[thetechlead]

> But does it matter if you work continuously 9-9? If I stay on premise 9-9 I still regard that as work -- that still is my time that I'm selling to the company.

In many countries, lunch and dinner breaks are unpaid time - in theory you are free to go home and do whatever you want. In China, noon break can be two hour long including napping. And the free dinners of IT companies are actually incentives to lure you staying longer on campus. Of course you can leave earlier or even on your own schedule if raising a child, however, for young people most prefer staying overtime enjoying free facilities companies provide them, like food and gyms they have to pay off-campus otherwise.

[teknologist]

I feel it's also worth noting that a lot of local Chinese folks don't really have many "hobbies" or many other reasons to not be at work socialising with their colleagues and doing company organised activities. It's culturally quite different to the West, where people often have things going on outside of work.