Bright prospects

Liu's decision to start her career here was deliberate. She had considered Beijing, where she graduated, and Qingdao, close to her hometown in Shandong province.

"Beijing felt saturated," she said. "The cost of living, the commute — two to three hours a day — would wear on me."

By contrast, her first visit to Xiong'an in early 2025 left a positive impression. "The residential buildings are so new and orderly. The community facilities like canteens, schools, parks and clinics are well equipped. The 15-minute living circle they talked about is already real," she explained.

The 1,000-yuan living subsidy is part of a broader support system designed to lower the financial burden for young talent. Liu is also one of more than 17,000 Xiong'an Talent Card holders who have settled in the new area.

The card entitles them to public services including medical care, housing, and children's education, as well as support for their work and entrepreneurship efforts.

"In Beijing, a household registration — which is so appealing to many young graduates — might help one's child get into school someday. But for me, I'd be renting forever, and maybe never owning a car," Liu said.

In Xiong'an, she said she can build a career and a stable life. She plans to buy an apartment and bring her parents to live with her.

"Public services and the living environment serve as the binding force for talented people and families to settle down," said Mu Aiying, deputy director of the Institute of Economics at Hebei University of Economics and Business. "The factors determine whether talented people can live well and whether they will choose to stay or not."