Metropolitan Life: Rewards and challenges of economic development

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Four decades of reform and opening up have brought much more to China than just economic and political gains. The livelihood of its people has changed for the better. However, no one lives a care-free life, especially not for those living and working in big cities like Beijing. CGTN's Sun Tianyuan takes a closer look.

Xiong Renzhen moved to Beijing in 1979 with her family, one year after China opened its doors to the outside world. Growing up with little wealth and few material possessions, Xiong's life is vastly different now.

XIONG RENZHEN BEIJING RESIDENT "40 years on, it's like climbing a mountain. Our quality of life is better than it's ever been. Food, clothes, daily necessities, we have everything we need."

The 75-year-old is enjoying retired life with her family.

XIONG RENZHEN BEIJING RESIDENT "Life is easy for us retirees. I play badminton every now and then. But I feel that young people in the city are under a lot of pressure."

Xiong's daughter Chen Fuyun works for a construction company, and faces pressure as competition in the industry is fierce.

CHEN FUYUN BEIJING RESIDENT "Competition is fierce in the industry. We're under a lot of pressure, especially at year's end when targets have to be met. I'm on business trips quite often."

Despite this, Chen and her husband say life is better now than it used to be.

WANG YAFEI BEIJING RESIDENT "I came to Beijing with nothing. When we got married, we lived in a small studio and cooked in the hallway. Now we have two apartments."

Their daughter Wang Wanyue considers herself lucky not to have to pay rent. But the newly-wed has other things on her mind.

WANG WANYUE BEIJING RESIDENT "School district housing is expensive. A friend of mine spent 7 million yuan on a tiny apartment just to be in her preferred school area. I don't have a child now, but my heart sinks thinking of that."

Many of her friends live from paycheck to paycheck. Others are tied up with work.

WANG WANYUE BEIJING RESIDENT "You can't have your cake and eat it too. A lot of my friends are single. Some get off work at two in the morning and have no time to socialize."

With leaps and bounds, people's livelihoods may have changed. But for young people, the golden years of retirement are still a long way off. Sun Tianyuan, CGTN, Beijing.