More graduates choosing to work in 2nd-tier cities

After graduating from Tsinghua University this summer, Xu Yingqiang left Beijing to work for a chemical trading company in Chengdu, Sichuan province.

"In cities like Chengdu, I can still pursue my dreams - but without all the struggling," the 24-year-old graduate said.

This year, the number of college graduates in China is expected to reach 7.95 million, an increase of 300,000 over last year, according to the Ministry of Education.