The attitudes of young Chinese people toward family formation are examined giving insights to the varying attitudes of young men and women according to rural or urban setting, educational levels, types of employment, economic status, and proximity to centers of economic and social development. Information is also provided on population policies and programs of the People's Republic of China and the perception thereof by young men and women--especially the latter--living in differing social and cultural conditions. Youths from industrial, agricultural, educational, public health, art and financial services--between the ages of 15 and 30--living in rural and urban areas of Beijing and Sichuan were chosen as the research target. Of 4,523 questionnaires distributed in 1979, 60.51% (3,921) were valid (53% from males and 47% from females). Findings showed urban areas differed from rural areas, with the ideal number of children between 1 and 1.5 in urban areas, and 1.5 and 2 in rural areas; different professions had different ideas about the ideal number; young urban women showed a tendency to prefer fewer children than men, but the reverse was true in rural areas; the higher the educational and economic standard, the lower the ideal number of children. (JMM)