As a Chinese major, I guess it was possible to have up to two children in metropolitan areas like Beijing (due to birth limits), while in the countryside, people could have as many as they wanted;

The reason I am writing is that my first overseas travel destination was Beijing, China (this was in July 2001). That was a whopping 25 years ago...
Compared to major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, was it possible to have many more children in the countryside?
I am asking because when I watch cable TV shows like "Love in Asia" or "Multicultural Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law," I see households with about five or more children...
Actually, I see that even China's birth restrictions have effectively been abolished as of 2021.
Since I went to China in 2001, I never visited anyone's private residence (mansions). I only visited places like the Great Wall or busy metropolitan areas like Wangfujing.
It is hard to believe, but China has also been facing a low birth rate for a few years now. I truly cannot believe it...