A man in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, has won one of the most unusual competitions in China after lying down on a mattress for more than 33 hours without getting up.
The strange event, known as a “lie flat” contest, was held inside a shopping mall and organised by Chinese mattress and home-furnishings brand Sleemon. This was the third time the company had hosted the competition, which was designed to promote their mattresses.
Around 240 contestants took part in the event on November 15, each given a mattress to lie on. The rules were simple: participants could turn over, use their smartphones, read books and even order takeaway food — but they were strictly forbidden from sitting up, leaving the mattress or going to the toilet.
To cope with the long hours, many competitors brought blankets, power banks, food and other supplies. Some even wore diapers so they wouldn’t need to leave their spot.
Organisers said there was no fixed end time for the contest. It would only finish once the top three winners had been decided.
By the 24-hour mark, 186 people had already dropped out, leaving just 54 contestants still lying flat. Eventually, one man outlasted the rest, staying on his mattress for 33 hours and 35 minutes.
He was crowned the winner and received 3,000 yuan (around $422 / £323). Second and third place contestants received 2,000 yuan and 1,000 yuan respectively.
The competition quickly went viral on Chinese social media, with many users joking that they could lie down for even longer. Some commented that it was finally a contest they could actually win.
The event was also live-streamed and reportedly gained more than 10 million views. Due to its popularity, the organisers are now considering expanding the contest to other regions in Inner Mongolia.
