Comical photos of nappers in China show them snoozing on rocks, in a bucket and even under a truck 

If there’s one thing that the Chinese is known for, it is perhaps their ability to sleep anytime, anywhere – far from their beds.

A German amateur photographer has proven exactly that by capturing Chinese people and their art of extreme napping during his six-year stay in Shanghai.

It seems that Chinese people can indeed catch a wink huddled in the most impossible places: on a toy scooter, on a ledge, on a brick, on an airport trolley, in a telephone booth, on a seesaw in a park, or even in a bucket. 

Anytime, anywhere: A man is seen taking a nap in a bucket in China. Bernd Hagemann’s collection, titled ‘Sleeping Chinese’, consists of about 700 photos showing people in China sleeping in bizarre places in bizarre positions

A man is seen taking a nap on a bench in China, using newspapers as a blanket and a shield from the sun

A man is seen taking a nap on a bench in China, using newspapers as a blanket and a shield from the sun

Man napping on a ledge overlooking the Shanghai skyline. The collection, 'Sleeping Chinese', is divided into three categories

Man napping on a ledge overlooking the Shanghai skyline. The collection, ‘Sleeping Chinese’, is divided into three categories

Nothing will stop me: a woman grabs 40 winks while perfectly balancing herself on a toy scooter in China

Nothing will stop me: a woman grabs 40 winks while perfectly balancing herself on a toy scooter in China

Bernd Hagemann’s collection, titled ‘Sleeping Chinese’, is divided into three categories on his website, sleepingchinese.com. 

‘Hardsleepers’ can just drop and sleep on any surface, ‘Softsleepers’ prefer something more cushiony and ‘Groupsleepers’ tend to enjoy a siesta party with friends and family. 

‘I started seeing this strange habit on the streets of China and it amazed me,’ Mr Hagemann, 50, told MailOnline. ‘People were just sleeping in the strangest positions. I have never seen this in Europe.’  

One of Mr Hagemann’s favourites is a man swaying on a make-shift hammock underneath a truck.

‘I remember like it was yesterday. It was in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. It was a hot summer day in July, almost 40 degrees,’ he recalled. 

‘I was on the phone with my friend when I noticed a pair of shoes left under a massive truck. I told my friend: “Let me call you back,” and snapped the picture.’ 

One man was even able to hop on a make-shift hammock underneath a truck - one of Mr Hagemann's favourites

One man was even able to hop on a make-shift hammock underneath a truck – one of Mr Hagemann’s favourites

A man and a woman share a rock bench while hunching over their knees and taking a nap in a park in China 

A man and a woman share a rock bench while hunching over their knees and taking a nap in a park in China 

A man sleeps while perfectly balancing himself on a tilted chair

Another man sleeps in a chair and uses a helmet to block out the sun

A man balances himself on a tilted chair (left). Another man sleeps in a chair and uses a helmet to block out the sun (right)

And no, these people are not homeless. They’re just tired. 

The 163 comical photos posted on his website show these public nappers resting their heads on the seemingly most uncomfortable surfaces, with their necks crooked and their backs hunched over.

One was pictured using a pumpkin as a pillow. Another, assumed to be a butcher shop employee, was seen resting her head on a chunk of raw meat.

However, they appear to be quite cozy as they snooze away with their mouths agape, unsuspecting of the camera.  

‘Sometimes they wake up and they laugh with me,’ he said. ‘Only in one or two instances were they a bit angry at me.’ 

One particular picture, voted as a crowd favourite on the website, shows a security guard taking a nap despite having his body distorted across a park bench that was separated by metal armrests designed specifically against that purpose. 

Crowd favourite: A security guard takes a nap despite having his body distorted across a park bench separated by armrests

Crowd favourite: A security guard takes a nap despite having his body distorted across a park bench separated by armrests

A tired Chinese woman cowers over a narrow ledge and sleeps while placing her head on her purse

A tired Chinese woman cowers over a narrow ledge and sleeps while placing her head on her purse

A man uses some wooden panels as a pillow. 'Hardsleepers' can just drop and sleep on any surface, Mr Hagemann said.

A man uses some wooden panels as a pillow. ‘Hardsleepers’ can just drop and sleep on any surface, Mr Hagemann said.

A man sleeps on a bicycle that doubles as a shop selling bamboo sticks and feather sweeps in China

A man sleeps on a bicycle that doubles as a shop selling bamboo sticks and feather sweeps in China

A tired man is pictured using a pumpkin as a pillow.

Another, assumed to be a butcher shop employee, is seen resting her head on a chunk of raw meat.

A man is pictured using a pumpkin as a pillow. Another, assumed to be a butcher shop employee, is seen resting her head on a chunk of raw meat. However, they seem quite comfortable as they snooze away, unsuspecting of the camera

In an introduction to his collection, the photographer wrote that he was struck by the cultural disparities when he first arrived in Beijing from Lemgo, Germany in 2002 to work as a chief financial officer for a German cleaning equipment manufacturer.

He then started the project in 2003 after he moved to Shanghai. He always had his camera with him and ended up taking about 700 photos across the country. 

After seeing the hilarious collection, one of his friends offered to set up the website for him.

Mr Hagemann saw China’s image depicted in the media and thought it a misrepresentation: ‘They talk about “The Sleeping Giant”, about “The Birth of the New Super Power” or “The Awakening of the Red Dragon”, often with a strange kind of undertone, which is supposed to frighten us. 

‘The reality definitely looks more peaceful.’ 

A woman positions herself quite comfortably among her store's inventory - a giant fluffy toy dog

A woman positions herself quite comfortably among her store’s inventory – a giant fluffy toy dog

A person creates a comfortable fort by sitting on a chair and wrapping himself up in a thin mattress

A person creates a comfortable fort by sitting on a chair and wrapping himself up in a thin mattress

'Groupsleepers' tend to enjoy a siesta party with friends and family, according to Mr Hagemann

‘Groupsleepers’ tend to enjoy a siesta party with friends and family, according to Mr Hagemann

Keeping the perfect balance: Two friends take a nap on a seesaw in a park. This is also one of Mr Hagemann's favourite photos

Keeping the perfect balance: Two friends take a nap on a seesaw in a park. This is also one of Mr Hagemann’s favourite photos

He believed that the world often carries a stereotypical mindset towards China, whose growing power is viewed as a threat to other countries. 

But the people who supported the economic rise of the country are only human.

‘At every corner, you can discover people that are either napping in the strangest positions and situations, or are even snoring, while in a deep sleep. The missing mattresses and pillows are noteworthy,’ he said.  

It appears that sleeping in public is very much socially acceptable in China, he added.

‘Everybody is napping whenever time allows, no matter which social class they are from. I was told by a person from China that sleeping in general is very highly prioritised, on par with food and family.’ 

A man takes a nap in a plastic bucket placed on the ground. By displaying these hilarious pictures, Mr Hagemann hoped to bring 'the calmness, the flexibility and the adaptability' of these public snoozers to viewers outside of China

A man takes a nap in a plastic bucket placed on the ground. By displaying these hilarious pictures, Mr Hagemann hoped to bring ‘the calmness, the flexibility and the adaptability’ of these public snoozers to viewers outside of China

A man loses his slippers, sprawls across the ground and appears to be quite comfortable as he snoozes away

A man loses his slippers, sprawls across the ground and appears to be quite comfortable as he snoozes away

A man takes a nap draping across his motorbike, without taking off his helmet and motorcycle googles

A man takes a nap draping across his motorbike, without taking off his helmet and motorcycle googles

Using photography, Mr Hagemann hoped to bring ‘the calmness, the flexibility and the adaptability’ of these public snoozers to viewers outside of China. 

The website has received almost 3.8 million hits since 2003.

It also drew the attention of independent Hong Kong publisher Blacksmith Books, which published a book of his photos in 2008, also titled ‘Sleeping Chinese’.

‘The general reaction and feedback of people have been really positive,’ he said. ‘Even some Chinese people wrote that my photos really highlighted their special habit and how different the country really is.’

He has since moved on after six years in China. He was transferred to Buenos Aires, where he had no interest in creating a collection of slumbering Argentinians.  

An old woman takes one shoe off and sleeps a luggage trolley, presumably too tired from the flight

An old woman takes one shoe off and sleeps a luggage trolley, presumably too tired from the flight

A man takes a nap in a telephone booth. Mr Hagemann's website has received more than 3.8 million hits since 2003

A man takes a nap in a telephone booth. Mr Hagemann’s website has received more than 3.8 million hits since 2003

A tired driver sleeps in the back of his truck during lunch time. Mr Hagemann took almost 700 photos during his stay in China 

A tired driver sleeps in the back of his truck during lunch time. Mr Hagemann took almost 700 photos during his stay in China 

‘I really miss China. It was such an exciting experience for me, job-wise and also for my personal life,’ he said. 

Since 2015, he has been living in New Zealand, where he operates a premium camper van rental company.

‘So far, I haven’t seen any sleeping New Zealanders,’ he said. ‘”Sleeping Chinese” is probably a once-in-a-lifetime project.’ 

However, he is constantly updating his website to include more of the pictures in his collection.

He also invites readers to send in pictures of any slumbering Chinese they encounter and plans to display them in a separate gallery. 

The sleeping giant still needs its nap, so it seems. 

A construction worker naps inside a large tube, the perfect shade from the blazing sun on a hot summer day in China

A construction worker naps inside a large tube, the perfect shade from the blazing sun on a hot summer day in China

Two men sleep on a bench. It appears that sleeping in public is very much socially acceptable in China, Mr Hagemann said

Two men sleep on a bench. It appears that sleeping in public is very much socially acceptable in China, Mr Hagemann said

Might as well: A man conveniently takes a nap on a mattress tied to his parked tricycle in the middle of the road

Might as well: A man conveniently takes a nap on a mattress tied to his parked tricycle in the middle of the road

A group of sleepers enjoy a siesta party on park benches in China. Mr Hagemann said he always had his camera with him

A group of sleepers enjoy a siesta party on park benches in China. Mr Hagemann said he always had his camera with him



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