One Man’s Story of How ‘Lying Flat’ Has Turned Into Gaming China’s Debt

By Terri Wu
Terri Wu
Terri Wu
Terri Wu is a Washington-based freelance reporter for The Epoch Times covering education and China-related issues. Send tips to terri.wu@epochtimes.com.
August 26, 2025Updated: August 26, 2025

For those who haven’t heard the term “lying flat,” it’s how Chinese people describe a passive mindset of giving up on life. Some call it a lifestyle

Now, it’s evolving into something bigger: a way to take advantage of China’s debt system.

Join Terri as she shares the story of a typical young Chinese family, whose life she has tracked over the past two years, and connects their lot in life to macroeconomics.

Hear from today’s interviewee, “Randy,” as he describes how he’s fighting the Chinese Communist Party the only way he knows how under the rule of the regime.

But Randy is not alone. It’s a new trend catching on in China.

 

Randy’s identity has been kept anonymous for this episode due to the high risk of retaliation he could face at home.

Views expressed in this episode are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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