No people, just sheep: The unlikely job that Chinese college grads clamored for

An ad for a shepherding job went viral in China, drawing hundreds of applications from young people eager to escape the stresses of urban life.

BEIJING — One of China’s most competitive jobs this season wasn’t in an urban high-rise, but in its sprawling northern grasslands.

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An April advertisement for a two-person job herding sheep — offering couples an above-average combined monthly salary of 16,000 yuan ($2,400) with free food, accommodation and Wi-Fi — quickly turned into a viral phenomenon, drawing millions of views and hundreds of applications from young people eager to escape the stresses of urban life.

On Chinese social media platform Weibo, one hashtag related to the job ad gathered a staggering 59 million views.