Viral Video Shows China’s 40cm Micro-room With Tiny Bed And Rs 90 Rent: ‘Worse Than A Coffin’

A video showing what is being described as one of the smallest rental units in China has triggered shock, disbelief and intense debate online. The clip, which has gone viral on Reddit and other social platforms, features a living space reportedly measuring just 40 centimetres wide, barely enough for a person to squeeze through sideways. The unit, according to the narrator, rents for one dollar per day (around Rs 90), highlighting the extreme end of low-cost housing options in crowded Chinese cities.

The video walkthrough shows a narrow compartment containing a thin mattress, a power outlet and a television mounted sideways because there isn’t enough wall space to install it normally. The presenter demonstrates that entering and lying down requires turning the body to fit, comparing the experience to being inside a storage drawer. A dark joke in the narration, suggesting the unit isn’t tall enough for someone to hang themselves, fuelled further commentary about the depressing constraints of the space.

While the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified, the online reaction has been swift and varied. Many viewers expressed claustrophobic discomfort, with one Reddit user saying, “A coffin has more room.” Another compared it to a video game prison layout: “This is worse than what I provide inmates in Prison Architect.”

Others shared real-world parallels, including stories of people living in tool sheds, under staircases, or in subdivided apartments carved into tiny cells. A few commenters noted the similarity to Japan’s capsule hotels, though they stressed that capsules are generally clean, ventilated and purpose-designed, unlike the cramped unit shown in the viral clip.

Interestingly, the concept wasn’t dismissed universally. Some users suggested that if the space were hygienic and slightly wider, it could appeal to budget travellers or shift workers needing only a secure place to sleep. The comment, “Sometimes all you need is a locked door and a pillow,” reflected a more practical interpretation of micro-accommodation.

Housing stress behind the humour

Beyond the memes and sarcasm, the video has touched a deeper nerve. China has increasingly struggled with soaring rents in major cities, shrinking living spaces and the rise of so-called “ant tribe” housing, referring to young workers squeezed into tiny rooms. The viral clip, many users said, represents a bleak visual metaphor for urban pressure and economic strain.

As one commenter concluded bluntly: “Depressing, but not surprising.”

For now, the miniature rental remains a symbol of how far the housing squeeze has gone, and how far people might be willing to compromise when affordable space runs out.

SEE ALSO: National-Level Basketball Player Dies In Rohtak; CCTV Captures Hoop Crash Incident