Why Wuxi is the new magnet for young Chinese talent

During the same period, Chen Yu, a native of Wuhan, received equal treatment regardless of having fallen into the quarantine period while participating in the program. A separate examination room was specially arranged to give her a fair shot at competing with other applicants.

"What touched me the most was the constant care from the local staff during my quarantine period," she says, "which made me feel well disposed toward the city of Wuxi." A talent selected through the program, she often explores the ancient alleys of Wuxi in her spare time. "Wuxi is everything I've ever imagined about the picturesque southern Yangtze River region," she says.

As the birthplace of China's Wu culture, Wuxi offers  unique vistas of ancient bridges and flowing water. The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal flows through the city, linking businesses and residences with the landscape. Taihu Lake, the third-largest freshwater lake in China, is best viewed from Turtle Head Peninsula Park in Wuxi. Every spring, one in five applicants is lucky enough to participate in the scenic Wuxi Marathon through a random draw.

The Youth Talent Selection Program has become a magnet attracting young people to Wuxi. In its four years of operation, 489 young talents have been selected and assigned to posts in government organizations and businesses. Their employers offer targeted and continuous career development plans for those selected.

Yan Qing, a graduate of Tsinghua University, is one of the talents selected by this program. He's thrilled to be participating in drafting the 14th Five-Year Plan and many other major projects after joining the workforce. "I received many good offers when I graduated from Tsinghua, for which I feel honored," he says. "However, I hope people care more about my ability than where I graduated from. I find Wuxi very fulfilling and have become clearer about my personal goals."

The program has attracted graduates from Oxford, Columbia, Peking University and Tsinghua, among others. This year, an announcement of Wuxi and its Youth Talent Selection Program was published not only on Chinese and foreign media platforms, but also on the social media accounts of renowned universities and international organizations.

"If I were to introduce Wuxi to my parents and fellow schoolmates," says Huang Wenhao, a young doctorate holder who's come to Wuxi through the program, "I would say, 'Wuxi is such a sweet city.'"

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