From the Chinese Press

More equitable development needed

The mention of the word hometown, especially during Spring Festival, evokes fond memories among migrant workers who are forced to live away from parents and/or families all year long. The more than 3 billion rail, road and air trips migrant workers will make - moving between two cities - during the travel peak indicate that their lives are more like a "tale of two cities", says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

More than 50 percent respondents to a recent survey said they planned to work in the first-tier cities after Spring Festival, with only 13.8 percent saying they would work either in their hometowns or neighboring towns and counties. The problem is that if people working in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai move back to their hometowns, they cannot find enough opportunities without strong social connections.