Of regional interest, in a reversal of a long-running trend, Chinese citizens are leaving the cities and returning to rural areas, reports The Rural Blog.
The flight to the countryside is due to many factors, including a faltering Chinese economy, high cost of living in the cities, and high rates of air pollution. In addition, China’s economy isn’t growing as fast as it once did, and urban manufacturing jobs are becoming more scarce.
Younger Chinese workers are also more reluctant to tackle the physically demanding jobs their parents once worked. 50 percent of Chinese citizens live in cities. 40 years ago, that number was only 20 percent. The percentage of urban Chinese is expected to rise to 60, but the trend could be reversing soon. Another reason for rural migration: The government has made a conscious effort to support rural infrastructure, rural investment loans and the idea of “rural start-ups.”