Dorm decors at this college deserve your jealousy

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While college is certainly a memorable time of life, the living accommodations usually leave a bit to be desired. Four students from Xihua University in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, have created a stir online after photos of their dorm room in the style of a traditional Japanese bar were released on social media.

A symbolic red lantern and carp flag hung outside the room. /Weibo Photo via @Xihua University

The boys who major in material science, spent half a month and 1,000 yuan (around 145 U.S. dollars) preparing for the college's interior design competition which has been held annually for the last 15 years.

Every new semester kicks off in September, after thousands of freshmen move into their new on-campus homes; the college will organize the contest aiming to spark students' creativity as well as make the room a more comfy space to fit in.

Although the shared space is limited and transforming a boring dorm room to a themed space is challenging, students are passionate about their “small project” every year.

Cleaning duty schedule board in the room. /Weibo Photo via @Xihua University

“We will live here for the next four years and make it a decent living space is undoubtedly worthwhile,” Zhang Zhiqi, a “designer” of the Japanese-style room, told the Paper.cn.

Zhang also expressed the teamwork among the four roommates like purchasing accessories and designing the layout help enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation.

The college would select the best five dorm rooms in the middle of the month: the warmest, the most dynamic, the most creative, the most colorful and the most artistic. Winners would be rewarded sports equipment and an honored ceremony would be held.

The room inspired by “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” in 2016. /Weibo Photo via @Xihua University

It is not the first time the college's dorm decors have been an online hit. In 2016, a room design inspired by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai's ukiyo-e's work “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” won the hearts of many netizens who commented they would like to return campus for a “second-chance” dorm life.

One of the most popular rooms this year is the "green plant" theme. /Weibo Photo via @Xihua University

College dorms are believed to be a crucial place for students' growth and development in China where are commonly single sex with strict in-out-time rules.

Unlike in the U.S. and European countries, students are automatically assigned to different dorm types with some even holding ten people. As a special collective memory, a special room engrained with the late-night talks and everyday trivia deserve everyone's engaging.