How to relax: entertainment venues and stress relief✳
This section is divided into two parts. The first part covers entertainment venues — it explains which costs are unnecessary and where the emergency exits are located. The focus here is on money and personal freedom. The second part discusses ways to relieve stress, with an emphasis on energy levels and overall mortality risk. The figures from each part are not combined for any calculations. Section 3 already listed several steps to take when feeling down; this section provides more detailed recommendations.
English text comes from the independent translation maintained by dlgrv. New entries without a translation appear in Chinese. The author's Chinese original is authoritative for the latest content. Translation snapshot: dlgrv/HowToLiveBetter · 11818c6
Check where the emergency exits are before entering a KTV, bar, or escape room; if they’re locked or blocked, pick another venue.
By law, entertainment venues must keep all evacuation routes and emergency exits completely unobstructed during operating hours. They cannot be blocked, locked, used to store items, or covered by anything, nor can any signs indicating their location be hidden. The same rules apply to internet cafés — their doors, windows, evacuation routes, and exits must also remain open at all times. Failing to comply is illegal, and you have the right to file a complaint. If a private room is located underground, has only one exit, or its corridors are cluttered with debris, choose a different venue instead.
Cost
No cost at all. Just take 10 seconds to look around when y…
Benefit
Ensuring unobstructed evacuation routes and exits is a mandatory legal obligation for venue operators. Noncomp…
02Evidence A
Price lists must be displayed before ordering; entertainment venues cannot charge “after the fact”
By law, entertainment venues must display clear prices for all services and goods and proactively hand over a price list to customers. Most cases of “exorbitant drink charges” occur when patrons never see a price list and end up paying based on verbal quotes after the fact. Upon entering a private room, ask for a price list and take a photo of it. After placing your order, request a written confirmation. If a billing dispute arises, call 12315 right away.
Cost
No cost at all. You simply need to request a price list. T…
Benefit
The regulation states: “Entertainment venues offering services or selling goods must display clear prices and…
03Evidence A
If someone offers you “stuff” at a venue, leave immediately — harboring and providing both count as aiding friends
It is strictly illegal for entertainment venues to sell or provide drugs, or to allow anyone to use drugs on site. Violators face 3–6 months of suspension or permanent revocation of their operating license. Individuals face even harsher penalties: personal drug use results in public order sanctions. Allowing someone to use drugs in a private room you booked or in your own home counts as harboring drug use and is a criminal offense. If someone offers you unknown powders, pills, or vape cartridges, walk away right then.
Cost
No cost at all. Just stand up and walk away. The hard part…
Benefit
Regulations explicitly forbid entertainment venues from selling, providing, or facilitating drug use. Staff me…
04Evidence A
Don’t accept candy or snacks from strangers, don’t drink beverages left unattended, and don’t take e‑cigarette cartridges handed to you by others
Today’s illicit drugs no longer look like typical drugs. “High‑inducing” e‑cigarettes laced with synthetic cannabinoids can be tinted and flavored to match ordinary e‑cigarettes, and they are deliberately offered to people in bars, KTVs, and hotels. Those who trick others into using them face 10–15 days of detention and fines of 1,000–5,000 yuan. Anyone who is deceived into using them also gets detained for 10–15 days. Always replace any drink that has been left unattended.
Cost
No cost at all. Never accept anything offered by others. I…
Benefit
Since July 1, 2021, synthetic cannabinoids have been regulated as a whole class of controlled substances. They…
05Evidence A
Using your own ID to log in at internet cafés – don’t lend it or use someone else’s
According to regulations, internet cafés must verify and register each customer’s ID card, then keep detailed browsing records for at least 60 days. Police and cultural authorities can request this data at any time. During that period, cafés may not alter or delete any information. Whichever ID is used, all activity on that computer is attributed to that person.
Cost
No cost at all.
Benefit
The regulation states: “Internet café operators must verify and register customers’ ID cards and other valid d…
06Evidence A
Avoid scripted-murder-mystery (剧本杀, "jubensha") and escape rooms located in residential buildings or below the first basement level
A 2022 notice jointly issued by five government departments clearly states that script-entertainment venues (剧本娱乐, "juben yule") must not be set up inside residential buildings or below the first basement level. These venues often lack proper oversight, have numerous partitions, use highly flammable props, and their doors frequently require puzzle-solving to open. In case of a fire, escaping from such places is far harder than from regular commercial premises. Before booking, check the venue’s floor number and location on review pages, and opt for a compliant venue instead if it does not meet the requirements.
Cost
No cost involved. Just ask for the building floor number b…
Benefit
The same 2022 notice from five departments lays out very specific requirements: script-entertainment venues (剧…
07Evidence A
Going for a brisk walk or a jog when feeling down: the effect size of exercise on depression is proportional to its intensity
This study pooled data from 218 randomized trials involving over 14,000 adults with major depressive disorder. The biggest improvements were seen with brisk walking or jogging. Yoga, strength training, mixed aerobic workouts, and tai chi/Qigong also showed benefits, with fairly similar effect sizes across these activities. Generally, the higher the exercise intensity, the better the outcome; however, strength training and yoga tend to be the easiest to stick with long-term. The authors themselves note that the overall evidence quality is relatively low, but the key takeaway is that any physical activity is better than none — pick whatever type you’re most likely to keep doing.
Cost
Free. Each session takes about half an hour. The hard part…
Benefit
This result comes from combining data across 218 randomized controlled trials split into two groups, covering…
08Evidence A
When anxiety interferes with daily life, mindfulness‑based stress reduction works just as well as common anti‑anxiety drugs
276 adults diagnosed with anxiety disorder were randomly split into two groups. One group attended an eight‑week mindfulness‑based stress reduction course, while the other took escitalopram. At the end, symptom improvement was almost identical in both groups. The difference showed up in side effects: almost 80 % of the medication group experienced at least one adverse reaction, and ten people dropped out because of this. In the course group, about 15 % reported side effects, but no one left the program. The program used a standardized eight‑week curriculum — it isn’t the same as any random meditation app you might download.
Cost
Taking a course costs a bit of money. The program lasts ei…
Benefit
This was a non‑inferiority randomized controlled trial conducted at three academic medical centers in the Unit…
09Evidence B
For quick relief on the spot, try the 5‑minute “cyclic sigh”: two inhalations followed by a prolonged exhalation
In a one‑month controlled trial where participants performed each of three breathing exercises for 5 minutes daily, all three proved more effective than an equal amount of mindfulness meditation at lifting mood and lowering respiratory rate. The “cyclic sigh” — which emphasizes lengthening the exhale — performed best. The method is simple: inhale once through the nose, then take a brief second inhale to fully fill the lungs, and finally exhale slowly through the mouth. This particular study relied on self‑reported data and involved a relatively small group of volunteers, yet it required zero expense.
Cost
No cost at all. Just 5 minutes a day.
Benefit
This home‑based, randomized controlled trial compared three distinct 5‑minute daily breathing routines — cycli…
10Evidence A
Treat “regular social contact” as a health expense — don’t wait until you’re feeling down to reach out
This conclusion comes from a meta-analysis of 70 studies involving 3.4 million people, tracked for an average of 7 years. Those experiencing social isolation had a roughly 30% higher risk of dying during that period compared to non-isolated individuals. People reporting loneliness faced a 25% higher risk, while those living alone faced a 30% higher risk. These figures are similar in magnitude and are even more pronounced among people under 65. Keep in mind these are observational data; it’s also possible that people in poorer health are more likely to end up isolated.
Cost
It requires some money and time to arrange meetups. The ha…
Benefit
As noted, this is a meta-analysis of 70 studies with 3.4 million participants observed over 7 years. Social is…
11Evidence A
Living near green spaces means you can use them for walking, strolling, or just sitting around
Nine studies from seven countries involving 8.32 million people show that for every 0.1 increase in the normalized vegetation index (NDVI) within 500 meters of a home, the risk of dying during the same period drops by roughly 4%. This measures greenery right around where people live, not how often they visit parks. Naturally, neighborhoods with more greenery tend to have wealthier residents and cleaner air. So don’t interpret this as “visiting parks automatically adds years to your life”; the practical takeaway is to consider nearby green spaces when choosing where to live.
Cost
No cost at all — it’s free and easy to incorporate into da…
Benefit
This result comes from a meta-analysis of nine long-term cohort studies spanning seven countries and 8.32 mill…