Why Chinese Americans Are Quietly Moving Back to China

为什么美籍华人正悄悄回到中国

The immigrant story was supposed to run one direction: leave China, build an American life, never look back. This video follows the quieter, newer pattern, second-generation Chinese Americans with US degrees, careers and passports who are choosing to build their adult lives in China anyway. It traces the real pulls behind that choice: the career acceleration in Shanghai and Shenzhen that America's mature economy can't match, the well-documented bamboo ceiling blocking Asian Americans from leadership roles, the identity exhaustion of being perpetually 'from somewhere else' at home, and the chilling effect of the DOJ's China Initiative on Chinese American scientists and researchers.

移民故事原本只有一个走向：离开中国，在美国扎根生活，不再回头。如此出现一种趋势：拥有美国学历、事业与美国护照的第二代华裔美国人，仍然选择在中国开启成年后的人生。

这一选择背后真实的吸引力：上海、深圳能够提供的职业发展速度，是美国成熟经济体难以企及的；有据可查的 “竹天花板” 阻碍亚裔美国人晋升至领导层；长期在自己定居的国家始终被当成 “外来者” 带来的身份认同疲惫；美国司法部 “中国行动计划” 对华裔科学家和研究者造成的寒蝉效应。

越来越多的美籍华人（尤其是第二代）正在搬回中国

过去，中国典型的移民故事是：离开中国，然后来到美国，在美国拿到学位，努力工作，然后入籍美国，然后在美国过上中国给不了的生活，然后定居下来，不再回去。这些中国人的后代逐渐与中国疏远，只在照片、食物和半懂的语言中隐约感知中国。这仍是大多数华裔美国人的故事。

如今有成千上万的美籍华人正在回流中国，其中不少是在加州、纽约、德州长大、在美国大学毕业、建立美国事业的第二代华人。他们是美国公民，文化上也是美国人，却选择去中国发展。原因复杂得多。

有两类人群回归中国

第一个是海归：持美国学历和履历的中国公民，回国贡献，推动经济快速发展，目前中国通过"千人计划"等积极招揽。

还有一个群体是第二代美籍华人，这些是更少被讨论的一群，母语可能是英语、文化形成是美国式的，却做出更复杂、更刻意的选择，把成年生活放在中国。

他们并非抛弃美国，多数持美国护照、保留美国联系

以下是各国网友的评论：

FlordelizaSchwarz
Safety is better than money

安全比赚钱更重要

 

cherubimcherubim9515
I am a third generation overseas born Chinese. I have never forgotten my roots. I still speak Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka and hokkien dialects. Celebrate and observe the Chinese new year and others Chinese celebrations like the moon cake, lantern etc. My grandfather sent money back when China was poor to his village for schools, clinics and his relatives in China. I have watch China being the sick man of Asia to a superpower .Where ever i am living China will always be my mother land. Jai You China. Recently I seen a rise in PRC coming to my country their children will be the first generation overseas born Chinese. Now we have restaurants with authentic hotpot from Chongqing , Hubei food etc. Hair salon from China that open 24 hrs haircut.

我是海外出生的第三代华人。我从没忘记自己的根。我会说普通话、粤语、客家话和闽南语。我也有过春节，也过中秋、元宵这类中国传统节日。当年中国还很贫穷的时候，祖父就汇款回乡，用来在村里修建学校、诊所，接济国内亲人。我亲眼见证中国从“东亚病夫”成长为超级大国。

无论我身在何处，中国永远是我的祖国。加油中国。最近，越来越多中国大陆人来到我定居的国家，他们的孩子会成为第一代海外华人。他们在当地开了不少馆子，有正宗重庆火锅、湖北菜等等。还有中国人开的理发店，24小时营业。

 

h.h..g.n2123
As a saying goes . USA used to be a gold mine.. immigrants flocking there in droves.. but life seems to be not so attractive than it used to be

老话常说，美国曾经是淘金宝地，大批移民蜂拥而至。可如今美国的生活，不像从前那么吸引人了。

 

lamyokhwa8096
America might have been a gold mine but life never was civilised for the Chinese. Many paid dearly in search of wealth.
I look at the offspring as a generation or two destroyed because they are neither Chinese nor accepted as Americans. But then would they have got to where they are if their parents or grandparents never took the initiative?

美国或许曾是淘金之地，但华人在那里活得并不体面。很多人为求财付出沉重代价。在我看来，有一两代华人后代处境很尴尬：不算中国人，又不被美国人接纳。可话说回来，如果祖辈当年不主动远赴海外，他们又怎会拥有现在的生活？

AnthonyGreen-p5u
@lamyokhwa8096 my neighbors were Chinese immigrants. Their daughter's a doctor asian immigrants do the best in america better than most americans

我的邻居就是华人移民。他们女儿是医生。亚裔移民在美国发展得很好，比大多数美国人都出色。

 

Eyy7072
For retirees, some parts of China are very livable

对于退休人群来说，中国有些地区非常适合养老。

 

peterchern8978
Bias in promotion. In today's America society still very much bias and race, skin color discrimination. A very good example is Morris Chang of TSMC. Back then, he was a vice president but, Texas Instrument promoted a WHITE DUDE to CEO who is less senior, less experience and less qualification.

美国存在偏见，华人比较难晋升。当今美国社会，种族与肤色歧视依旧严重。台积电的张忠谋就是典型例子。当年他担任副总裁，结果德州仪器提拔了一个资历更浅、经验不足、能力不如他的白人当了首席执行官。

 

tuppenceworth5485
When China was poor and weak, many Chinese immigrated to all four corners of the globe to seek a better life. They faced verbal and physical abuse, including murders and massacres, and discrimination from the native population. The US was no exception. In 1882, it passed the Chinese Exclusion Act to stop Chinese immigration to the US and even enacted a Anti-Miscegenation Act to prevent marriages between Chinese and "whites". China today is no longer the impoverished and undeveloped country it once was. While the West is experiencing a general decline, China's living standard and quality of life are increasing and have surpassed the West in many areas, such as education, healthcare, safety and infrastructure. It is not a surprise to see many Chinese moving back to their roots.

当年中国积贫积弱，大量华人远赴世界各地谋求生活。他们遭受当地人的辱骂、暴力伤害，甚至屠杀与歧视。美国也不例外。1882年美国出台《排华法案》，限制华人入境，还颁布了一项禁止跨种族通婚法案，不允许华人与白人结婚。如今的中国早已不再贫穷落后。西方整体走向衰退，而中国人的生活水平持续提升，在教育、医疗、治安、基建等很多方面已经超越西方。所以不少华人选择回归故土，并不令人意外。

 

markestherchia5095
Life in China used to be tough

以前在中国的日子很苦啊

ChiChow-d8v
Much much better!!

现在的中国生活好太多了！

Kaydot-c3o
Okay can you leave

行了，你别说了

 

Uscmjprisonlifemilitary09
compared to 2000 ofc its better.. not better than pre covid times

现在中国人的生活比起2000年当然更好，但比不上疫情之前

 

wenfengliu6937
I’m one of them. Living in Us for 40 years and now moved back to Beiing. But my children are not moving back. They cannot read no write. Living in China is so convenient and safe. The air is a lot better than before. Almost the blue skies every day. My husband and I plan to live in the nursing home when we are older. The nursing home is like a five star hotel although it’s not that cheap.

我就是搬回中国的一员。我在美国生活了40年，现在搬回北京居住。但我的孩子不愿回来，他们不会读写中文。在中国生活方便又安全，空气质量比以前改善很多，几乎天天都是蓝天。我和老伴打算年纪大了住进养老院。养老院像五星级酒店，只是价格不算便宜。

SteveYap-l7j
You've contributed 40 years in the US, wonder why you and your husband not continuing living in the US to enjoy the success of the US? Instead you and your husband decided to live in China and enjoy the success build by the local Chinese? Just curious.

你在美国奉献了40年，很好奇为什么不和老伴留在美国，为什么不继续享受美国发展的成果？反而选择回到中国，享用中国本地人打拼出来的成就？只是单纯好奇。

 

tinal8522
Yes, anyone can feel safe, freedom enjoy going out at night.

没错，在中国生活，很安心自在，晚上出门也放心。

 

missasiacanada
I moved back, life is way better then in north America , it's safe, affortable and modern. those that refuse to believe this obviously hasn't been to China before...lol

我回国定居了，生活比在北美好很多。安全、物价适中，城市现代化。不肯相信这些的人，明显没来过中国，哈哈。

 

KhunYasoboyYaso-i5c
I am from one of the South East Asia countries living in the California La Habra along Harbor Blvd area for 6 years.
Then I made up my mind after 6 years and returned back to my birth country. Because I don't want to live in a country where I have to face racism, crime and bullies. Today, I am a happier man than I was there.

我来自东南亚某国，在加州拉哈布拉市的海港大道一带住了6年。6年后我下定决心，回到出生的祖国。我不想待在一个要面对种族歧视、犯罪和霸凌的国家。现在的我，比在美国生活的时候快乐很多。

 

ChauBau-o9l
I am from South Vietnam, I will stay here for the good or the bad, I will not betray the country which harbored and helped me when I was in the difficult situation, I am the man of integrity and loyalty.

I am a Navy veteran and also an electronics engineer for Federal Aviation Administration.

If everyone defect this country so who will defend her when she need to be defended.

Ask not what your country can do for you,ask what you can do for your country.

我来自南越。无论好坏，我都会继续留在美国这里。我不会背叛美国这个在我落难时收留、帮助我的国家。我为人正直，懂得感恩忠诚。

我是海军退伍军人，同时任职于美国联邦航空管理局，担任电子工程师。

如果所有人都离开这个国家，等到国家需要守护的时候，谁来保卫它？

不要问国家能为你做什么，要问你能为国家做什么。

 

gchai5299
Seventy years ago, what was the fate of those who returned?

七十年前，那些选择归国的人，最后是什么下场？

 

MohdAliffBinMohdKamal
Never in a million years i set foot in America, never interested. I am Malaysian and my wife, a rich woman from Shanghai. Now we happily stay in China

我这辈子都不会踏足美国，一点兴趣都没有。我是马来西亚人，妻子是上海的富家千金。我们现在在中国过得很幸福。

 

Oscar-p8z
I asked one of the American Chinese who decided to come home and this is his answer...." If they don't accept me as an American , than i rather stay Chinese "

我问过一位决定回国的美籍华人，他这样回答：“如果他们不把我当成美国人接纳，那我宁愿做中国人。”

 

edmsh59
Bamboo ceiling is partly golf, fishing, fraternity, hunting, for example are not mainland Chinese bonding tools, although Taiwan Chinese are pretty good in the first two. In the mainland, Chinese connections are a different story altogether. It is guanx which a 3rd generation ABC simply cannot get. And today's China job security is simply whimsical, due primarily to the direct party secretary. 20-30 years ago it may have been different. Today please be careful, especially ABC with Chinese surname

竹天花板一部分源于社交圈层：高尔夫、钓鱼、兄弟会、狩猎这类活动，大陆华人很少靠这些拓展人脉，不过台湾华人比较擅长前两项。而在中国国内，人情关系又是另一套规则。这种人脉，第三代美籍华人很难建立。而且如今国内工作稳定性变数很大。二三十年前情况或许不一样。现在要多加小心，尤其是华人姓氏的美籍华裔。

 

cemis5216
History tells about the past, but gives clues about how the future would be. The tension between the two leading countries concerns people who came from China thinking about the 40’s.

历史记录了过去，也预示着未来走向。两个大国之间的关系紧张，让来自中国的人们想起上世纪40年代。

 

ChayngHlubkoj
America is a work place, not a home. It was designed that way.

美国只是谋生之地，不是家。这个国家从建立起就是这样。

 

ls297
They're smart enough to see the US is failing and with China on the rise around the world there's an increased sense of national and cultural pride.

他们足够清醒，看得出美国正在衰落。随着中国的全球崛起，中国人的民族与文化自豪感也越来越强。

 

davidleung2432
The US we knew thirty or fifty years ago is not here anymore. The US now clearly drifting towards isolation and refusing to acknowledge her shortcomings. Unless this is reversed, more citizens with foreign backgrounds will look outside for living a fuller life.

三四十年前我们熟悉的美国，已经不复存在。如今美国明显走向孤立，不愿承认自身短板。如果不改变这种趋势，会有更多外籍背景的人，去国外寻找更美好的生活。

 

kylecai742
Interesting. The children of Chinese-American engineers I know—by and large, they attend top-tier universities in the U.S. and go on to earn big money in us

有意思。我认识一些华裔工程师，他们的子女大多能考上美国顶尖大学，之后在美国赚高薪。

 

terrywu2292
I’m wondering are the Cantonese Americans moving back to China because in San Francisco it’s mostly Toishanese & Cantonese & very few Mandarin Speakers

我很好奇，有没有中国粤裔美国人回国？旧金山这边大多是台山人和广东人，很少有人说普通话。

 

samanthacat1211
Most Chinese love to study and often more of them are very good students as commonly seen. If Chinese citizens educated in America should contribute to America’s greatness 1st, because their learned knowledges often can help America’s future greatness too instead of packing up and leave America and going back China to work there. Unless they can’t find jobs here. Came as very little children or born from America, mostly just as natural Americans too, because their growing up life experiences, languages, educations, associations and habits have formed them just as any none immigrants Americans the same without much differences. However, 25%_30% will also be affected with own parents’ experiences or influences too, since lived together and associated the most. The 2nd generation of America born Chinese probably will have no more differences at all with all naturally generationally born in America at all. Only difference will be each other’s different characters, life paths, knowledges, hobbies…etc.

华人大多勤奋好学，很多都是优等生。在美国接受教育的华人，理应先为美国发展出力。他们学到的知识本可以助力美国发展，而不是收拾行李回国工作，除非他们在美国找不到工作。

从小随父母赴美或者在美国出生的华人，本质上就是本土美国人。成长经历、语言、教育、社交和生活习惯，让他们和本土美国人几乎没有差别。不过其中25%到30%会受到父母经历与观念的影响，毕竟朝夕相处。

在美国出生的第二代华人，和土生土长的美国人基本没有区别。人与人之间的差别，只在于性格、人生道路、学识、爱好等等。

 

AlexBalucci
Im Iranian living in Tehran im so happy for Chinese economy grow, china and Persian was to oldest nations on the earth and future belong to Asian, we was strongest economy in the past and western countries stolen it from us , but we are super power again china already is a super power, but Persian Iranian need a little bit more time because of all sanctions and rhe war western barbarian nation put it on our economy, but we will win the war , insha'Allah

我是伊朗人，住在德黑兰。看到中国经济增长后，我由衷高兴。中国和波斯是世界上最古老的两个文明，未来属于亚洲。我们曾经拥有最强的经济体，却被西方国家掠夺。如今我们要再次成为大国，中国已经是超级大国。而伊朗还需要一点时间发展，野蛮的西方国家不断发动战争、实施制裁，打击我们伊朗的经济。但我们终将赢得这场博弈