Summary of the Core Content
This article highlights the difficulties faced by those who move to Shanghai (referred to as "Hu Piao") when looking for rental housing: despite their seemingly glamorous lifestyle, they return to their rented apartments and find the reality to be quite different. The Shanghai rental market has been exploited by sub-landlords, leading to a proliferation of bizarre apartment designs. Even with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan, it's hard to find a decent apartment that meets basic requirements such as having a proper layout, windows, and a reasonable space layout. In contrast, the housing situation for those who move to Shanghai from other cities (referred to as "Bei Piao") has improved after regulatory measures were implemented.
Detailed Analysis
1. The High Hurdles for Hu Piao in Renting Housing
The standard for what constitutes a "decent apartment" according to Hu Piao is quite low: the apartment should have a regular layout, windows, enough space to move around freely, and no unusual structural features like large beams or awkward corners. However, with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan, only about one-quarter of that amount (5,000 yuan) can be allocated for rent. For example, a "one-bedroom apartment" often turns out to be a small room of just over ten square meters; after fitting in a bed, wardrobe, and table, there's barely enough space to move around. Even more extreme cases exist, with the kitchen and toilet crammed together, making cooking on the toilet a real possibility.
Link, who recently moved from Beijing to Shanghai, could rent a decent one-bedroom apartment in Tongzhou for 4,000 yuan (half an hour by subway from the financial district). In contrast, in Shanghai's inner suburbs, he found apartments that were so small and awkwardly designed that they were almost unlivable. He eventually settled for a relatively acceptable attic space.
2. Sub-landlords' "Creative" Renovations
Shanghai's sub-landlords are often seen as "geniuses of design," but their approach is more about turning normal apartments into something completely unusable to earn more rent:
- Flat-space renovations: A three-bedroom apartment rented for 15,000 yuan per month might be divided into ten smaller rooms, generating additional rent income. The living room might be converted into a labyrinthine layout with a narrow corridor, and the balcony might be converted into a "private bathroom" with a curtain hanging over the toilet.
- Vertical space renovations: A four-square-meter stairwell might be used to fit in a bed and a fridge, creating a "capsule apartment" rented for 2,000 yuan. The balcony might be turned into a "panoramic sunroom," but with temperatures ranging from 40°C in summer to -10°C in winter, it's extremely uncomfortable to live there.
Netizens joke that these apartments are more like sets for survival challenge videos—so uncomfortable that they almost save on air conditioning costs (the fridge can cool the entire room when turned on).
3. Comparison of Housing Situations in Beijing and Shanghai
Previously, people thought that housing for Bei Piao in Beijing was poor (especially those living in basements). However, after Beijing took measures to improve basement conditions and renovate old residential areas, the apartment designs have become more standard. Link's apartment in Beijing, although located in Tongzhou, has a proper layout and is convenient for commuting.
In Shanghai, apartments are often cramped and poorly designed. They might look promising in photos but are barely livable in reality. Even the most dilapidated apartments in Beijing still have a relatively standard layout, while in Shanghai, even attics are considered acceptable options.
4. Hu Piao's Compromises
Young people moving to Shanghai often lower their rental expectations over time. What started as a desire for a "decent apartment" with a proper layout and bathroom gradually evolves into accepting anything that meets basic needs. For example, San San has moved four times in five years: the first apartment had a balcony with poor sound insulation, the second one had a living room used as a bedroom, the third one had a private bathroom but with a toilet separated by a curtain, and the fourth one had a one-bedroom apartment in the inner suburbs with a window facing a courtyard that didn't open properly.
Even when their salaries increase, they only manage to upgrade from worse-to-worse options. San San says, "This isn't really compromising; it's just accepting the reality that decent apartments in the inner suburbs are either already rented out or too expensive."
5. The Hidden Pressures of Living in Big Cities
The bizarre apartment designs deter many outsiders from moving to Shanghai. What was once an appealing urban lifestyle becomes unappealing when faced with such difficulties. Those who stay adapt by learning to live in these conditions: bending over to avoid the sloping ceilings, installing fake windows to compensate for poor lighting, or simply spending more time outside (there are many attractive areas in Shanghai like the Bund and shopping districts).
In the end, those who manage to settle in Shanghai are usually the ones who can endure the challenges. It's not about living in luxury apartments like those seen in TV shows like "Tiny Times"; it's about surviving in spaces that might seem like a nightmare at first.
Conclusion
The difficulties faced by Hu Piao in renting housing reflect the realities of living in big cities. If you want to stay in Shanghai, you'll have to deal with these bizarre apartment designs. Which city do you find more difficult to rent from, Beijing or Shanghai? Feel free to share your experiences!