Graphic: Escape from Beishangguang

(Beijing) – Some 7.27 million graduates left college campuses this year after four years of undergraduate studies, the most in the country's history. Most of them will naturally seek to start their careers, and they often look to Beishangguang – a term for the big cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou– for their big chance.

Research by Shanghai Jiaotong University shows that 29.5 percent of this year's graduates year are eyeing Beishangguang, but life in these crowded, competitive cities can be tough.