A married Chinese woman in her early thirties, residing in Changzhou with her family, attracted attention when she invested in a secondary property for recreational purposes. Three years ago, Gong Yan purchased the apartment for 500,000 Chinese yuan ($69,000) using her personal savings.
Her decision was influenced by the challenges encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Throughout the period, Gong found herself in a 130-square-meter apartment, isolated with her son, husband, and parents-in-law, managing their needs without much time for herself.
