Young professionals quit the rat race to lead agrarian lifestyle

Hu Siqin, who quit her high-paying job to become a farmer, talking with her neighbours during lunch in Chongming island in Shanghai. Photo: AFP

Hu Siqin had a promising career in Shanghai with a Fortune 500 company and more than enough money, but something was missing under the bright lights of the big city, a sense of what she calls “roots”.

So the 33-year-old chucked it all in to lay down literal roots as part of a nascent back-to-the-farm movement in which young Chinese professionals are quitting the rat race for the simple joys of an organic, agrarian lifestyle.