The trend is being reversed in recent years, partially thanks to the shift of labor-intensive industries from urban to rural areas and the rise of rural entrepreneurship.

More than 1.72 million migrant workers have returned home at Chongqing Municipality since 2010.

The population of "left behind children", whose parents have left hometown for the work in the city, has been reduced by some 180,000 during the past three years in Chongqing, according to the municipal women's federation.

Primary school student Tao Xingyue said in the past she could only see her parents during holidays. She would get worried and upset when saying goodbye. "Now I can be with them every weekend since they are working in a factory not far away," she said.

Experts believe the homecoming rural people will bring development to the countryside and improve the livelihood of the rural children and elderly. However, more government support is called for.

Dang Guoying, researcher on rural development with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said rural entrepreneurs face great challenges in terms of capital and skills and local governments should come up with more preferential policies to improve countryside entrepreneurial environment.