adverse weather, Zhang has developed a practical system. During heavy rain, he relocates to underground parking facilities. In the heat of summer, air conditioning coupled with slightly opened windows provides ventilation, and for mosquito season, he employs a dual-layer defense strategy. He himself acknowledges that this lifestyle isn’t universally applicable, stating, “Especially for those who need to care for their families, the space within a car is ultimately limited.”
Zhang firmly believes that the quality of life is not defined by the size of one’s living space, but by how one defines freedom. He reiterates that his chosen path is personal and not something he recommends for others.
Industry experts and media outlets have also weighed in on the matter, with some suggesting this approach signifies not a strain on public resources, but rather a more efficient utilization of existing public facilities.
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