Zhang Xiaomeng (Zhang has been working in a New York City communications company since graduating with a master's degree in business administration in 2006.)

I plan to go back to China around July, and I'm excited about it. I've been working in the public relations and communications industry in the United States and will remain in the sector after returning to China. In this field, I think I will have an advantage in China, since I'm a native Chinese speaker instead of a native English speaker. Sometimes, I find it hard to fully express myself, especially when it comes to idioms and proverb-related stories.

I think for those who would like to go back to China to start their own businesses, earning money is not the main motivation. They probably strongly desire a sense of recognition and achievement and want to prove that their knowledge and skills are valuable. Preferential policies might be an attraction, but I think personal motivation is more important.

Meng Yi (Meng moved to the United States in 2001. He has been working

in a financial service company in New York City since earning a Ph.D. in computer science in 2005.)

I have recently thought about returning to China and some of my friends have already moved back. They did not go to start their own businesses, because they found better job opportunities at home.

Making the decision to return to China and start one's own business is a very personal choice. I don't have any plans to go back because my educational background and work experience both fit better here in the United States. I am happy with my current job and I expect to learn and gain more here.

But I do think there are a lot of challenging and exciting opportunities in my field right now in China. Those opportunities are accompanied by a lot of competition and pressure, though. It's definitely a good time to go back, if you can bring with you advanced technologies and expertise the country needs.

I don't have any plans to go back to China and start my own business for at least the next five years. My major, my experience and my personal interest just do not fit in the so-called "start my own business" dream. I actually enjoy the peaceful lifestyle and meaningful job I have right now and I believe it brings the best out of me. On the other side, I am not so fond of the money-oriented environment in China nowadays.

Generally speaking, however, I believe it is the right time for intelligent young professionals to go back to China and challenge themselves with more opportunities and more life experiences. China's rapid economic development has indeed created a huge market with lots of potential, and the time is better than it has ever been.

Dong Hongwei (Dong is a fourth-year urban studies Ph.D. student at Portland State University.)

I would like to go back to China, but I don't think a fresh graduate of an American university would be more competitive in the job market than those with years of work experience in China. So if there is a job vacancy here, many fresh graduates would prefer to work in the United States for two or three years to gain some experience before going back.

A lot of Chinese students and professionals in America have been thinking about looking for jobs back in China due to the gloomy economic situation and American job market slump. But as far as I know, most people like me are planning to go back to work, but not necessarily to start our own businesses, which we know will require a lot more than just passion and technical skills.

I have not been paying much attention to the Chinese Government's new policies to attract overseas Chinese back to start their own businesses. I think it's hard to say whether now is the right time. It really depends on what kind of industry you are planning to get into, and what kind of social relations and venture capital you have.