Chen, 53, can barely recognize his hometown of Beijing. He grew up in a traditional household during the Cultural Revolution. What he sees now is a polluted, crowded city that has gradually replaced its older architecture with cold, modern designs.

"It's no longer the city that I love," says Chen, who is thinking of moving elsewhere for the benefit of his two sons, ages 9 and 6. "Beijing was famous for its blue skies in the past. Also, traffic is a nightmare. It's ridiculous. The world has really gone mad. I feel like I've been cut to pieces, culturally. It was hard to find my identity."

"I feel uneasiness nearly every day," he says. "If we make ourselves more money but we are not a happy people, then what's the point? A high price has been paid. The culture has been lost. The values have changed."