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Young Head Home as Times Get Tough in the City

Some young people are looking for new opportunities in their hometowns, rather than sticking it out in China's tough metropolises

Jul.20

Chinese Economy: So Far So Good but not Without Risks

China's economy has demonstrated a “better-than-expected” upturn in the first half of this year, but it’s still too early to say whether the economy has entered a new up-cycle

Jul.20

Companies more Likely to Merge During Party Chief’s Promotion

Local officials should be supervised throughout their involvement in mergers and held accountable when mergers incur huge losses, a study proposed

Jul.20

Chinese Mainland Warned of Collusion Between India and Taiwan

Taiwan and India's shared lack of trust in the Chinese mainland may serve as a strategic foundation for their claimed 'natural alliance'

Jul.19

Chinese Tourists Getting Better Behaved

It's time to change stereotypes about Chinese tourists

Jul.19

Visual Report

A bird’s-eye view of Rongcheng

A memorial archway in Xiongxian

The value of the local hukou household registration has skyrocketed since the launch of the policy. On April 5, Liang Yuejun, 52, took his marriage certificate to apply for a hukou of Rongcheng County, which is under the administration of the Xiongan New Area. He has lived there for 20 years since marrying a local woman, but hadn’t processed his hukou registration until recently. Hearing that the local hukou is becoming valuable, Liang couldn't bear to lose his chance

On April 5, crowds of people wait in line for hukou registration at the police station at Nanzhang, Rongcheng County. As a local police officer explained, they’d only received five or six applications per day in the past, but on the morning of April 5, over 60 applicants rushed to register

On April 1, the Chinese central government announced the establishment of the Xiongan New Area (XNA) in Hebei Province, a new district to rival the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area. The district is expected to integrate the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei and ease the strain on resources in the capital. The three counties that are included in the XNA plan – Rongcheng, Xiongxian and Anxin – have drawn attention nationwide.　

Hundreds of homebuyers from across the country swarmed to the area during the three-day tomb-sweeping festival, hoping to buy up property to resell for a profit in the future. All three counties held an emergency meeting on April 2, one day after the announcement of the establishment of XNA, and told the public that they would regulate the local housing market to curb property speculations in the new area. 　

A wave of excitement has swept the counties. Thrilled by the plan, many locals living away from their hometown are rushing back for new career opportunities. Having a local hukou has suddenly become more attractive. The foreseeable flood of investment and funding has made both locals and outsiders confident about the prospects of the area, all craving to cut themselves a lucrative slice of cake.

1. Rongcheng locals perform square dancing. A local says that the town has been filled with a festival atmosphere ever since Rongcheng was included into the Xiongan New Area　

2. Ever since Anxi County was included in the Xiongan New Area, the local government building has been a hotspot where people are keen to take photos　

3. The Xiongan New Area has become the most discussed topic among the local farmers in the fields. They are extremely optimistic about their future　

4. Even though the street loudspeaker keeps up a warning about the ban on property deals, buyers and agents still trade privately. Some speculators have been detained by the local police in Xiangxian　

5. A government seal blocks the gate of a property developer in Rongcheng after county authorities imposed a ban as speculators rushed to the area to snap up real estate bargains　

6. Yin Jinhua has worked in a clothing factory in Rongcheng for 20 years. She and her colleagues all believe the Xiongan New Area project will tremendously boost the local clothing industry　

7. A local resident peddles his own property by showing buyers his ownership certificate near the sales office　

8. Shang Shuangliu, 58, a driver-turned-entrepreneur who owns a logistics company in Rongcheng, is extremely excited about the XNA plan – “happier than my wedding” he says. He’s already been discussing with his wife how to further expand the delivery range of his company　

Politics

President Xi Meets Carrie Lam

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Chief Executive-elect of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), was presented with the official certificate of appointment by Premier Li Keqiang on behalf of the State Council in Beijing on the morning of April 11.

China’s ‘1,000-year’ Project

China’s recently announced plan to create a new city 100 kilometers from Beijing has triggered both enthusiasm and concern among China’s investors and economists

Society

More Overseas Students than Ever Come Home

The total number of returnees has reached 2.65 million by the end of 2016, of whom 432,500 students returned home in 2016, according to the April meeting on services for returning students.

Larger Than Life

Pandas seem cuddly. But looking after them is anything but relaxing

SPECIAL REPORT

Officialdom Unmasked

MAGAZINE

June 2017

May 2017

April 2017

March 2017

February 2017

January 2017

December 2016

November 2016

October 2016

September 2016

August 2016

July 2016

NEWS BRIEF

ESSAY

Meeting Chinese friends rarely constitutes a simple chat over coffee, or walk in the park. Particularly when meeting a visiting friends, the time commitment is likely to be four hours minimum

Fast Friends

If it’s somewhere in between, that’s where the really bad behavior is – where there’s enough fear, but not enough trust

MAGAZINE

MOBILE

MAGAZINE

MOBILE

A New Start? Chinese analysts are optimistic following the first meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump

Prudent and Neutral Facing uncertainties both at home and abroad, “prudence” has become a key term at this year’s National People’s Congress

In Its Infancy Clarification and a national law is needed more than ever for couples and a country in need of babies

Tough Chessboard The government is pushing hard for much-needed reform – but is that creating too much power for the government in turn?

LATEST HEADLINES

Young Head Home as Times Get Tough in the City

Chinese Economy: So Far So Good but not Without Risks

Companies more Likely to Merge During Party Chief’s Promotion

Chinese Mainland Warned of Collusion Between India and Taiwan

Chinese Tourists Getting Better Behaved

Visual Report

Politics

President Xi Meets Carrie Lam

China’s ‘1,000-year’ Project

Society

More Overseas Students than Ever Come Home

Larger Than Life

MAGAZINE

NEWS BRIEF

ESSAY

NETIZEN WATCH

CULTURAL LISTINGS

Economy

China Sets Ambitious Goal in Cloud Computing

International

South-to-South

CULTURE

Art of the Past

Outside In

Drop Off the Beaten Track

Commentary

We need a cure for toxic leverage

Environment

Crossing Borders