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A 66-year-old woman in Shanghai has spent more than 2 million yuan (around Rs 2.3 crore) on online shopping in recent years, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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The woman, known only by her surname Wang, lives alone in a flat in Jiading district. Her home is filled with unopened packages, stacked so high that she says she has no space left to sleep.
Speaking to SCMP, Wang said her shopping gives her a feeling of excitement. “I feel excited when I buy things online,” she said.
She mostly shops during livestreaming sessions, often buying cosmetics, health supplements, and gold jewellery. Wang also said she spends on purpose to stop others from asking her for money.
“To prevent other people from borrowing money from me, I choose to spend it buying things,” she said. “When they see piles of stuff in my home, they will feel it is not appropriate to ask me to lend them money.”
When her main flat could no longer hold the items, Wang bought a second flat in the same area. She also uses her underground garage for storage and has rented another flat to store more packages, according to SCMP.
Neighbours have raised complaints about the situation, saying there is a bad smell, and they often see cockroaches and flies near her home.
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A local residential committee official said Wang’s daughter lives abroad and her relatives rarely visit. The official said the committee tried to involve her family last year and organised a clean-up after getting Wang’s permission. “We hoped her relatives could help her change,” the official told SCMP. “But she continued hoarding.”
Psychiatrist Shi Yanfeng, based in Shanghai, said hoarding is often a sign of deeper issues like depression or social anxiety. “Hoarding is not just about clutter,” said Yan Feng of the Shanghai Mental Health Centre. “It usually reflects a long-term mental health issue that needs regular care.”
The story has gone viral on Chinese social media. One person commented, “The root of her problem is loneliness.” Another added, “Young people should care more about elderly members of their family.”
Wang continues to live on her own, surrounded by goods she never opens, in homes full of unopened parcels worth crores.
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