A simple job advertisement seeking shepherds to work in the remote grasslands south of Mongolia has unexpectedly gone viral on Chinese social media. Farm owner Zhuo Xiaoyang posted an advertisement looking for two people to herd sheep near the Mongolia border region, never imagining the level of attention it would attract.
Within hours, the post topped the trending charts on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, gaining nearly 59 million views. More than 700 people applied for the two positions. Applicants included white-collar employees from major cities such as Shanghai and Chongqing, factory workers, and even recent university graduates.
The job’s attractive salary played a major role in drawing interest. The position offered a monthly pay of around Rs.1.10 lakh, significantly higher than the average salary offered by many private companies in China, which is estimated to be around Rs.70,000. In addition to the salary, the employer also promised free accommodation and free groceries.
However, the work comes with extremely challenging conditions. During summer, the selected workers must manage around 3,000 sheep across nearly 4,900 acres of grassland. In winter, temperatures can drop to minus 30 degrees Celsius, requiring the shepherds to stay on-site while cleaning and caring for the animals in freezing conditions. The job also demands living in complete isolation for most of the year.
Zhuo said he never expected the advertisement to become so popular. He revealed that nearly one-tenth of the applicants were recent university graduates, while several others were struggling with debt and unemployment. Observers say the overwhelming response reflects the difficult situation in China’s current job market.
Despite the large number of applicants, Zhuo ultimately selected two middle-aged couples born in the 1980s who had prior farming experience and were capable of handling loneliness and the harsh environment, rather than choosing young urban professionals unfamiliar with rural life.
