A 35-year-old man from Sichuan, China, has taken an unusual step to avoid marriage—he’s moved into a cave. Min Hengcai, once a city ride-hailing driver, says he found both work and marriage pointless. After years of long hours and mounting debt, Min decided he’d had enough of society’s expectations, especially the pressure to settle down and start a family.
In 2021, Min left city life behind and traded his last piece of land for the right to live in a 50-square-meter cave in his hometown. He spent about $6,000 fixing it up and now lives a simple life, growing his own vegetables and spending very little money.
Min’s main reason for this drastic change? He believes marriage is a “waste of time and money.” In a recent TV interview, he said, “The chance of finding true love is so low—why work so hard for something so rare?” Instead, he prefers the peace and freedom of his cave, which he calls the “Black Hole.”
His story has gone viral online, with some people admiring his decision to escape social pressures, while others think he’s just running away from responsibility. Min’s choice has sparked debate, especially among young people in China who feel overwhelmed by the demands of work and family.
For Min, living in a cave isn’t just about escaping marriage—it’s about living life on his own terms, far from the expectations of modern society.
