Housebound by Choice: Many of China's youngsters like staying indoors

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A survey found that many members of China's post-90s generation prefer to stay at home alone - it's called being indoorsy. Modern technology, especially smartphones, gets a lot of the credit. But as CGTN's Li Jianhua reports, indoorsy people are more capable of getting along by themselves.

It's New Year's Day, but for this girl, it's simply another regular day. Opening the door, shutting it tight and locking it from inside. Sitting on the couch, she finds that her smartphone is the best company and use of her time.

XU XINGXING COMPANY EMPLOYEE "When I'm on holiday, I would spend one day or half the day shopping. Then I stay indoors for the rest of the holiday. Amongst my colleagues - most young people living alone, who are referred to as 'empty-nested youths' in China - are all like me."

An online survey shows that nearly half of the population born post-90s admits they are indoorsy. Nearly 90 percent of them stay on their mobile phones all day long. Among all the respondents, over 26 percent think the more friends they have, the merrier, while less than 4 percent of them say they want to spend their time alone.

Xu belongs to the 3.9 percent of the post-90s who prefer being alone. In her leisure time, she hones her skills in calligraphy and painting. And inside her home, some of her paintings are on display.

XU XINGXING COMPANY EMPLOYEE "I'm a quiet girl. I like to go online or watch films. I also like calligraphy and painting, because I like to enjoy my inner peace when practicing calligraphy and painting."

But this doesn't mean that Xu won't reach out to others. Like everyone else, she likes to talk to her friends - but on a messenger app. She said most of her friends live far away even though they all live in the same city.

Xu said one of the issues she needs to deal with every day is making decisions on what to eat.

XU XINGXING COMPANY EMPLOYEE "Most of the time, I order food online. I know it's not healthy, but I don't want to cook."

When the food is delivered, she cracks open the door just a tiny bit and takes the food. She says it's safer to keep away from the strangers on the other side of the door.

LI JIANHUA BEIJING "Being indoorsy is nothing new, but the growth of the Internet and the possibilities that has opened has surely helped those shut-ins. Many say these people are laid-back, but there's no denying that this lifestyle has helped plenty of other people who work in China's booming service industry. LJH, CGTN, Beijing."