The term 'circulatory transnational migration' best describes the unconventional migratory route of many contemporary Chinese migrants - that is an unfinished set of circulatory movements that these migrants engage in between the homeland and various host countries. 'Return migration', 'step migration' to a third destination and the 'astronauting' strategy are all included within this circulatory migration movement wherein 'returning' to the country of origin does not always mean to settle back to the homeland permanently; while 'step migration' also does not necessarily mean to re-migrate...