"But it is not that easy at all. I have received four calls in a day from companies I never heard of or applied to. But after the interviews, I found they were the same as the company I am working for now, which can fire you anytime."

Wang and Song can each make about 2,000 yuan per month. It costs 300 yuan a month each for rent, about 500 yuan each for food and 200 yuan for transportation. They don't go out much because they are so worried about money.

"There are some small clothes shops and record stores in Tangjialing, but we try to not visit them - just in case we want to spend money," Song said.

Di Qun, one of the "ants" in Tangjialing, rests in his rented room. [Courtesy of Lian Si]

Wang isn't too worried about the rent after Song leaves. Song said one of her friend is considering coming to Beijing soon and could share the room with Wang. "That is Tangjialing - a place where people always come and go."

Zhao Xiqing, 22, is from Kiamusze in Heilongjiang province. He has been working for a year at a Lenovo after-sales service office in the Zhongguancun area.

Even though he signed a contract with the Chinese IT giant after graduation from a college in Changping district, he is not completely optimistic about his future in Beijing.

"It is hard to say if I can stay in Beijing for good," he said. "But if I go back home, my parents would be disappointed in me because they think because I studied here I should be capable of living here.

"My goal for the next three to five years is to make enough money to move out of Tangjialing and buy to an apartment for myself in Beijing."

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Shang Pengrong moved to Tangjialing because some of his friends, including Zhao, lived there.

Before Zhao helped him find a job at Lenovo, Shang interviewed no fewer than 50 times and tried working at more than 10 companies last year.

"I have worked as a product promoter, at an estate agency, in logistics and so on," he said.

"The shortest work I did was working as a house agent for a week."

He feels nothing he tried before is as good as his present job, where at least he has a signed contract.

"It's a great job and I will work here for a few years," he said.

"But I don't plan to stay for long. I will go home and have my own business eventually. My ideal life is to open a Beijing restaurant in Kiamusze and be the boss rather than work for others."

It is now the winter of discontent for millions of young graduates.

But just as spring will inevitably bring color and renewal, their dreams await a more benevolent climate.

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