Why China’s best and brightest are ditching the megacities for second-tier ones
The country’s ‘second-tier’ urban areas are benefitting from increasing numbers of skilled workers who are tiring of the strain of living in the megacities
Chen Daowang described his decision two years ago as a turning point of his life. Then 31 and the father of a newborn baby, he jumped ship from a Shanghai-based company to one in Hangzhou, 170km away, and relocated the whole family.
He bought a flat there for a quarter of the price of its equivalent in Shanghai, and registered his baby’s permanent residence, or hukou, which ensured the child’s access to a quality public school in the neighbourhood.
Looking back, Chen, who retains a similar position to the one he had two years ago in Shanghai – secretary to a general manager – is happy that he relocated to the smaller, but less stressful, city in time.
“My career progression may have slowed down a bit because of this, but I can afford a home – whose price has doubled now – and the family got local hukou, which means we have secured medical insurance and education,” said Chen.
Like Chen, a growing number of experienced professionals and recent college graduates on the mainland are opting for second-tier cities instead of the megacities when designing their career path.