China Executive Quits Job to Live on Deserted Island

BEIJING — A former senior manager at a major property development firm in Beijing has traded a high-pressure corporate life for a solitary existence as a fish quality inspector on a remote, uninhabited island in the East China Sea, a decision that has resonated with many facing burnout in China’s demanding work culture.

Yue Li, a woman in her 40s, resigned from her position to take a job earning just 3,000 yuan (approximately $430 USD) per month on Dongzhai Island, according to reports from the South China Morning Post and Kompas.com. The move highlights a growing desire among some in China to escape the relentless pace of urban life and seek a simpler existence.

For nearly two decades, Yue Li navigated the competitive world of property development, working 300 days a year and enduring a four-hour daily commute. “My health was at its limit,” she said, as quoted by the South China Morning Post on February 9, 2026. The exhaustion ultimately led her to seek a radical change.

Now, Yue Li’s days are filled with tasks far removed from boardrooms and property reports. As a quality inspector at a fish feeding base, she monitors water temperature, tracks tides, and inspects fish feeding equipment. The nearest inhabited island, Daishan Island, is approximately 40 kilometers away.

Life on the uninhabited island isn’t without its challenges. Yue Li recounted facing extreme weather conditions during her first month, including leaky roofs during heavy rain and difficulty cooking during high winds. She also discovered that mice had stolen her toothpaste on her first day, according to Kompas.com. Logistical support is limited, with infrequent supply deliveries.

Despite the hardships, Yue Li says she has no regrets. She now has ample time for reading and enjoying sunsets – luxuries unavailable during her time in Beijing. She often supplements her income by catching eels and crabs, sharing her successes online. “The supply of crabs here is very abundant, more than enough for me to eat,” she said in a video clip. “I have been searching for freedom and inner peace in this simple yet harsh environment.”

Yue Li’s decision has sparked a wave of admiration and envy on Chinese social media, with many expressing a longing for a similar escape from the pressures of modern life. The story reflects a broader conversation in China about work-life balance and the pursuit of well-being in a rapidly changing society.

Dari balik meja ke pembibitan ikan

Kesenjangan antara kehidupan lama dan baru Yue Li sangat mencolok. Selama 20 tahun, ia terbiasa dengan ritme kerja yang gila.

“Saya melakukan perjalanan bisnis selama 300 hari dalam setahun. Saat di Beijing, saya menghabiskan empat jam setiap hari hanya untuk bolak-balik kantor-rumah. Kesehatan saya berada di titik ekstrem,” kenang Yue Li, dikutip dari SCMP, Senin (9/2/2026).

Kini, tugas harian Yue Li sangat jauh dari meja rapat dan laporan properti. Sebagai inspektur kualitas di pangkalan pembibitan ikan, ia harus mencatat suhu air, memantau gelombang, dan memeriksa peralatan pakan.

Gajinya pun merosot drastis menjadi hanya 3.000 yuan atau sekitar Rp 7,8 juta per bulan.

Bertarung dengan badai dan tikus

Hidup di pulau tak berpenghuni ternyata tak seindah foto di media sosial. Sebulan pertama, Yue Li harus berhadapan dengan cuaca ekstrem.

“Saat hujan deras, air bocor dari atap dapur. Jika angin mencapai Level 9, saya bahkan tidak bisa menyalakan api untuk memasak,” ungkapnya.

Fasilitas pun sangat minim. Pasokan logistik hanya bergantung pada kapal yang datang sangat jarang. 

Bahkan, pada hari pertamanya, Yue Li harus menerima kenyataan bahwa pasta giginya dicuri oleh tikus-tikus yang merajalela di pulau tersebut.

Temukan kebebasan dalam kesederhanaan

Meskipun harus bertarung dengan badai dan kesunyian, Yue Li mengaku tidak menyesal. 

Ia kini memiliki waktu luang yang melimpah untuk membaca buku dan menikmati matahari terbenam, hal yang mustahil ia dapatkan saat masih bekerja di Beijing.

Kebutuhan makannya pun sering kali ia penuhi sendiri dari alam. 

“Pasokan kepiting di sini sangat melimpah, lebih dari cukup untuk saya makan. Saya telah mencari kebebasan dan kedamaian batin di lingkungan yang sederhana namun keras ini,” kata dia dalam sebuah klip video.

Keputusan Yue Li ini memicu gelombang kekaguman sekaligus rasa iri dari warganet China. 

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