If you visit Shenzhen, China, you’ll find many people taking daytime naps in public parks, on the metro or on benches. Age and occupation make no difference to who you can see napping. The question is, why do Chinese people feel comfortable taking daytime naps, and in public at all?
First off, it is important to understand that naptime culture pervades every part of China. It is also common throughout Asia. From ancient emperors to presidents and employers, everyone accepts nap culture.There is a common saying “中午不睡下午崩溃” (Zhōngwǔ bù shuì xiàwǔ bēngkuì) – at noon if you don’t sleep, then after noon you’ll crash- that people hear from school on.
Infants sleep a lot, and the time a person spends napping decreases as they grow up. In kindergarten, the concepts of lunch and nap arestronglytied together.The standard formula is toquicklyeat lunch, then move around for a short period, prepare nap gear and finally sleep for no more than an hour and a half.
As the child becomes an adult- from elementary to high school, college and then the workforce, one thing stays consistent: naptime.The duration of the nap may decrease, but having at least 1.5 hours for the combined lunch/naptime is stillfairlystandard.
In some cities there are even pod hotels or nap capsules that can be rented for 30-minute snooze periods. An adage says “quickly sleep deep like dogs to wake with the energy of dogs.” Even if someone is not able to nap, being able to go into a dark, quiet area has positive benefits for creativity. Walking for a recommended 15 minutes before going to sleep also helps the brain.
Adult naptimes are encouraged at even large mega corps in China. For example, at Huawei, employees will take out their sleeping bags from under their desks. The whole office’s lights will dim, and everyone knowsnot to call Huawei’s office between the hours of 1 and 2 p.m.
Adult naptime is recommended to be at least 15 minutes and no more than an hour. Elsewise, you might wake up groggy, so it would be better to have had no nap at all. You also shouldn’t overeat as the midday nap, 午觉 Wǔjiào/ 午睡 Wǔshuì, is not traditionally caused by post prandial somnolence, aka. the “itis” or “food coma.”
Napping is also not for everyone. People who shouldn’t nap include people with blood or heart diseases, sleep disorders, circulatory disorders/poor circulation, and overweight people.
There’s a difference between Chinese naps and European siestas. The Chinese history goes further, featuring TCM and ancient canonical decrees. The Yellow Emperor’s canon says “ 阳气尽则卧，阴气尽则寤. (Yáng qì jǐn zé wò, yīn qì jǐn zé wù)” This means that the body moves through alternating periods of Yin and Yang. We have to sleep during midday to stay in balance.
This is further backed in TCM theory, which says the body is split into 12 two-hour periods and like a clock each time change brings a change in meridian path. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. is the “wu” period where the spleen and kidney meridians wane in yang energy; it is the best time to have lunch and go for a walk.
From 1-3 p.m. the “si” takes over as energy transfers to yin and the small intestines. By 3 p.m., the bladder meridians are activated so it is recommended to take a post-nap drink of water to wake up the metabolism.
Biologically, taking a midday nap is also effective because it allows people to escape the sun at one of its hottest points, between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which in some work settings may not be all that productive anyway.
Oftentimes workers are going to lunch together with the idea that they will return and sleep at a similar time. A person who does not take naps may be moving at a different time schedule than other workers in terms of when they expect to go home and how much they work in a day. Some look at non-nap-takers as odd and even disruptive.
In kindergarten, children become distracted by an energetic non-napper so they shush and force that child to go to sleep. I’ve seen children who are still sharply awake at lights’ out time and are forced to stare into the dark, quiet blankness while others sleep.
They are bored and miserable, but naptime is enforced so that they learn to stay on schedule with the other children and keep their energy up for the afternoon. Eventually they become so used to the nap that they are even able to do it in public.
Inspired? Jealous? Opposed? Comment what you feel about Chinese nap culture below.
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FAQs
In China, this half hour is called a 午觉 wu jiao. The afternoon nap time at the office is particularly common in Southern and South-Eastern regions of the country. This habit stems from a few reasons.
Why do Chinese take afternoon naps? ›
Afternoon nap is a traditional practice commonly seen in populations of Mediterranean, Latin American, and Chinese countries. In Chinese society, it is widely accepted that afternoon nap, as a complementary sleep, is a healthy activity and is especially good for older adults who need longer sleeping time.
How do people in China sleep? ›
Most people in China prefer to sleep on a firm mattress, claiming it is better for their backs. They believe the back remains properly aligned, with no sinkage throughout the night, if it is well supported.
What country encourages naps at work? ›
The sleep expert says he is encouraged by the growing trend of workplace napping or "inemuri" in Japan, which allows employees to sleep in the office to recharge their batteries for the rest of the working day.
How long do Chinese people nap? ›
On average, participants napped almost every day (6.25±1.24 day), with each nap lasting approximately an hour (64.62±23.70 min).
What country has mandatory nap time? ›
But no other group of people takes their naps quite as seriously as those living in Spain. The siesta - which means "a midday or afternoon rest or nap" - has become a big part of Spanish culture. Many businesses in Barcelona and other parts of the country still shut down every day so that siestas can take place.
Are afternoon naps healthy? ›
Napping offers various benefits for healthy adults, including: Relaxation. Reduced fatigue. Increased alertness.
Is afternoon nap good for brain? ›
Scientists found that people who napped for 30 to 90 minutes had better word recall – which is a sign of good memory – than people who did not nap or who napped for longer than 90 minutes. People who napped for that golden 30 to 90 minutes were also better at figure drawing, another sign of good cognition.
Do Japanese take naps? ›
In Japan, the practice of taking short naps at work, known as "inemuri," is culturally accepted under specific circ*mstances. Inemuri, or sleeping while present, is often seen as a sign of dedication and hard work, reflecting an individual's commitment to their job.
Do Chinese use pillows? ›
Pillows have been used in China for thousands of years and hold a significant place in Chinese culture. In modern times, we enjoy a wide range of pillows filled with synthetic fibers, down, feathers, or latex.
Below, we dive into the key takeaways. On their best sleep behavior, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden claim the top three spots, with 77.05%, 76.17% and 75.18% of residents, respectively, sleeping between seven to nine hours per night.
What country gets the least sleep? ›
Japan and South Korea have by far the lowest amount of sleep per night. Both less than 6.5 hours. A probable cause is the high-pressure working culture.
Are humans designed to nap? ›
hom*o sapiens are the only species that deliberately deprives itself of sleep; all other mammals sleep at multiple points during the day when their bodies urge them to. Infants nap vigorously, which confirms that a bit of sleep during the day is perfectly natural - and necessary - for humans.
What country puts babies outside to nap? ›
The Tradition: Scandinavian countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, have a longstanding tradition of allowing babies to nap outside in their cribs or strollers. This custom is deeply rooted in the belief that fresh air and nature play a crucial role in a child's development.
What cultures take naps? ›
Napping culture hasn't taken off in the US like in other countries. From siestas in Spain and Nigeria, riposas in Italy, and idlip in the Philippines, people around the world proudly practice napping. But in the United States, napping is considered a sign of laziness and a lack of ambition.
Do Japanese workers take naps at work? ›
In Japan, napping at work is acceptable. Japan is a well-known country for its hard culture and hard work. There, the term “inemuri” is also popular, which means sleeping at work. Inemuri is one of the ways chosen by the Japanese workers to show their earnestness and dedication to their work.
How many hours is a working day in China? ›
Regulatory measures in China stipulate an eight-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek, with at least one rest day. Employers can implement flexible work schedules if necessary. The intent is to create a framework that guards against overwork and supports a work-life balance.
What is the rate of insomnia in China? ›
A sleep survey conducted by the China Sleep Research Society [4] found that insomnia affects as many as 38.2 % of Chinese adults, impacting over 300 million individuals, and this number continues to increase annually, raising substantial public health concerns.
Do Chinese workers get weekends off? ›
Based on Chinese Labor Law, employees are entitled to at least one rest day per calendar week, which can be any day of the week. Saturdays and Sundays are generally rest days in China.
