Deadly Silence Looms Over China: From Cities to Rural Areas, People Are Gone

The unsolved mystery in China. Where have all the people gone? From cities to rural towns, a deadly silence looms, and millions of beggars have unexpectedly vanished. No home, no love, no future. Become a Sanhei master. The dire situation in China. Workers living in bridge tunnels and on the streets. Surviving each day is already a stroke of luck. China's era of dominating global manufacturing has ended. Millions of unemployed, including beauties, masters, and PhD holders are turning to street vending, filling streets with stalls. Walking along, sleeping soundly, and people are gone. Chinese citizens reveal sudden deaths are increasing. Trump inadvertently leaks Xi's secret? Xi's wild claim of 4 billion Chinese to rule the world. Welcome to Decoding China, your trusted source for timely analysis and sharp insights into China's unfolding realities. The unsolved mystery in China. Where have all the people gone? From cities to rural towns, a deadly silence looms, and millions of beggars have unexpectedly vanished. A blogger shared a video stating, you all say you want to come to Shanghai to start your careers. Let me show you what Shanghai looks like now. Look at this massive shopping mall. Such a huge space, and there's no one here. There's a street full of food stalls set up on a grand scale, but not a single person in sight. Just look at this place, so vast yet completely empty. It feels like an empty city. The biggest mystery now is where have all the people gone? Where are the customers? This sentiment echoes the voices of many in China starting in 2025. Many have noticed fewer people on the streets. I don't know if you've noticed, but there are no people on the streets of Beijing. There's nobody in malls, nobody on the streets, nobody anywhere. I feel like there are fewer and fewer people in Beijing, but I just don't know where they've gone. Most people believe that the emptiness in large cities is closely tied to China's economic slowdown. Many workers are unable to make a living, and more people are realizing that despite earning more in big cities, the cost of living is higher. To survive these difficult economic times, many have chosen to return to their hometowns and smaller cities, opting for a simpler lifestyle. However, this explanation is losing credibility. People living in small cities have also posted videos saying their cities are just as empty. An online user commented, if there are no people in the cities, they must have gone back to the countryside to lie flat. But the truth is, there are no people in the countryside either. When you visit rural areas, you can hardly find anyone. There are more and more empty houses in these regions. Let me show you the population situation There's no one in this house. The second house is also empty. It's been abandoned for a long time. As more Chinese people noticed the dwindling population, an insider shared an answer online. A TikToker commented that a police system insider claimed the registered population of China online is only about 760 million. Another user shared a screenshot with a NetEase media logo, which stated that, according to the Ministry of Public Security, the number of citizens with ID cards in China is over 770 million. The ministry also reported that the number of newborns registered in the national household system is 8.9 million, which is 1.7 million fewer than the data published by the National Bureau of Statistics. If the evidence provided by these users is true, the perception of fewer people in China may not be mere speculation. Unfortunately, due to the CCP's control over public opinion and data manipulation, we cannot access the most accurate figures on China's population decline. Elon Musk's AI model, Grok-3, was used to make reasonable estimates based on consumer data and other factors, suggesting that China's population decreased by 150 to 200 million people from 2020 to 2023. US-based commentator Xing Tianxing stated that the AI relied on some official information, which was then processed through a model. He explained that the AI's data significantly differs from the actual population decrease, but it suggests that the CCP is indeed falsifying and covering up the truth. The CCP has gone to great lengths to conceal the reasons for the pandemic and the disappearing population. Many believe this is because the CCP wants to maintain its grip on power. Authorities fear that the large number of casualties caused by the pandemic could lead to public uprisings and social unrest. In addition to concerns about population decline, many users have noticed that beggars, once common on the streets, have disappeared. In this era of widespread unemployment, the beggars who once filled the streets and alleys have suddenly vanished. Could they have all gone home after nearly three years of the pandemic? Many businesses shut down due to economic pressure, and unemployment has certainly risen. By all expectations, the number of beggars should have increased. But the opposite has happened. Not only have there been no new beggars, but they've all disappeared. According to estimates, there are approximately 2.5 million homeless individuals. Data released by the CCP on social media states that, as of June 2024, China has 1,557 city-based rescue management stations. These stations are said to provide services for homeless people. Additionally, the CCP claimed that in 2023, it spent over 250 billion yuan on financial support for the underprivileged. However, homeless individuals have not received such assistance. The reason we no longer see them on the streets is that local authorities have driven them away, citing concerns over public appearances. When the CCP promotes no beggars as a symbol of China's soaring economy despite the pandemic, these homeless individuals who have no homes, live in society, and are driven from public spaces reveal the true story behind the false prosperity under CCP rule. At the same time, the CCP's once-prized advantage, the demographic dividend, is gradually fading. Despite the C's reluctance to admit the rapid population decline, it has become a widely recognized fact. No home, no love, no future. Become a Sanhei master. The dire situation in China. Workers living in bridge tunnels and on the streets. Surviving each day is already a stroke of luck. A resident shared a video stating right under the bridges in first-tier cities like Guangzhou, countless people are living homeless in makeshift tents. They are day laborers, delivery workers, and even university students. Living here, they don't have to pay rent or utility bills, saving them a significant amount of money. In Shanghai, the scene is similar. Under bridges and on the streets, many people are forced to live homeless. Without money, sleeping outside is free. There's just one tent here, with blankets, bedding, and clothes hanging on the railings. One person lamented, Do you know how tough things are right now? Working in this industry, I've truly felt the reality of closures, downturns, and struggles, phenomena you barely see in the news. All you see are curated social media posts, designer bags, and luxury spending. The real reality has long been filtered out by glamour. China's economy is in decline, and first-tier cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou are facing economic downturns. Unemployment is soaring, and many people can't find work. They become Sanhei masters, doing day labor to survive. Many delivery workers and laborers can't afford rent, and are forced to sleep under bridges or on the streets, a scene filled with desolation. This is Wuhan at 3 a.m. I wanted to check on this group of people. Before dawn, they're already up looking for work, what they call finding a way to survive. One person asked, How much do you earn a day working so late? A worker replied, About 180 yuan, roughly 25 USD. I still rent a place, so expenses are high. Breakfast here is basically 2 yuan a portion. They wear unsafe safety helmets and eat 2 yuan breakfasts. Two hours later, at 6 a.m., many workers still haven't found jobs. So many people are unemployed or living off odd jobs. Shenzhen is famous for its Sanhei masters community. This is the well-known Shenzhen Longhua bus station. Speaking of Longhua bus station, you can't ignore the Sanhei masters. The so-called Sanhei masters are people living near the Sanhei talent market in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, who survive on temporary day labor. They are rootless, propertyless wanderers, often without ID cards or burdened by debt, with little contact with family. When they have money, they stay in youth hostels costing 25 yuan, mockingly called wall-hanging rooms online. When they're broke, they sleep on the streets, in shopfronts, flowerbeds, or grassy patches, anywhere they can lie down. This happens year round. Most of these people don't have stable jobs and live a life of eating one meal and starving for three days. As long as they have food today, they don't think about tomorrow. Facing survival pressures, they choose to completely lie flat. They came to Shenzhen with dreams, like most people, but after facing countless setbacks, deception, and exploitation in the big city, they realized that no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't change their situation. So, they chose to lie flat, giving up on ambition and living day by day with no fight left for life. Not everyone sleeping on the streets at Longhua bus station is part of the lie flat group, though. The unique environment here has given rise to a peculiar kind of commerce. Every day, many vendors come to do business, selling used items like old clothes, old phones, used data cables, and secondhand power banks. When someone is truly broke, they might even sell their ID card or engage in transactions involving real name authentication or account trading. This place has the lowest prices in all of Shenzhen, if not the entire country. Five yuan boxed meals, one yuan sunflower seeds, one yuan cigarettes. Some people, desperate for cash, sell whatever they have on them. This has become the commercial street of society's lowest rung, the survival environment for the most marginalized. The Sanhei talent market used to be dominated by people born in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. Times have changed, and now at Longhua bus station, the post-2000s generation has gradually become the main group. Almost everyone here is young. They've been beaten down by society, disdain integrating into it, and don't care what others think. If there are single women looking for a partner, they could come to Longhua to adopt someone to take home. As long as you provide food and shelter, they'll stick with you and won't easily betray you. This is far better than the unreliable guys you might meet on dating apps. Xiaojiang Huaming, a young man from Yongchuan, Chongqing, Sichuan province, stated that the existence of Sanhei masters is a vicious cycle caused by society's wealth gap. Sanhei masters are now a normal part of society. They exist today and will continue to exist in the future. They have no choice. To be a master, you need certain conditions. Good physical health to endure days of hunger, eating only once every three days, or working once every nine days. Their experiences vary. Some face family tragedies, others suffer setbacks or oppression in work or business. There are all kinds of people, couples, young and old, men and women. Most are here looking for work but sleep in these places because they have no money. Jobs are hard to come by, and society is fiercely competitive. China's era of dominating global manufacturing has ended. Millions of unemployed, including beauties, masters and PhD holders are turning to street vending, filling streets with stalls. A popular saying is circulating in China. We're all trying hard to live, running street stalls. China's street vending economy has exploded, not just in a few places, but across the entire country. Although the current US tariffs on Chinese goods are around 50%, they are still high for Chinese companies that rely on low cost manufacturing models. These companies are struggling to offer discounts sufficient to offset the tariffs, leading to the closure of many small factories. Moreover, China's unemployment crisis is worsening, with many experts estimating rates exceeding 50%. As a result, numerous industries are shifting to low cost street vending. Many young, attractive women who lost their jobs have turned to running stalls to make a living. This shift aligns with male consumers' habits of buying from roadside stalls. Some online observers noted that the customers of these female vendors are almost exclusively men. However, it's not always smooth sailing. One woman in Hefei, Anhui province, recently faced unfair treatment, and her story quickly gained attention online. One day she arrived to set up her stall, only to find four trash bins placed in her spot. She approached the local officer to ask what happened, but he claimed it was always a designated area for trash bins. She showed proof that she had paid a 300 yuan, approximately 42 USD, fee for the spot. But the officer denied receiving the money. Worse, he brought in over a dozen enforcement officers to block her stall, preventing customers from buying from her, leaving her feeling helpless and wronged. Many people online view China's rapidly growing street vending economy negatively. Some complain that vendors have gotten out of control, taking over both sides of two-way roads and leaving no room for traffic, severely impacting daily commutes. With street vending booming, traffic in already crowded cities is worsening. Vendors often target subway entrances or busy intersections, sometimes blocking car lanes and pedestrian crossings, especially during rush hour. At night, shouting fills the streets and smoke lingers in the air. After vendors leave, the ground is often littered with trash. As more stalls appear, residents are growing frustrated, with some calling vendors barnacles of the city. Once they attach, you can't get rid of them. There's also growing concern that vendors are forcing small restaurants out of business. When these restaurants close, their owners may return to the streets to sell food, creating a cycle that's hard to break. A content creator pointed out that an entire food street shut down last year, with eight restaurants closing because they couldn't compete with street vendors. So why are street vendors out-competing small restaurants with proper storefronts, better environments, and more hygienic setups? It comes down to four key advantages that vendors have, which small restaurants struggle to match. First, street vendors understand the power of a good location. If they see another vendor doing well, they'll set up nearby. In tough times, whoever reaches the customer first wins. By the time people reach a restaurant, they've often already spent their money on snacks from vendors. Second, vendors excel at storytelling. They connect with customers saying things like, I don't make much profit, or it's so hard for regular folks to make a living. Some add personal touches like, my son wants to take swimming lessons and I'm saving up for his classes. Some vendors are even professional performers. Third, we live in an era of short videos, where people are bombarded with information daily. Standing out is fiercely competitive. Vendors who master attention-grabbing techniques through storytelling, humor, or eye-catching appearances gain the upper hand. Some believe the Chinese government is turning a blind eye to the surge in street vending because it fears rising unemployment could spark widespread unrest. By allowing vendors to operate freely, authorities may be trying to ease public tension. However, disputes among vendors and with police are common, and following the rules doesn't guarantee fair treatment. One vendor finally secured a decent spot, only to have it taken by someone who refused to back down. Attitudes toward vendors vary across China. In some cities, law enforcement acts like bullies. Ultimately, the street vending boom stems from economic decline and a dire job market. High-profit industries have shifted to low-level service sectors, and people are struggling to earn enough to survive. They no longer trust the government to provide job security. This is a clear sign that China's era of global manufacturing dominance is crumbling. Walking along, sleeping soundly, and people are gone. Chinese citizens reveal sudden deaths are increasing. Recently, official Chinese Communist Party statements acknowledged an upward trend in the positive test rate for the novel coronavirus, prompting widespread complaints from netizens online. Hospitals in China are now beginning to experience overcrowding again. In recent days, multiple bloggers on mainland Chinese social media platforms have openly stated that sudden deaths are becoming increasingly common, with people passing away while walking, playing cards, or sleeping. These accounts have resonated deeply with netizens. On May 14th, Douyin blogger Li Jianjun said in a video, The number of people dying suddenly due to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular issues is increasing. From young people in their 20s to elderly individuals in their 60s, it's happening everywhere. While strolling in the park, walking along, they're gone. At the card table, playing cards, they're gone. At night, sleeping, they're gone. On May 8th, blogger Sister Yang Talks Health also lamented, so many people have died this year. She shared that her uncle had dined with her the previous day but passed away the next day without even a chance for emergency treatment. In comment sections related to sudden deaths and the pandemic, netizens from Shanghai, Shandong, and Jiangsu said, several people died in Shanghai these past few days, and three people passed away in Jinan last week. Netizens from Henan, Fujian, and Shandong commented, our workplace had 108 people, and in recent years, 23 have died, all born in the 80s or 90s. Several people around me in their 30s have passed away this year. And since the pandemic hit these past few years, it's been terrifying. I lost two brothers in two years. It's just too scary. On May 8th, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that from April 2025, weeks 14 to 18, March 31st to May 4th, the COVID-19 positive test rate showed an upward trend, with Southern provinces reporting higher rates than Northern provinces. COVID-19 currently ranks first among influenza-like illness cases in outpatient and emergency departments, with detection rates showing a rising trend. Among influenza-like illness cases in outpatient and emergency departments, the COVID-19 nucleic acid test positive rate rose from 7.5% in week 14 to 16.2% in week 18, more than doubling. Among severe acute respiratory infection cases in hospitals, the rate increased from 3.3% in week 14 to 6.3% in week 18, also nearly doubling. Notably, the pandemic data publicly released by the CCP is widely questioned by the outside world, with many believing the figures are significantly underreported. Trump inadvertently leaks Xi's secret, Xi's wild claim of 4 billion Chinese to rule the world. U.S. President Donald Trump revealed that the United States has outlined a plan for a very strong trade agreement with China, with China agreeing to open trade and all other sectors to the U.S. It is widely acknowledged that Xi Jinping's authoritarian rule and regressive policies have contributed to China's economic collapse. Trump's remarks inadvertently suggest that Xi has lost significant power. Commentator Tang Jingyuan noted that, after being misled by the Chinese Communist Party multiple times, Trump's belief that the CCP will open its markets to the U.S. points to two possibilities. Either Trump is naive or the CCP's system may soon collapse. China's trade negotiation team included Vice Premier He Lifeng, as well as Vice Finance Minister Liao Min, Vice Commerce Minister and International Trade Representative Li Chenggang, and Vice Public Security Minister Xu Datong, according to Reuters. Commentator Li Dayu suggested that the smooth agreement was likely driven by non-Xi factions, as Li Chenggang, Liao Min, and Xu Datong have no clear ties to Xi. Notably, Li Chenggang recently replaced Xi's ally, Wang Shou'an, as the International Trade Representative. Li Dayu believes the negotiations were orchestrated behind the scenes by political elder Wen Jiabao. Since last year's third plenary session, rumors have circulated that Xi Jinping suffered a stroke and collapsed. Subsequently, significant shifts have emerged in the CCP's political landscape, with increasing evidence that Xi has lost control over the military and personnel appointments. Xi's allies, including Central Military Commission member and Political Work Department Director Miao Hua, Vice Chairman He Weidong, Eastern Theater Command Commander Lin Xiangyang, Rocket Force Commander Wang Haobin, and Lieutenant General He Hongjun, who oversees the Central Military Commission's Political Work Department, are reportedly under investigation. Following the near-total erosion of his military influence, Xi's authority within the party and government is also being dismantled. Insider sources claim that the CCP's power is currently held by three elders born in 1942, Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, and Hu Deping. With Xi's allies sidelined amid internal and external pressures, he is increasingly isolated. Observers speculate he may step down at the fourth plenary session. Why has Xi reached this point? Tang Jingyuan argues that Xi's efforts to preserve the CCP through regressive policies have led to his current predicament. Exiled scholar and former Peking University law professor Yuan Hongbing, in a recent interview with Taiwanese anti-Xi influencer Minnan Wolf, shared that while in China, he was introduced to Xi Jinping by Hu Yaobang's son, Hu Deping. The two became acquainted and shared multiple drinking sessions of maotai, discussing politics and life. During one session, a drunken Xi declared that China's population is not too large but too small, stating, it takes 4 billion people to rule the world. This remark reflects his fervent belief in communism's global expansion. On another occasion, Xi argued with then Yan'an Party Secretary Bai Enpei about the Korean War. Bai criticized Mao Zedong's handling of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where 150,000 soldiers were sent into minus 20 degree conditions without proper clothing, calling it a reckless crime. Xi defended Mao, arguing that the deaths of tens of thousands were inconsequential since many were surrendered nationalist troops, and this was the best way to handle them. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, with Xi's larger stature overpowering Bai, whom Yuan struggled to restrain, resulting in Bai sustaining injuries. Tang Jingyuan noted, there's a saying that one speaks the truth after drinking. Xi's remarks reveal his deep belief in Marxist theory and the notion that communism will inevitably rule the world with the red flag planted globally. This mindset was instilled in him during the Cultural Revolution by the Red Guards. Xi Jinping, once merely a deputy mayor of Xiamen, spoke with striking arrogance. Tang Jingyuan finds Yuan Hongbin's revelations highly credible, stating, after Xi consolidated absolute power, the CCP began reframing the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, producing films to propagandize it as a great victory. Furthermore, Bai Enpei, who clashed physically with Xi over the Chosin Reservoir dispute, was later targeted during Xi's anti-corruption campaign while serving as Yunnan Party secretary. He became the first official sentenced to a suspended death penalty with lifelong imprisonment and no possibility of parole, likely due to the personal grudge Xi held from their earlier conflict. Xi, having consolidated absolute power, held a strong hand but played it poorly, leading to his current predicament. Tang Jingyuan argues that Xi's choices, driven by his belief in communism, are the root cause of his failures. Xi's case serves as a vivid cautionary tale for today's party elites. Holding a strong hand, he sought to preserve communism and the CCP only to end up in this dire situation. We value your feedback. Share your thoughts in the comments below. If this episode resonated with you, please pass it along to friends or colleagues. 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