Competitive napping is dream come true

Rong Weiqing, a 35-year-old studio owner from Shanghai's Songjiang district, recently enjoyed a luxurious two-hour afternoon nap in a distant forest on the city's Chongming Island.

Driving over two hours to the island, she was one of 43 participants to take part in the sleep-in-forest competition, which kicked off on World Sleep Day in Dongping National Forest Park. Immersed in sunshine, fresh air and greenery, contestants gathered for a good sleep and the chance for a cash prize.

Starting March 21, the competition takes place every Saturday through April 26, as well as on May 2 and 3. Professional sleep monitoring devices are set up on site to objectively collect, record, and evaluate competitors' sleep conditions and quality through data metrics, including sleep latency, total sleep duration, deep sleep duration, and sleep continuity.

"We detect competitors' subtle body vibrations from the heart, lungs and other organs. When they go into deep sleep, the heart rate slows down and heart activity decreases," explains Xu Wei, technical director of AnLight Optoelectronic Technology Co.

Falling asleep is not mandatory for the competition. Participants are allowed restful activities such as simply closing their eyes or lying still. Throughout the entire event, participants remain lying down on the provided mattress. Electronic devices, such as cellphones, tablets, and other entertainment devices, are not allowed.

At every competitive event, the participant with the highest sleep score can win a cash prize of 3,000 yuan ($435), while the contestant who falls asleep the fastest can earn 2,000 yuan. All other participants who follow the rules and reach the end share a prize pool of 10,000 yuan, according to the organizers.

Rong, who took part in the sleep competition for the first time, did not make it to the end. But she still enjoyed it and appreciated the precious time simply lying down outside, escaping the daily hustle and bustle.

Rong tells China Daily that her sleep quality is basically "average" due to many common distractions, such as work messages, entertainment and household chores. Thus, the short two hours without any distractions or obligations were a "rare" experience for her.

"Shanghai is a fast-paced city. The competition gives me a good reason to relax and free myself from the phone and busy work. Getting away from the city center and closer to nature, lying under the sunshine, and sleeping amid birdsong was just awesome," says Rong when she left the challenge.

While Rong was unprepared for the challenge, another competitor, Tao Jiajia, arrived ready for the contest, as she enjoyed the sleep and eyed the prize. She wore pajamas and had brought her pillow and quilt.

Tao sleeps well in her daily life. As a documentary filmmaker, she sees sleeping as a way to "heal" herself. She also finds dreaming interesting, as it feels like making a movie for herself without costs.

"This is my first sleep-in-forest experience. I love getting in nature. The sunshine is fantastic. I felt I could sleep well here and even wanted to bring my cat," says Tao, with a big smile.

As Tao confidently expected, she reached the end of the competition. Lying in the park for seven hours, she shared the prize pool with 31 other competitors. She even managed to get a good sleep the night of the event.

The competition has seen strong registration numbers and increased popularity on social media. All 400 spots in eight events were filled within three days, with participants aged 18 to 30 accounting for 54.1 percent, says Chen Haixing, chairman of the Shanghai Chongming Ecotourism Group Co.

"Sleep is essential, yet it is becoming a major challenge for urban dwellers. Chongming has long been committed to building a world-class ecological island and has already achieved significant results. With the competition, we aim to raise public awareness about healthy sleep, helping them reconnect with nature and find inner peace," Chen adds.

With the rapid development of modern society, sleep quality remains a pressing problem for many. The China Sleep Research Society recently reported that nearly 500 million adults in China suffered from sleep disorders in 2025. Staying up late, irregular sleep schedules, emotional stress, and dependence on electronic devices are among the main factors affecting the sleep quality of young people.

Zhao Min, president of the Shanghai Mental Health Center, points out that sleep quality is critical to good health. Experts from the center suggest a comfortable environment for a good night's sleep, including temperature, light, sound, bedding, limiting the use of electronic devices before bed, and a regular wake-up schedule.

"Sleep problems are closely related to many illnesses. Sleep competitions can help the public to prioritize sleep and adopt a healthy lifestyle. A good sleep can protect you from many disorders, both physical and mental," says Zhao.

Seeing the challenges, an increasing number of people are making more efforts to improve their sleep quality. Napping pods have been popular among office workers in recent years, and sleep aids and therapies, such as singing bowls, meditation, smart mattresses, and sleep monitoring devices, are also seeing rapid growth in China.

According to data provider iiMedia Research, China's sleep economy is expected to reach 658.68 billion yuan by 2027.