Tenants exercise in the gym at YOU+ International Youth Apartment in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on November 30, 2014. [Photo/CFP]

"Actually residents can save more money by volunteering for the community, as all our facilities are free except beverages and snacks."

The youth communities pride themselves on being a place to live, rather than somewhere to stay. "We are pushing strangers to become acquaintances by living in the community," Liu said. "It's just like neighbors in the village."