However, life goes on, despite the hardships. After all, we have jobs. For young people in their early 20s, like Lin Xiaojun (林小軍), who just graduated and started life in the workforce, and they know they will never lose hope as they make efforts.

"For me the biggest issue in 2009 is switching the focus of my life to work. I am now 25 years old and I should start to focus on working. This is my biggest change in 2009."

Lin Xiaojun says work can not only bring him a full life and sense of accomplishment, but more importantly, the financial basis for his survival. Making a living is his present target, he says, while leading a high-quality life through his efforts is his long-term dream.

Work is an unceasing practice for not only young starters, but also the veterans in their 30s or 40s, like Mr. Zheng. He says for people of his age, especially men, they expect money far more than a sense of accomplishment or glory from work, as they have become more realistic. Looking back at the whole year, he says the global financial crisis worried him a lot.

"The company I have been working for is suffering a profit recession due to the financial crisis. Thus they have stopped paying us bonuses and increasing our salaries. My salary hasn't been increased for two years. Thus the financial crisis is the biggest issue for me in 2009."

Besides the financial crisis, environmental protection was also a global concern in 2009. The Copenhagen climate conference in December attracted huge attention among Chinese people. In fact, environmental protection has been a hot issue in China over the past year.

Both celebrities and ordinary people were talking about ways to reduce carbon emissions and make the earth greener.

Zhao Yong (趙詠), who is working in foreign trade, says environmental awareness is a long-term benefit for the next generations.

"Now our environmental protection awareness has been enhanced much. For example, when we buy a car, we will realize that the ones with big exhausting power will cause air pollution and we may not buy them."

The year 2010 is coming. Will houses, work and environmental protection continue to be the big issues for people in the new year? We will see.