bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Zoey Zhang

A self-described “life loser” from eastern China has turned his situation around by following a superhero workout from a Japanese manga for 1,000 days.
Li Shuangyong, from Shandong province, who is known online as Tangzhu, has attracted more than one million followers on mainland social media.
According to Jiupai News, Li was born into a rural family.
At 36, his fish farming business collapsed, leaving him in debt and ending his marriage.
He called himself a “life loser” and said he spent his days feeling lost and aimless.

During that low point, Li came across the hit Japanese manga “One-Punch Man”, which inspired him.
Its hero, Saitama, is a broke, bald guy in a shabby flat, nothing like a typical superhero.
He does not fight for glory or revenge. He just wants to be a hero, so he trains like one.
Saitama’s routine is simple but intense: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and a 10-kilometre run every day.
After three years, he becomes strong enough to defeat any monster with a single punch.

Li decided to follow the same plan: “I had to save myself. I could not keep living like that. It could not get any worse.”
Starting on August 24, 2021, he trained for 1,000 days.
His biggest challenge was money. Li said he ran in shoes that cost less than 10 yuan (US$1.40) and lived on eggs and instant noodles.
Li filmed his progress and shared it online, quickly building a large following and attracting sponsors.
Supporters sent him running shoes and supplements.
A fan group in Taiwan even live-streamed his runs on a campus screen and trained with him remotely.
He also met his girlfriend during a marathon, a younger woman who encouraged and supported him throughout the journey.
On July 19, Li finished his 1,000-day challenge. He had run more than 20,000km and completed more than a million repetitions of various exercises.
His body went from frail to strong, and his mindset shifted to one of confidence and optimism.
He credited his persistence to staying focused on success and said he tried to “amplify hope without limits”.

To mark the final day, Li shaved his head and dressed as Saitama, calling it a tribute to the manga hero.
ONE, the creator of One-Punch Man, praised him on X, writing: “Your willpower is incredible! Congratulations.”
Li said the 1,000-day challenge was just the beginning.
Next, he plans to go for a Guinness World Record by running a marathon every day for a full year.
One online observer said: “I cannot believe he turned an anime workout into real life. That takes insane discipline.”
“Li’s determination is inspiring, but most people should stick to more balanced, science-backed fitness and nutrition plans,” said another.


China beauty influencer pays off US$57,000 family debt; accused of faking cerebral palsy

China husband gets 50 tonnes of produce from mystery donor to raise funds for sick wife

China ski resort offers US$700 birthday service where instructors carry women guests down slope

China mum shares toddler’s recovery from underdeveloped hip joint, receives online support

Trending in China

China ‘life loser’ transforms life in 1,000 days through intense training, gains online fame

After going through debt and divorce, a man in China revamped his life by following the intensive training routine of a Japanese manga superhero. Photo: SCMP composite/Bilibili

Li Shuangyong went from being a “broke, bald guy” to a muscular man with a new mindset. Photo: Handout

Li, pictured in a superhero cape, said his biggest problem was a lack of money. This forced him to exercise in cheap running shoes and eat only instant noodles. Photo: Handout

Li’s fitness regime included push-ups, sit-ups and a daily 10-kilometre run. Photo: Shutterstock.

Chinese woman dates 20 men, asks for iPhones, sells them to fund property down payment

A woman in China dated 20 men simultaneously, asking each for an iPhone before selling the gadgets to make a down payment on a flat. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

The woman asked each of the men she dated for an iPhone, then sold the gadgets online. Photo: Shutterstock

The outwardly unassuming woman’s work colleagues were shocked by the fact that she was able to date 20 men at the same time. Photo: Shutterstock

The woman, who worked as a lowly company clerk, used the money she made from selling the phones to make a down payment on a flat. Photo: Shutterstock

Masked China singer with 22 million online fans puts pioneering first concert on hold

A hugely popular 20-year-old singer in China, who conceals her identity by wearing a mask, is to make history by staging a concert first. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Weibo

The 20-year-old singer performs on stage in a stunning and elaborate silver mask. Photo: Baidu

The singer also dons a cartoon mask on stage and has never revealed her true identity. Photo: Baidu

Public concern that the mystery performer may pretend to be singing has prompted the event’s organiser to issue a reassuring statement. Photo: Baidu

China siblings fight over dad’s US$420,000 inheritance, discover neither is biological child

Two siblings in China who were fighting over a US$420,000 inheritance in court inadvertently discovered that neither of them was the biological child of their dead parents. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sohu

The siblings, both of whom were adopted, were locked in battle over a residential property. Photo: AFP

A court in northern China dealt with the case, which has caused much discussion on mainland social media. Photo: Getty Images

Despite modern-day changes to China’s legal framework on inheritance, deeply ingrained cultural norms often lead to male heirs being favoured. Photo: Shutterstock 

China pancake seller in US on US$20,000 a month arrested for unlicensed stall amid turf war

A Chinese man who sells savoury pancakes in the United States has been arrested for operating without a business licence amid a turf dispute with a rival vendor. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin 

Immigration agents swooped to arrest Tang in Los Angeles on July 19. Photo: Douyin

Tang rolls dough at his stall in Los Angeles. One American customer described his fare as “amazing Chinese pizza”. Photo: Douyin

The businessman chops up pancakes. He says he hopes to resume his work after the case is settled. Photo: Douyin

China mum wraps baby’s index finger to stop ‘unhygienic’ sucking, leads to tissue damage

A Chinese mother wrapped- up her baby’s index finger to stop the child from sucking it and almost caused the digit to be amputated. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Weibo

Little Lele’s index finger became swollen and discoloured as a result of her mother wrapping it up. Photo: Sina

Doctors say it is perfectly normal for infants to suck on their fingers. Photo: Shutterstock.

Medical experts say the mothers of young babies should seek professional advice if they are worried about their child and avoid following random tips given online. Photo: Shutterstock

News

People & Culture

Washed-up, failed fish farmer takes inspiration from Japanese manga superhero, transforms body and mind via gruelling fitness regime


Washed-up, failed fish farmer takes inspiration from Japanese manga superhero, transforms body and mind via gruelling fitness regime.


Health & Fitness

China ‘life loser’ transforms life in 1,000 days through intense training, gains online fame

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Washed-up, failed fish farmer takes inspiration from Japanese manga superhero, transforms body and mind via gruelling fitness regime

Washed-up, failed fish farmer takes inspiration from Japanese manga superhero, transforms body and mind via gruelling fitness regime