Core Insights - The article discusses the high housing price-to-income ratio in several Chinese cities, which is driving young people away due to the unaffordability of housing [1][5][6] Group 1: Housing Price-to-Income Ratio - The housing price-to-income ratio in China reached 10.0 in the first half of 2025, indicating that a typical family would need to save for 10 years without spending to afford a home [5][6] - This ratio has decreased by 26.8% since 2019 but remains significantly above the internationally recognized reasonable range of 3-6 [6][9] - The ratio varies significantly across different city tiers, with first-tier cities at 25.4, second-tier cities at 10.5, and third and fourth-tier cities at 7.4 [9] Group 2: Cities Struggling to Retain Young People - Sanya is highlighted as a city with a high housing price-to-income ratio, where local wages are insufficient to afford housing, leading many young residents to seek opportunities elsewhere [12][14] - Zhengzhou faces similar challenges, where even graduates with master's degrees struggle to find jobs that pay enough to keep up with rising housing costs [18][20] - Xiamen is described as having high housing prices with low average incomes, making it difficult for locals to afford housing, further exacerbated by limited land supply and a focus on tourism [22][24] Group 3: Broader Implications of High Housing Costs - High housing costs lead to increased living expenses, with many young professionals feeling financially strained and unable to save [28][30] - Long commuting times and high work pressure in major cities contribute to the difficulty in retaining talent, with many workers experiencing burnout [30][32] - Some cities are implementing policies to attract and retain young talent, such as housing subsidies and increased affordable housing supply, but the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain [34][36]