Yunnan, China – A Chinese man who amassed multiple advanced degrees from prestigious universities adn held high-paying jobs has voluntarily abandoned a life of wealth and privilege to live as a homeless individual in Dali, Yunnan province. Zhao Dian, 32, formerly enjoyed a financially secure upbringing and a triumphant academic and professional career, but now lives on approximately 100 yuan (Rp. 233,800) per month.
Zhao spent his childhood in Shanghai before relocating to New Zealand at age 10. He earned two bachelor’s degrees and three master’s titles in finance while studying in Sydney, New York, Beijing, and Paris, according to SCMP reports from September 29, 2025. Despite parental pressure to succeed and readily available opportunities for a luxurious lifestyle, Zhao found himself increasingly dissatisfied with the pursuit of conventional achievement.
“Washing dishes can bring happiness, so why should you wait for an ideal job?” Zhao stated.
After years abroad, Zhao experienced feelings of loneliness and found solace among Chinese expatriates.A turning point came while working in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant in Paris, where he discovered fulfillment in simple tasks. In 2023, he returned to China, initially working at a beer festival and in a hotel before ultimately choosing to live on the streets of Dali.
Zhao maintains a minimalist routine, waking at 7 am and sleeping at 9 pm, occasionally using hostel facilities for bathing and laundry. He relies on free vegetarian restaurants for meals and has approximately 2,500 yuan (Rp. 5,845,000) remaining from his previous earnings.zhao believes his low-cost lifestyle has significantly increased his overall satisfaction and attributes a sense of aimlessness among many young people to a flawed educational system.
