Chinese Mountain Resort Offers US$8,200 Monthly Pay to 'Cloud Sea Watcher'

A scenic area in central China is offering a monthly salary of 60,000 yuan (US$8,200) to hire a "cloud sea observer" who will live on a mountaintop for 30 days, filming and sharing videos of the region's famous floating mist.

The Laojun Mountain scenic area in Henan Province announced the unusual job opening today seeking one person to reside at the summit from July 16 to August 15, when cloud formations are most spectacular. The successful applicant will receive free room and board, and will be required to film at least one video daily and post it on social media, Henan Television Station reported.

The application process involves posting an original video on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, with designated hashtags. Selection will be based primarily on the number of likes, along with content quality, reach and account compliance, according to the official announcement. Candidates must be non-employees of the scenic area, and the company warned it will disqualify anyone found using fraudulent engagement tactics.

Laojun Mountain, a sacred Taoist mountain known for its ethereal sea of clouds, draws visitors seeking the dramatic views of peaks emerging from thick white mist.

In recent years, scenic spots across China have used creative social media campaigns to boost tourism. The cloud watcher role builds on that trend, combining short-video content creation with immersive destination marketing. The offer comes amid a growing appetite for "slow living" and nature-focused experiences in China, particularly among younger generations.

Interested applicants have until July 15 to submit their entries. The scenic area said the winner will be announced shortly after the deadline, with the 30-day observation period beginning the next day.