The incident caused a stir in Chinese media in mid-November, when the Huangpu district court, Shanghai, released details of a prolonged lawsuit between Mr. Xu and his landlord, Ms. Chu.

Mr. Xu, 70 years old, was once an internet sensation known as "Nanpu Bridge uncle". Images of the man silently standing at the foot of the bridge, rumored to be pining for love, garnered thousands of interactions and admiration from the online community.

A corner of Mr. Xu's cluttered apartment. Photo: GMW.CN

The reality was quite different. According to court records, Mr. Xu rented the apartment, over 50 square meters, on Haichao road in 2011 for 7,500 te (approximately 26 million dong) per month. From 8/2023, he stopped paying rent and utility bills, citing financial difficulties.

Despite promising to vacate by 31/7/2024, Mr. Xu deliberately delayed, disregarding a clause that doubled the penalty rent. The situation escalated in 5/2025 when authorities initiated enforcement, only to be shocked by the condition of the house.

Mr. Xu had transformed the apartment into a massive junkyard, with no clear entrance. Trash was piled high to the ceiling, leaving only a narrow path for one person to squeeze through. The cleaning crew worked continuously from 13h to 18h, mobilizing 5 five-ton trucks to remove all the waste. In total, over 100 bins of trash and 290 boxes of personal belongings were cleared from the 50 square meter space.

"Rats and cockroaches were everywhere. Even the largest mouse traps I bought were ineffective," a neighbor living on the same floor complained about the foul smell and insects they endured for a long time.

Investigations by authorities revealed that Mr. Xu had actually rented another apartment in Minhang district for 1,900 te, which was more in line with his pension of over 4,000 te. Ms. Chu's house was occupied by him primarily to satisfy his hoarding habit.

Mr. Xu was subsequently detained for 15 days for resisting enforcement. Faced with strict legal measures, the "romantic uncle's" attitude completely changed. He settled all outstanding debts, including rent, cleaning fees, and utility bills, totaling over 190,000 te.

By mid-10/2025, Ms. Chu's family had renovated the apartment, making it clean and tidy, bringing an end to the sensational case of the former "internet phenomenon."

Nhat Minh (According to GMW.CN)