Man sets 33-hr record in China’s bizarre lie-flat competition

WEB DESK: An unusual endurance contest in the Chinese city of Baotou has captured global attention after a man set a remarkable record by lying on a mattress for 33 hours and 35 minutes, ultimately winning the event.

The quirky competition is inspired by China’s growing “Lie Flat” movement, a cultural trend in which young people reject intense social pressures and instead embrace a minimalist, low-stress lifestyle.

According to event rules, participants were required to remain on their mattresses at all times. They were allowed to read books, use their phones, and eat, but leaving the mattress or going to the bathroom was strictly prohibited.

The challenge proved too tough for most: 186 contestants quit within the first 24 hours, and by the 30-hour mark only a handful remained. In the dramatic final stretch, three participants battled it out until just one contestant was left lying down. The eventual winner, who endured the full 33 hours and 35 minutes, reportedly wore a diaper for convenience, a strategy several other participants also adopted.

Prizes of approximately RS 118,000 ($420), Rs 79,000 ($280), and Rs 40,000 ($140) were awarded to the first, second, and third-place finishers.

The unusual event became a viral sensation, with the entire 33-hour livestream attracting millions of online viewers, turning a simple mattress-lying contest into an unexpected internet spectacle.