Place Attachment, Livelihood Prospects, and Return Decisions: Paving the Way for Sustainable Rural Communities in Shuangfeng County, China

The flow of rural population to urban areas in China has provided tremendous support for China's economic development. Previous studies have explained the reasons of out-migration and return migration. However, the role of place attachment, that is, the attachment to the place of native and destination, in deciding whether to return to rural areas, has not been fully explored. This study attempts to explore the impact of attachment to rural or urban areas on the decision-making process of rural migrants returning to rural areas. Thirty-three rural migrants born in and with living experience in Shuangfeng county participated in semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Results show that the connection of rural migrants with urban areas is more derived from job opportunities and quality of life, rather than place attachment. In contrast, the attachment to rural areas focuses on past living experiences and relationships with relatives and friends. Positive attachment to the native place leads rural migrants to return to the countryside or maintain an interest in returning. Migrants combine their income prospects with attachment to their native place for comprehensive consideration. Result suggesting that to foster sustainable rural communities, it is crucial to enhance resident connections and expand employment opportunities.