China’s Growing Hunger Crisis: Millions Struggling to Afford Food

Added: 2026-05-30

[00:00:10]the hell out there.

[00:00:30]As China's economy declines, many migrant workers face unemployment, and some are even homeless.

[00:00:39]A young man in Shishuan province, unable to find work for a long time, has exhausted his savings and is struggling to even afford food. Desperate, he broke down on the street.

[00:00:55]Some people lamented that the famous novel Camel Jongzi, which the Communist Party used to denounce the sin of the so-called old society, the Republic of China, seemed to be playing out in the new society. Countless delivery drivers desperately grab orders and rush to their destinations, always believing that if they ride faster, their lives will be better. Like Jangzi, they believe that even at the end of their lives, not having a good life is because I didn't work hard enough. Meanwhile, multiple videos online show large numbers of unemployed young people sleeping on the streets in many Chinese cities. On April 28th in Nonjing, Jang Su Province, a netison filmed rows of homeless people on the street and wrote, "I've run out of food, too. I'm so poor.

[00:01:35]I don't have a single penny." After the video was posted, the comment section was filled with helpless voices. Life is too hard for ordinary people at the bottom of society.

[00:01:46]I set up a tent inside the bridge archway. A tent is my home, a place of clarity. Inside my little tent are my eldest son, Dumplin, and my second son, Strong, Strong. This is our family of three living in this warm little nest.

[00:02:02]Wow, Tibet is at such a high altitude.

[00:02:04]How come there's someone here? Hello, brother. Hello.

[00:02:09]What are you doing here, brother? I'm staying here for a few days. You're staying here for a few days? Yes.

[00:02:16]Why don't you go to the county town to stay in a room?

[00:02:19]>> In the county town? No, it's too expensive. Too expensive? Yes, >> brother. Really harsh here. Is this quilt all you have? I used to have two.

[00:02:29]Two. But I don't know if someone took the other one or what. So, I only have one left. One is gone, right? Yes. One quilt is missing.

[00:02:39]>> Friends, I'm feeling really down right now. I had another fight with my wife last night. We were initially discussing whether to actually sell the home, but then we started talking about my family background and things escalated into an argument. I feel like a complete failure. I've been in Beijing for over 10 years, just drifting along. When I was younger, I was ambitious and dreamed of making something of myself, providing a good life for my wife and kids. But now that wonderful life hasn't happened, and still burdened with a mountain of debt.

[00:03:11]I once thought I had settled down in Shenzhen, but now I bent over by a $220,000 mortgage. I'm one of those unfortunate fools who, at the peak of Shenzhen's housing prices, was cheated by real estate agency's promises of prices only going up and ended up buying a two-bedroom condo in Shenzhen. I emptied my pockets, paid the down payment, and signed an exorbitant mortgage. Then, just as I got the key, the price plummeted. If I sell now, the down payment is gone, and I'll have to pay extra. I have no choice but to hold on. The $1,000 monthly mortgage payment feels like a mountain. Most of my salary is gone and my life is completely drained.

[00:03:53]I really feel like I will fall into pieces. I was born in 1994, unmarried, and this is my fourth day of unemployment. I have no house, no car, and no savings. I didn't look for work today. I went out for fun in the afternoon. In the evening, I felt a little guilty. So, after dinner, I went out to deliver food again. I left at 7:30 and it's 10:00 now. I've been delivering for 2 and 1/2 hours and earned $6. I'm actually quite happy about it, but when I have free time, I feel anxious.

[00:04:27]Also, I wanted to ask, are you all unemployed? I've been unemployed for about 4 months and a few days now, and I can't even pay my rent. All my former enthusiasm is gone now.

[00:04:41]I'm 41 years old now and I've been unemployed for a month. I can't even find a job paying $590.

[00:04:48]After a month of unemployment, I've realized that at this age, it's not that you don't try, it's that even if you try, it's hard to find a job. Seriously, today is my 31st day of unemployment.

[00:04:58]I've sent out dozens of resumes. Do you know how many people actually replied?

[00:05:02]You might not believe it. only three.

[00:05:04]Two of them the first thing they asked when they met me, "How old are you?" To be honest, I never imagined that finding a job at 41 would be so difficult.

[00:05:18]I want to know how poor everyone is this year so I can feel a little better. I'll start with me. I haven't earned a single penny this year and I'm even losing money because I've been unemployed for 6 months and 10 days. I still have to bear the $150 spending per month. Like, my broken car is only filled up twice in the last 6 months, costing a total of $56. The maintenance reminders are practically blinding my eyes, but I haven't gone. I used to be a big spender, never saving money. This year, I haven't dared to buy a single piece of clothing. If the situation continues, I really can't survive. If I don't find a job this month, I'm really going to starve.

[00:05:59]I'm unemployed again, sisters. It's almost 4:00 a.m. and I still can't sleep. My boss closed down the business.

[00:06:05]He said e-commerce is really tough this year. He's losing money every day and he's already invested $100,000. He said if he didn't close down, he wouldn't be able to afford it. And now I'm facing unemployment again after working for more than 2 months straight. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm really upset.

[00:06:30]How poor are you all this year? Let me start with myself. I've been unemployed since my last job, and currently I have no income. I'm unemployed at home, but I still have to pay a $370 mortgage every month. I don't have any savings either, but I have almost $150 left. In a couple of days, I have to pay a $30 phone bill.

[00:06:48]Right now, the three of us are basically keeping our daily expenses under $7.

[00:07:00]In 1991, at 35 years old, I successfully made a mess of my life, achieving nothing. I've been unemployed for 1 year and 2 months, and with no income, wandering around. I have no house, no car, and I'm not married. I don't even have a wife. I become a complete clown in other people's eyes. I have no social life, no friends. It's like I vanished into thin air. Nobody knows what I'm doing and nobody cares what my life is like. My parents have also cut off all contact with me.

[00:07:34]>> Don't even mention $150. I can't even come up with $15. I was born in 1998.

[00:07:40]I'm 28 this year and I'm a mother of two. My eldest is 5 years old and my youngest is 1 year and 9 months old.

[00:07:47]I've been a full-time stay-at-home mom for 5 years with no income whatsoever.

[00:07:52]On March 30th this year, because we couldn't pay the rent, our family was evicted by the landlord.

[00:07:59]Blogger Shiao Chan stated that she was supposed to repay her friend $250 on April 7th. Money lent to her last year out of kindness. However, she simply didn't have the money and felt both guilty and anxious. to raise the money.

[00:08:12]She even considered having her elder son drop out of school and use the tuition to repay the loan. But then she thought about how her child's education couldn't be delayed. So, she still hasn't been able to repay the money.

[00:08:26]Unemployed, no job, no income at home.

[00:08:29]All my resumes have received no reply after being read. I can only lie at home anxiously playing on my phone every day.

[00:08:36]Believe me, your life won't be ruined because I've been through the same thing. This time last year, I was in a state of being pressured by my parents and landlord and I was anxious and drained every day. But now I have a very good job and I'm becoming more and more proficient in self- media. So if you are currently unemployed, first solve our survival problem. Find a job that at least keeps us from starving and doesn't take up too much of our time. Work like at offline milk tea shops or coffee shops is fine. Being surrounded by peers is perfect for a short-term transition.

[00:09:12]Middle-aged unemployed people should never stay at home for too long. It almost ruined me. When I first lost my job, anxiety blocked out all social interaction. I stayed home alone, sleeping and scrolling through my phone.

[00:09:23]After half a month, it was terrible. I felt complete empty, uninterested in anything. Too lazy to go out and didn't want to experience anything new. Deep down, I knew I should take action, but my body felt like it was stuck in mud.

[00:09:42]122 days of unemployment. How many more days can my savings last? The night is deep, autumn is cold, and unemployment is a bit of a hassle. Endless housework, countless dishes to wash, and I still have to cook. Three meals a day, firewood, rice, oil, salt, and asking for money for groceries. It's not that I want to stay home and ask for money.

[00:10:00]It's just that the current economic situation is tough. What should I do?

[00:10:04]this unemployed real estate worker. All my skills are useless. I can only work as a waiter in dishwasher in a restaurant.

[00:10:15]>> A mother of two in 1985 lost her job facing a monthly mortgage payment of $3,000 who gave me the courage. I received my last severance pay on April 13th, 2026, which marked a perfect end to the first half of my life. To be honest, I've had enough of working these past years. I worked in finance for nearly 20 years, starting from the bottom, learning and getting certified along the way, eventually reaching the management level of a listed company.

[00:10:40]It's no exaggeration to say that I even worked during my maternity leave. Forced by the need to buy a home and pay off the mortgage, I suffered for half my life. And in the end, I didn't even get to be with my children. All the money I earned went into the condo. Now staying at home, I feel quite good. I can do what I like.

[00:11:02]This is my dinner tonight, a children's bowl. I'm 36 years old this year. As a Shanghai, I bought this old small condo in 2019 with a monthly mortgage payment of $1,300.

[00:11:13]We had a combined mortgage 15 years and 30 years. Before, with my salary and side hustle, I could earn $8,000 a month. So, I didn't feel any pressure.

[00:11:22]Now, my wife's income is 1,500. As for me, I was unemployed for a while and started working again.

[00:11:34]40 years old, bought a condo at the park in 2021, $300,000 in debt. Is there any chance for me in this lifetime? My name is Ahai. I'm 40 years old and I've been working in shy men for over 10 years.

[00:11:46]Currently doing engineering design at a private company. Although I've been here for 8 years, I don't like socializing or entertaining and I lack good communication skills and emotional intelligence. So, I'm still just a junior employee.

[00:12:01]>> According to local policy, only if you buy a house can you get the household registration and then have your child attend school locally. The blogger said that a few years ago, in order to bring their child from their hometown to live with them for school, they had to borrow money from all over their connections to buy a condo, resulting in a $300,000 mortgage. Now, the couple has no way out. They can only work desperately, saving money bit by bit to pay off the debt, and dare not relax for a moment.

[00:12:29]I have to pay $1,200 of mortgage every month. Do you think that's a lot of pressure? To be honest, a year ago, I didn't care at all. But now, I'm really struggling to breathe. Last September, my company closed down and I was forced to lose my job. In December of the same year, I had thyroid surgery and I've been recuperating at home ever since. I have no income source yet. My husband has been self-employed for the past 2 years and doesn't have a housing provident fund. The $1,200 mortgage payment is all in cash and it's such a large expense every month. Just thinking about it hurts. Because of this, my husband and I have been disagreeing. We have some spare cash. Should we prepay the mortgage?

[00:13:11]I'm 36 and my life is a mess. Unmarried, no partner. I lost my job half a year ago and I still have to pay the mortgage. My car is gathering dust downstairs. WeChat is silent. Even scrolling through my phone is tiring and I've lost my appetite. I'm in a days every day. Have no energy for anything.

[00:13:28]And the days seem endless. Is this how my life is going to end? Am I just going to give up like this? Is there any hope for this life?

[00:13:39]I wasn't lazy, nor was I slacking off. I got up on time, went to work on time, but I wasn't always able to leave on time. and I wasn't always able to go to sleep on time. Life isn't just about money, but the life you want requires money. Life is a process of growth, striving for progress, running through storms, and growing through sweat. A good life always starts from bitterness and gradually becomes sweet. Only after enduring all the hardship can you reap the rewards.

[00:14:11]Not working is actually quite cost effective. Now, many people say that starting a business easily leads to debt, but you can't just lie flat.

[00:14:18]Today, I'll discuss this topic from a different angle. Actually, as long as you have some savings or a stable job, though not a highpaying one, not working is much more cost effective than working. Because the competition in our society right now is really fierce. The benefits of working yourself to the bone are diminishing. On the contrary, those who don't work can enjoy free or inexpensive public amenities like parks and libraries.

[00:14:46]How does a married couple in their 20s with a $100,000 mortgage, monthly payments of $560, and a child in Genanon City cope after losing their jobs?

[00:14:55]Finally, the weekend is here. Our family of three plans to take the kids to the park so they can get some sunshine and enjoy the outdoors. So, we'll head to Eager to Come first to do some shopping and buy some snacks. Last June, my maternity leave ended and I was forced to resign from my job due to the company reasons, leaving me unemployed. After more than six months of perseverance, I finally received compensation from labor arbitration.

[00:15:23]Only $1,500 left in savings, just lying flat all year for 2025. I've realized that if you want to stay healthy, you really can't stay up late. I've been lying flat all night for the past 6 months with a very good sleep schedule.

[00:15:36]Basically forcing myself to sleep by 10:30 p.m. But recently, because several shows I'm watching are updating simultaneously, I stayed up late last night going to bed around 12:10 a.m.

[00:15:47]This morning, I immediately broke out in pimples. It took me 6 months to get rid of them. I can't do this anymore. I need to be more disciplined. Look what I did this morning. 15 cents breakfast.

[00:16:02]If you're already in debt, never give up. And definitely don't join those so-called debt groups because it will wear you down your will and destroy your confidence. As long as you don't give up, no one can bring you down. So, what if you're in debt? It's not about owning your life. Adjust your mindset from now on. Even something like delivering food or driving for DD is better than staying idle at home. A true man is adaptable and resilient. Whatever the problem, just do it first. When the right opportunity comes, seize it and rise again. Trust me, everything will be all right.

[00:16:37]You can lie flat, but please don't laugh at those who bought houses at the peak a few years ago. You didn't buy them, not because you were so smart or could foresee the future, but simply because you didn't have the money. If you had had the money, then you would have bought two. Now, you can be bearish on the housing market, or you can choose not to buy a house. But please don't mock those who are struggling to buy a house. They are just like you, working hard simply so that they and their families can live a better life.

[00:17:07]Having debt is normal. There's really no need to be anxious. That's just how the overall environment is. It's normal to be broke. It's normal to be in debt.

[00:17:16]Even being unregistered or defaulting on debts, all of that is normal. These days, everyone seems successful on the surface. Some drive Mercedes but can't afford the gas. Others live in villas but have overdue mortgages. Many business owners might be worse off than you. So why be panicked when you have some debts?

[00:17:36]>> That's all for today. If you enjoy our content, please give us a thumbs up, subscribe, leave a comment, or share it with a friend. We appreciate your support and we'll see you next time.