Li, born in the 1980s, worked as a senior manager at a major property developer in Beijing for nearly 20 years before resigning in mid-December 2025. She then took a job as a quality inspection worker at a fish farming facility on the uninhabited island of Dongzhai, local newspaper City Express said.
She earns about US$430 a month and is given four days off every two months. Her decision has drawn attention and admiration from many internet users.
Li said she worked under intense pressure before leaving her previous job.
“I was on business trips for 300 days of the year. While I was in Beijing, I spent four hours commuting between the office and home every day. At that time, I was at the extreme points of both my physical and mental health,” she said, adding that the experience forced her to rethink her life.
Islands on the Qiandao Lake, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Photo by Pexels |
Several months before resigning, during a trip to Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province, she saw a recruitment notice for a quality inspection role on an island and decided to apply, according to the South China Morning Post.
She said the job appealed to her because it offered more free time and distance from urban life, allowing her to read, watch the sea and enjoy sunsets daily.
Dongzhai Island is located in the East China Sea and surrounded by uninhabited islets. The nearest inhabited island, Daishan, is nearly 40 km away.
Li’s daily work on the island involves checking fish-feeding equipment, recording seawater temperature and wave conditions, and monitoring fish growth.
After a month on the island, she said living conditions were difficult as rough seas and bad weather are common. During heavy rain, water leaks through the kitchen roof and strong winds prevent her from lighting a firee to cook.
Supplies are delivered to the island by boat but visits are infrequent. Rats are also common on the island, and Li said her toothpaste was taken by rats on her first day.
Despite the challenges, she said she enjoys island life and spends much of her free time fishing and catching crabs. She regularly shares photos of her catches on social media, including once when she trapped 10 large crabs.
“This life experience will definitely be a highlight of my life. I have sought my freedom and inner peace in this simple and harsh environment,” Li said.
The story has prompted positive reactions online. “This is the dream life of every fishing enthusiast,” one person said.
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