Man in China wearing adult diaper wins Baotou “lying flat contest” after 33 hours

CHINA: A highly unusual “lying flat contest” in Baotou has captured the attention of more than ten million online viewers, after 240 contestants competed to see who could remain on a mattress the longest without getting up.

Strict rules for contestants
The event, held on 15 November inside a local department store, required participants to stay fully on the provided mattress.

They were allowed to scroll their phones, read, or turn over, but they could not sit up or leave the mattress for any reason — including toilet breaks.

Contestants could order food delivery and eat while lying down. The competition had no fixed end time; once three finalists remained, they advanced to the final round.

Winner remains on mattress for 33 hours
Many arrived prepared for a long endurance challenge, bringing blankets, chargers, and snacks. Some opted for adult diapers to avoid disqualification.

The eventual winner, a man wearing an adult diaper, stayed on his mattress for 33 hours and 35 minutes. He received a top prize of 3,000 yuan. Second and third place winners received 2,000 yuan and 1,000 yuan respectively.

Online reaction and social context
The contest was livestreamed, drawing massive online interest. Social media users joked that they could “lie flat until New Year”, while others said they had already been “lying flat” for a month.

“Lying flat” and “involution” have become widely used terms in China, reflecting frustration with intense competition and mounting economic strain.

As business closures and unemployment rise, the concepts have grown more visible, even as authorities publicly oppose “lying flat” attitudes.

Some online commentators, however, noted the bleak irony behind the contest, writing that the event reflected the pressures of a society where “people’s time has become too cheap”.