TV series "Wo Ju" causes a social stir

As the real estate sector is booming in China, housing prices are soaring out of control in many cities, especially in Beijing and Shanghai. Prices are beyond the purchase capacity of ordinary Chinese people, to the extent that a lot of people have to spend most of their savings and endure installments for 20-30 years before they can own a house. The nickname "fang nu" (slaves to houses) has been given to those who buy homes. For the young people, the sky-high housing prices impose even graver problems if they want to get married. Owning a house is traditionally viewed as a "must" for setting up a family in China, but young people who are just starting their careers can no longer afford one. Essentially speaking, housing prices have become a social problem.

The TV drama "Wo Ju" (Life in a Nutshell) debuted in July, 2009. It mirrors the predicaments that millions of Chinese find themselves trapped in. A lot of people believe it is the TV drama of the year. "Wo Ju" has become one of the most popular phrases in China. The TV drama was one of the hottest topics on many of the major online forums for the second half of the year.