Young generation faces housing woes

China's continuing urbanization is leading members of the country's ambitious young generation to seek their dreams in metropolitan areas like Beijing and Shanghai, where more opportunities are available. Surging housing prices, however, are casting shadows on their futures.

After graduating from a college in Shandong, Tang Wenqian moved to Beijing to study art design. The house where she lives is far from downtown. Nonetheless, her monthly rent is not cheap.

Tang Wenqian, Art Design Student, said, "Housing prices are undergoing an amazing hike. To rent a simple 10 square meter room costs more than 1,000 yuan a month. And rent is no cheaper outside the fifth ring than it is downtown."

Dong Qing is preparing to graduate from a university in Jiangsu Province this year. He is much luckier than Tang Wenqian, since he can live with relatives upon moving to Beijing. But his experiences in hunting for housing and searching for employment have turned him into a somber realist.

Dong Qing, University Student, said, "I planned to buy a house in Beijing. But the prices are not affordable for me. An outstanding student who earns 7,000 to 8000 yuan per month can easily rent a 1,000 yuan house. But a nondescript graduate who makes 3,000 to 4,000 yuan per month can only linger on."