New generation of returnees: Endeavor and compromise

He Zhi (L) in Monaco and Ruan Chao (R) in London. [Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Most of them are encouraged by the development opportunities the country offers. Ruan Chao, 27, went on an overseas study with a plan to open his own business, with hopes of learning advanced management expertise.

"I know it is hard to start a new business and I have to blaze a trail. But I'm willing to follow my heart rather than stick to the so-called iron bowl," said Ruan, who last year quit a much-envied job at the Beijing headquarters of ChemChina, a state-owned chemical giant in China, for a one-year postgraduate study at Warwick University in the UK.

For Chinese who have overseas education, Ruan is not the only one who plans to start a business. He Zhi, 25, has been somewhat a successful founder of a travel website and raked in 400,000 yuan ($59,813) in half a year after the new company kicked off.

As a travel enthusiast, He "derailed" from the path to be chemical engineer after obtaining a master's degree in chemistry at ESPCI Paris Tech. Upon graduation in 2015, he returned to China and created an online platform for helping plan DIY tours and connecting travel friends and city "treasure hunters".

"My dream is to change Chinese people's travelling habit through importing the western value and lifestyle into China," said He .