Chinese man wins Rs 38,000 by ‘lying flat’ for over 33 hours. ‘Thought of giving up. But my girlfriend...'

The contest was sponsored by a domestic mattress brand. (representational image: Unsplash)

A 23-year-old man in China has won a “lying-flat competition” after staying on a mattress for 33 hours and 35 minutes without sitting up or leaving. The event was held at a shopping centre in Inner Mongolia on November 15, and was sponsored by a domestic mattress brand, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

The competition borrowed its name from the slang term “lying flat” or tang ping, a mindset popular among Chinese youth rejecting relentless work culture in favour of minimal effort. Contestants were allowed to turn over, read books, scroll on their phones, and even eat takeaway food while lying down. Most participants wore diapers to avoid leaving the mattress.

240 participants, 1 winner

About 240 people joined the contest, but 186 dropped out within a day. After 33 hours, only three remained. Organisers then raised the difficulty by asking them to lift arms and legs simultaneously. The 23-year-old man outlasted the others to claim the top prize of 3,000 yuan (about Rs 38,000). The second and third winners received 2,000 yuan (about Rs 25,000) and 1,000 yuan (about Rs 12,500) respectively.

“My girlfriend sent me a link to the competition and suggested I have a go,” the winner was quoted as saying. “I did not do much preparation. In the middle of the competition, I thought of giving up. But my girlfriend told me to carry on."

He plans to use the prize money for a hotpot dinner with friends who supported him during the contest.

10 million viewers, 8 million comments

The event was live-streamed on social media, attracting 10 million viewers and generating around eight million comments, making it one of the most talked-about viral contests in China this month.

Bengaluru: Investment banker won Rs 9 lakh for sleeping 

Last September, Bengaluru-based investment banker Saishwari Patil stunned many after winning Rs 9 lakh in Wakefit’s “Sleep Internship” programme. The initiative selected 12 “sleep interns” who were required to sleep diligently for eight to nine hours every night, The Hindu reported. Patil’s win sparked viral reactions online, with one friend’s mother exclaiming: “Aise kaise ho sakta hai? (How can that be?)”