I suppose it's true to a certain extent. So much has been said about China's growth and to a lot of people it spells opportunity. Many come here and become disillusioned after a while. However, many others find comfort here. At least they can get a decent job here whereas back home jobs couldn't be had. In recent months, things have been getting better in the west. The US and EU are recovering, albeit slowly, and I am quite sure many will think about returning home. Whether China can continue at this pace remains to be seen. Perhaps with the recovery of the west, demand picks up and China might just maintain the pace. We shall all have to see. 

Short answer - no.

It's the ex-may-have-been-new-land-of-opportunity.

It provides the opportunity for many men to meet and marry Chinese women.  Me included.

Don't know if it provides that same opportunity for women though.

For the Chinese citizens yes. For us yes and no to a certain extent. The land of opportunity is a place where you can immigrate you and your family to and someday be given citizenship. do we have this opportunity in China? No we don't. Do you think China will allow this in the near future? No I don't think so also. We have a temporary or so called year by year life style in China. Even a foreign husband/ wife is not allowed to support his wife/husband on a family visa.. it is even difficult for spouses to stay here.

Will China allow itself to become a land of opportunity for itself? It depends on the success of their new companies and new brand names and new economy and relation with the company and china will need Some big time exporting.

I think it's a land of opportunity for certain locals...I teach alot of IELTS & TOEFL to young adults. Am continually surprised/astounded by the amount of wealth of their families !!  as they say....'the sky's the limit'.

There would be only a few foreigners making real good money, usually on expat packages from their Co's at home.

Certainly not teachers, although you can have a more comfortable life-style here than back home., for the same amont of hours worked.

However, there is a real 'brain drain' going on here,this Govt. needs to address the issue,many of  their smartest & best students are not coming back home. China badly needs them in all fields of endevour.

Also, many of the wealthy are leaving with their riches for greener pastures. China can do with their investments & obvious business acumen.

Not sure why this is all happening, but I think it is a problem for the future of China. Any thoughts??

The Land of Opportunism!

I would say no, at least for us. I think that for the vast majority of people who come here, the opportunity is strictly ESL and related 'english monkey' work. Bottom line...that's not a middle class career, more of a service industry job. Travel opportunity aside, as a career it's no more of an opportunity than working at Home Depot. You can make...decent money with it if you bust your ass, but you're trapped here without any meaningful security.

I've written a lot about what I call the "expectations gap" between living in China and the West. You aren't really doing any better teaching than you could do in the service industry in the west, but expectations here are lower. In most places in the U.S., if you don't have a car, people look down on you. You feel bad about being at the bottom. Here even at the same income level and lifestyle, there's another degree of poverty that simply doesn't exist in the west. You'll have esteem and dating opportunities that you wouldn't back home. Frankly I think that's a really really stupid reason to be here though I know it doesn't apply to everyone.

There are some opportunities for entrepreneurship and gainful employment. I did manage to get a job at a foreign-owned banking institution a few years ago, which I still have, but looking back I think I just got lucky. I explicitly tell people back home not to come here to try for easy access to professional positions. If you want that...try Kenya, Colombia, Nigeria etc. Places fewer people want to live and where they have to take what they can get in terms of foreign-educated entry-level professionals.

I agree with you guys, I wish they could open up a little bit. Am here visiting my hubby who works here, but am not allowed to work. I have applied for numerous jobs all in vain. 6 months down the line still jobless. Can't find decent employment that can offer me a working visa, (tried teaching but without a teaching cert and being black, then risking with the police..it's harder than expected) I am an economists, applied work in Banks they told me they don't hire foreigners. so, soon we all pack up and go home..I think there we both (hubby and I) can grow!

I agree with you guys, I wish they could open up a little bit. Am here visiting my hubby who works here, but am not allowed to work. I have applied for numerous jobs all in vain. 6 months down the line still jobless. Can't find decent employment that can offer me a working visa, (tried teaching but without a teaching cert and being black, then risking with the police..it's harder than expected) I am an economists, applied work in Banks they told me they don't hire foreigners. so, soon we all pack up and go home..I think there we both (hubby and I) can grow!