What they say

"I love my son, but I would also like to have a daughter. I believe daughters are more thoughtful and caring than sons. After marriage, the son may be too preoccupied with his own family to care for his parents or parents-in-law, but a daughter's love for her parents can grow stronger over time. Also, I don't want my son to be torn between his mother and his wife. Conflict between a wife and her mother-in-law is a common theme in modern Chinese soap operas. The shows are dramatic and full of cliches, but a generation gap between the two leading females of the family really does exist, and it's very hard to overcome."

Xiao Xiao, 33, homemaker who has a 2-year-old son

"My first-born is a girl, so my parents want our second child to be a boy. Having a boy definitely makes the family feel more complete, but in the long run, raising a girl is more economically viable, especially in big cities. In terms of education, raising a boy or girl is equally expensive. However, when the boy is ready to marry, he is expected to provide a house, car and betrothal presents, which are usually paid for by his parents. As a result, having a daughter means more economic freedom for her parents. A girl may spend her parents' money on luxury goods before she finds a job, but that is nothing compared with the insane property prices that are typically covered by her new husband's family."

Zhou Wei, 36, financial firm manager and the father of an 8-year-old girl

"I have a 4-month-old daughter, and speaking personally I would prefer another girl as a second child. Having a boy does make for a lovely pair, but I'm worried that an older sister and younger brother won't get along. Moreover, a boy will eventually leave to start his own family. Daughters, on the other hand, have so much more in common when growing up. They can share little secrets and form intimate bonds in ways a brother and sister simply can't."

Fan Xiaochen, 24, school administrator and the mother of a 4-month-old girl

"I like boys over girls. In today's society, women are more educated, independent and career-focused than ever, yet social pressures still require women to take up the role of family caretaker. Taking care of one child is hard enough, and those who choose to have a second child will find their work-life equilibrium almost impossible to balance. As a result, parents have to be incredibly clever when raising a girl so she neither becomes a workaholic nor an ordinary housewife, but an intriguing, dynamic balance of both identities. On the other hand, boys are raised with simpler standards - they just need to be hardworking, responsible and caring to be successful."

Li Chao, 28-year-old accountant who plans to have two children