54 pct Chinese youth consider returning to hometown

A newspaper survey has revealed that over half of young people who have moved to China's first-tier cities would like to return to their hometowns.

According to the China Youth Daily survey published Tuesday, 54 percent of respondents said they were considering finding a new job back home.

The survey had 2,000 respondents, who are/were working or studying in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Shenzhen.

Youngsters living in China's eastern coastal areas were the most likely to leave and return home, a total of 63.5 percent indicating they would like to do so.

Of the factors that had caused them to move to the city, 56.6 percent said job opportunity and income, 52.4 percent said enviromental quality and 51.3 percent said house prices.

Other prominent factors include education and medical standards, traffic and city management levels.

The four first-tier cities abound in job opportunities, but many migrants find have difficulties settling down due to soaring housing prices and fierce competition.

Undergraduate students are also voicing concerns as to whether they can remain in cosmopolitan cities after graduation.

Li Wenjun, a student in southern China's Guangzhou city, said his family were anxious about his future work place, but he would like to try a big city first since his hometown could be a backup plan. Endi