It's 2:00 a.m. and I couldn't sleep, so

I went outside and realized I'm not the

only one awake.

Hi, I'm Zaza, living alone in the big

city of Guangzhou, China.

Tonight, I don't know why, but I just

can't fall asleep, tossing and turning.

>> [sighs]

>> Since that's the case, I might as well

not sleep. Let's get up and see what

China looks like in the middle of the

night.

Honestly, I hardly gone out in the

middle of the night since turning 30.

I'm also really curious about what I'll

run into tonight.

Even this late, the streets are still

bright.

I guess for people working the night

shift, it never really feels unsafe.

Some places are just closing. Some stay

open all night.

And some are just getting started.

Same night, different lives.

In China, taxis also operate on day and

night shifts, so you can always hail a

cab.

Lots of KFC and McDonald's spots in big

Chinese cities are also open 24 hours.

Food delivery riders have flexible

schedules.

Some prefer working at night.

There are fewer orders, but the pay per

order is higher than during the day.

Living in China, midnight hunger is

never a problem.

I just kept walking with no real

destination.

Then I found this small izakaya.

Suddenly, I'm in the mood to go in and

have a couple of beers.

>> [music]

>> On a sleepless night, stumbling upon an

izakaya, having a beer, and soaking in

this sense of calm isn't a bad choice at

all.

>> [music]

[snorts]

>> I learned that loneliness can sit in a

crowded room, and fullness can fill a

silent one.

The weather of life is not measured by

the number of voices in it, but by the

tone of the one that speaks inside you.

You can sit in a crowd and feel like an

island.

You can close the door and hold the

whole ocean.

The world doesn't decide whether you're

lonely or whole. You choose how to fill

your own hours.

>> [snorts]

[music]

[music]

[snorts]

>> May you maintain peace and joy in body

and mind, no matter the circumstances.

Free from forcing yourself, free from

blindly following, and always living as

your true self.

It's 3:00 a.m. now, and the city's

cleaning vehicles have started their

work.

For a moment, I couldn't tell if this

was a night bus or the first morning

bus.

Nearby, there's a street full of

late-night entertainment.

For young people, it's probably karaoke

or a game of pool.

After a long night, they grab something

from a street stall and slowly head

home.

Maybe after a long day, this is the only

time they truly get to be themselves.

Hotel entrance, cabs lined up waiting

for fares.

Meanwhile, a couple deeply in love are

about to part ways.

Designated drivers posted near bars and

clubs waiting for drunk clients.

If late-night food were ranked, barbecue

would absolutely take first place.

A few close friends shedding fatigue and

pretenses, freely venting emotions and

unwinding in the quiet of the night.

For the young, this is charging time.

Late-night real talk, no filters.

By 3:30 in the morning, the markets

start to wake up.

Fresh vegetables arrive from the farms,

and the vendors are already preparing

for a new day.

Scooters keep passing by, food delivery

riders and drivers waiting for their

next order.

>> In this world, everyone has their moment

to be alone.

But not every solitude feels lonely.

Some are just quiet conversations we

finally have with ourselves.