As the New Year arrives, the commercial streets in Beijing are nearly deserted. At 11 a.m., all the shops on the commercial street are closed. (Video screenshot)
[People News] A video that has gone viral on social media has resonated deeply with countless individuals in this era of prosperity, stirring both tears and pain.
At the daily labour market in Ma Jiao Qiao, Tongzhou, Beijing, a rundown food truck is surrounded by middle-aged and elderly workers. Hot meals are offered for just 5 yuan, with both meat and vegetarian options available, served with rice!
Meanwhile, the 15 yuan boxed meals are largely ignored. For these temporary workers over the age of 40, spending an additional 10 yuan means they can send home 600 yuan less each month, which is vital for their parents' medical bills and their children's education.
This is not a scene from a nostalgic film of the 1980s; it is a stark representation of the current daily life on the streets of Beijing. The steaming rice symbolises a harsh reality and a livelihood that has hit rock bottom.
The 5 yuan boxed meal has effectively pulled the economy back to 30 years ago; 5 yuan has become the painful threshold that strikes at the heart of those living in this prosperous era.
5 Yuan Economics: The Extreme Compression of Consumption
Sellers manage to get by with a 5 yuan boxed meal; they are not making profits, but are earning a living just as hard as the workers. Most of the ingredients come from leftover food in factory canteens, scraps from large pot dishes, and substandard produce from the Xinfadi market in Beijing, including cabbage, potatoes, bean sprouts, fatty meat cubes, offal, or chicken carcasses. You have to wake up early and work late, running around and timing your trips. Besides the dirt and chaos, you also have to maintain a smiling demeanour and gauge people's moods. Once you return home, you still need to pick, wash, cook, and stew the food, then load it into barrels and bike to deliver it to the street market.
A meal yields a gross profit of 1 yuan, and with 200 meals served daily, a full-time worker can earn between five and six thousand yuan a month. For couples working together, the average income per person is only around 3000 yuan. In terms of workers purchasing boxed meals, the daily wage at the Mǎjūqiáo site typically ranges from 150 to 200 yuan, while bed fees are about 20 to 30 yuan. During this economic downturn, many people find themselves in a cycle of working one month and resting for two, necessitating careful budgeting for meals.
According to official data, in the first two months of 2026, the national retail sales of consumer goods increased by just 2.8% year-on-year, with retail sales of goods up by 2.5% and catering revenue rising by 4.8%. Overall, these figures remain low and significantly below market expectations. There is a clear trend of consumption downgrade among lower-income groups, with the average selling price of fast-moving consumer goods consistently declining, and the average spending per customer in the catering sector facing ongoing pressure. Consumers are increasingly leaning towards low-priced options that provide better value for money. The surge in popularity of 5 yuan boxed meals serves as a microcosm of the sluggish consumption, highlighting the severe reduction in daily expenses for the lower-income population.
600,000 Yuan Entrepreneurial Dreams Shattered: The Harsh Reality of a Breakfast Shop Owner
What is even more disheartening is that entrepreneurship has turned into a source of trauma. On April 2, a man from Yangzhou, Jiangsu, shared online that he invested 600,000 yuan to open a breakfast shop, which generated a revenue of 178,523 yuan in March, with a gross profit margin of about 50%, translating to a gross profit of approximately 89,261 yuan. While the income appears decent at first glance, after accounting for expenses such as water, electricity, gas, cold storage, labour, accommodation, and refunds from Meituan, the net profit dwindles to just 5,241 yuan.
Netizens candidly remarked, "Spending 600,000 yuan to secure a job that brings in less than 10,000 yuan a month—when will I ever recoup this 600,000 yuan?" This situation is not unique. Following the implementation of new mandatory social security regulations last September, dining costs have surged by about 20%, resulting in a nationwide restaurant closure rate of approximately 25%, with per capita consumption declining by around 7.7% year-on-year. Breakfast shops, once seen as a traditional symbol of everyday life, are now facing relentless pressure from high rents, soaring labour costs, and low customer spending, leading to a significant erosion of both profits and confidence for entrepreneurs. What was once considered a stable cash flow business has now transformed into a high-risk, low-return venture that yields little more than noise without actual profit.
From the frozen state of Hengdian to borrowing money for ancestral worship, there is a complete collapse of livelihoods.
The 5 yuan boxed meal and the shattered dream of running a breakfast shop are not isolated incidents; they represent a microcosm of the broader collapse of the livelihood and consumption system.
An 86-year-old man in Shandong spent two yuan on a piece of tofu to alleviate his hunger. In the video, he expresses a sentiment that resonates deeply with the struggles of the elderly in rural areas: 'If one day I can't move, I might as well die; there is no hope in life.' This statement highlights the harsh realities faced by many. The average basic pension for urban and rural residents is only about 200-300 yuan per month nationwide, significantly lower than the pensions received by urban workers. As the population ages rapidly, with young and middle-aged children moving away, heavy medical expenses, and a growing sense of despair among lonely elderly individuals, the situation is increasingly dire. During this year's Two Sessions, Li Qiang boldly claimed that rural and urban pensions would increase by 20 yuan, but that amount is unlikely to even cover the cost of a single tea leaf in a cup from Zhongnanhai.
Many industries that were once thriving are now experiencing significant downturns.
This year, the film and television industry has entered what can be described as an 'Ice Age.' The short drama sector in Hengdian has been hit hard by AI, which is now capable of generating scripts, actors, and special effects, driving production costs down to a fraction of traditional filming expenses. Once a prominent supporting actor who worked over 20 days a month is now facing widespread unemployment. The daily wage for extras has plummeted from 80 yuan to 60 yuan or even lower, prompting many middle-aged actors to turn to street vending or return to their hometowns to farm. As consumer spending declines, entertainment expenses are among the first to be cut, leaving those at the bottom of the industry unable to secure their livelihoods. The box office results during the Qingming Festival have painted a bleak picture for consumption in the country, with box office revenue during this period reaching 305 million yuan, a 19% decrease compared to the previous year, and the number of moviegoers dropping to 8.05 million, down 13.8%.
During the Qingming Festival, the trend of young people borrowing money from their ancestors has sparked widespread discussion online. For thousands of years, ancestor worship has been a fundamental cultural practice for the Chinese. However, today, even high-speed rail and long-distance bus tickets have become luxuries. The government work report for 2026 has set the annual GDP growth target at 4.5%-5%, marking the lowest range in nearly thirty years, with ongoing pressure on actual growth. The youth unemployment rate in February reached approximately 16.1%, significantly higher than the overall urban survey unemployment rate of 5.3%. A video has surfaced showing the Shanghai Sports Centre filled with homeless individuals, while sidewalks in Guangzhou and Shenzhen are crowded with unemployed youth.
The six consecutive increases in oil prices have exacerbated survival pressures.
In sharp contrast to the sluggish consumer market, energy costs are rising rapidly. Since March 2026, the prices of refined oil in China have been adjusted multiple times this year. On April 7, the National Development and Reform Commission of the Communist Party of China announced that the prices of gasoline and diesel (standard products) would be raised by 800 yuan and 770 yuan per ton, respectively; after adjustments, the actual increases were 420 yuan and 400 yuan.
The price of 92-octane gasoline has seen a single increase of 0.55-0.87 yuan per litre, meaning that filling a 50-litre tank of 92-octane gasoline will cost an additional 27-43 yuan. In many areas, including Shanghai, gas stations have experienced long lines, with car owners rushing to fill up late at night or early in the morning, with some queues extending nearly 50 meters and even blocking intersections. Car owners express their frustration, stating that every little bit saved is important, especially with further price hikes anticipated.
The ongoing rise in oil prices has directly resulted in significant survival pressures for lower-income individuals. Industries that rely on diesel and gasoline, such as logistics, taxis, and ride-hailing services, are facing skyrocketing costs, which ultimately lead to increased prices for goods and reduced job opportunities.
The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) media is overflowing with mockery of the United States for becoming mired in the Middle Eastern conflict, with oil prices skyrocketing, and deriding Trump for consistently lifting a stone only to drop it on his own foot. In stark contrast, as one netizen aptly put it, Xi Jinping's toes have been completely crushed, leaving nothing intact.
The party media diverts attention, as systemic flaws remain unaddressed.
Faced with these visible hardships affecting people's livelihoods, the party media is preoccupied with reporting that 'the flames of war in the Middle East have reached British dining tables, and the British can barely afford fish and chips anymore.' Such tactics have long been beneath the surface, evading domestic systemic issues while sensationalising global suffering to beautify the party-state and divert attention. They sing praises for the emperor but fail to speak for the common people.
Xi Jinping's strategy of political loyalty has collapsed, dragging the economy into chaos. The real estate market has crashed, confidence in the private sector has been persistently low, local government debt remains high, and the social security system is fragile. These systemic issues paint a clear picture of the CCP's looming demise.
When a country that claims to 'stand up, become rich, and grow strong' allows workers in the capital to scramble for 5 yuan rice boxes on the streets, permits car owners to queue for oil late at night, allows entrepreneurs to invest 600,000 only to earn 5,000 a month, lets youth rely on ancestral worship to borrow money, and allows the elderly to survive on two yuan tofu, what credibility does it have to claim to be the world's second-largest economy? And how can it expect Taiwan, with a per capita GDP several times higher, to return to the 'motherland'? Return for what? To accompany you to the underworld as you wish?!
Xi Jinping's mind is clouded, and he seems to lack clarity; otherwise, he should take a moment to reflect on himself and wake up.
(First published by People News) △
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