Small cities come with smiles

gzlaser

THREE years ago, after Mu Nan graduated from a Beijing university, he left the metropolis jobless and feeling depressed. The 25-year-old said he couldn't land a job because, in the capital city of 16 million people, \"competition was too fierce\".

Mu opted for Zhongshan, a medium-sized city in Guangdong. It ranked No 3 in the list of top 10 happy cities, according to a recent Oriental Outlook poll. More than 3 million Chinese voted for the list, with the top five being Hangzhou, Shenyang, Zhongshan, Qingdao and Ningbo.

Now after working in public service for three years, Mu feels at ease with his decision to leave Beijing.

He earns a handsome salary and has bought a Buick and a 150-square-meter apartment. \"I doubt I could enjoy such a life in Beijing,\" Mu said.

Mu is just one of millions who have traded the fast-paced life of a metropolis for cities where life is quieter, less stressful and, according to some, happier.

An August survey by China Youth Daily and Sina.com found that city residents attributed their happiness to low housing prices, low cost of living and relaxed traffic conditions.

Relaxed lifestyle

In medium and small-sized cities, the average house price is usually around 3,000 yuan per square meter, according to real estate website Soufun.com. Property prices can cost three times more in the big cities.

Although 80 percent of China's medical resources are concentrated in large cities, according to the Ministry of Health, the high costs drive away many citizens.

\"Last year, a fever cost me 500 yuan in Xiehe Hospital in Shanghai,\" said Huang Xue, a 23-year-old magazine editor. \"In Zibo, my hometown in Shandong Province, I would have only spent 50 yuan.\"

The relaxed lifestyle in these \"happy\" cities helps nurture a more friendly environment.

\"In small cities, you can often see a sincere and friendly smile on people's faces,\" said Ge Jianxiong, a geographic studies professor from Fudan University.

\"However, when you walk around big cities few people smile at you. In fact, they are likely to regard you with suspicion if you smile at them. They're just alert and looking out for danger.\"

Ge believes the most powerful draw of smaller cities is their \"social cohesion\". \"If you have a feeling of belonging, then you will feel that your life is safe and stable.\"

Fewer opportunities

Life in smaller cities may be enjoyable, but it can also lack quality job opportunities for ambitious new graduates.

\"Generally speaking, there are far more job opportunities in metropolises than in small cities, both in industry and enterprise,\" said Li Lei, an employee in the career center at Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

\"But in small cities, the shortage of talent can give a qualified graduate a speedy path to promotion.\"

Another problem is insufficient supervision and control of livelihood issues due to the lack of money and people, according to Yanzhao Metropolis Daily reporter Xie Di.

He explained that many of the food and environmental problems affecting big cities also exist in small ones. But they don't get as much attention as in big cities.

As job-hunting season nears, many graduates will have to decide whether to work in a big city or a small one.

\"There's never a simple right and wrong choice. It's just about your personality and what kind of lifestyle you want,\" said Yue Changjun, deputy director of the Economics Department at Peking University.

\"The metropolis might suit a person with courage, creativity and initiative. But if you prefer a stable and comfortable life, then provincial capitals and medium- and small-sized cities might be the best choice.\"

Promising careers in overlooked places

Here, 21st Century highlights some of China's most underappreciated cities for new graduates:

* Dalian, Liaoning province

It has become one of the IT outsourcing hubs of China. The number of software companies has increased by 50 times in the past nine years. A neat and green coastal city, Dalian is a comfortable place to live and work.

* Kunshan, Jiangsu province

As a county-level city, Kunshan attracts lots of foreign investment in manufacturing. Its GDP per capita is close to that of developed countries. A prosperous city with a laid-back lifestyle, Kunshan has plenty of job openings.

* Foshan, Guangdong province

International trade is this medium city's main business. A large number of foreign trade and logistics professionals are needed here.