What’s behind the rise of China’s second-tier cities?

Move over Beijing and Shanghai. Step aside Shenzhen and Guangzhou. China’s four “first-tier cities”, once magnets for new graduates in search of economic opportunities and big-city living, are out of style. Instead, bright youngsters are flocking to “second-tier cities” such as Chengdu and Chongqing, which stand out for their dynamism, culture and quality of life.

Alice Su, The Economist’s senior China correspondent, and Gabriel Crossley, our China correspondent in Beijing, ask: what explains the rise of China’s second-tier cities? And can their growth be sustained?