A man walks through a crowd in China, using a wooden pole to carry two large bags slung over his shoulder. One is a light-blue plaid pattern and the other is black with white trim. A man walks through a crowd in China, using a wooden pole to carry two large bags slung over his shoulder. One is a light-blue plaid pattern and the other is black with white trim.

Internal Migration in China

Internal Migration in China

Over the course of the last two decades or so, a new vocabulary has emerged in China and has gained increasing popularity in academic journals, newspapers, and magazines. This vocabulary describes the phenomenon of the “the floating population” or liudong renkou. This new vocabulary, historically uncommon in conventional demographic literature, reflects fundamental social and demographic changes in Chinese society since the early 1980s, i.e., ever-increasing large numbers of migrants without local household registration status (hukou).

This website summarizes a research project, supported by NIH/NICHD, that for the most part deals with this floating population.
 

About the Project

The project primarily uses data from China national surveys and censuses to examine causes and consequences of this migration flow, the largest in human history. As we work on this project, the migration process continues to unfold.

No doubt migration process has made fundamental changes both in migrant origin and destination communities. Migration has also introduced critical policy challenges: education of migrant children in the destinations and left behind children in migrant-sending communities, protection of labor rights of migrant labor, migration and health, and migration and old age support in rural China.

Migration is part of the larger process of China’s transformation into a modern and industrialized society.
 

Project Funding

This project is supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

(1 R29 HD34878-01A2 and 1R55HD/OD3487801A1)

Project Staff


Principal Investigator

Current Project Staff at UAlbany

  • Lin Guo
  • China Layne
  • Shitau Mirua
  • Hideki Morooka
     

Former Project Staff

  • Vincent Chen
  • Kerry Dohm
  • Donna Espenberg
  • Josh Grove
  • Randy Hohle
  • Xueji Liang
  • Peter Shrock
  • Leah Weiss
  • Yingfeng Wu

 

Students Who Have Used this Data


For their MA Thesis

  • Violet Chunyan Guo, Queens College
  • Donna Espenberg, Queens College
  • Hee-sook Choi, Queens College
  • Xueji Liang, University at Albany
     

For their PhD Dissertation

  • Vincent Yiu Por Chen, Columbia University

Publications

Click on the links for full-texts

Zai Liang. "Internal Migration in China in the Reform Era: Patterns, Policies, and Challenges." A chapter in an edited book entitled Demography in China in the 21st Century (edited by Zhongwei Zhao and Fei Guo). Oxford University Press. Forthcoming.

Zai Liang and Yiu Por Chen. 2005. "The Educational Consequences of Migration for Children in China." Social Science Research. In Press.

Zai Liang and Zhongdong Ma. 2004. "China's Floating Population: New Evidence from the 2000 Census." Population and Development Review 30(3):467-488.

Zai Liang. 2004. "Patterns of Migration and Occupational Attainment in Contemporary China: 1985-1990." Development and Society. 33(2): 251-274.

Ma, Zhongdong, Zhang Weimin, Zai Liang, and Cui Hongyan. 2004. "Labor Migration as A New Determinant of Income Growth in Rural China." Population Research 28:2-10.

Zai Liang, and Yiu Por Chen. 2004."Gender and Migration in China: An Origin-Destination Linked Approach." Economic Development and Cultural Change 52:423-443.

Zai Liang and Toni Zhang. 2004. "Emigration, Housing Conditions, and Social Stratification in China." International Migration Review 38(1):302-324.

Zai Liang, and Yiu Por Chen. 2003. "Migration, Gender, and Returns to Education in Shenzhen, China." Pp.184-208 in Brigida Garcia, Richard Anker, and Antonella Pinnelli (eds.). Women in the Labour Market in Changing Economies: Demographic Issues. Oxford University Press.

Zai Liang, Yiu Por Chen, and Yanmin Gu. 2002. "Rural Industrialization and Internal Migration in China." Urban Studies 39 (No. 12):2175-2187.

Zai Liang. 2001. "The Age of Migration in China." Population and Development Review 27:499-524.

Sidney Goldstein, Zai Liang, and Alice Goldstein. 2000. "Migration, Gender, and Labor Force in Hubei Province, 1985-1990." Pp.214-230 in Barbara Entwisle and Gail Henderson (eds.) Re-drawing Boundaries: Work, Households, and Gender in China. University of California Press.

Zai Liang. 1999. "Foreign Investment, Economic Growth, and Temporary Migration: The Case of Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, China." Development and Society 28(1):115-137.

Michael J. White and Zai Liang. 1998. "The Effect of Immigration on the Internal Migration of the Native-born Population, 1981-90." Population Research and Policy Review 17:141-166.

Zai Liang and Michael J. White. 1997. "Market Transition, Government Policies, and Interprovincial Migration in China: 1983-1988." Economic Development and Cultural Change 45:321-336.

Zai Liang and Michael J. White. 1996. "Internal Migration in China: 1950-1988." Demography 33:375-384.

 

Presentations

Zai Liang, Hideki Morooka. 2006. "Migration Networks and Migration Processes: The Case of China." Paper presented at annual meetings of the Population Association of America. California, LA. March.

Yue Zhuo, Zai Liang. 2006. "Migration and the Well-Being of the Elderly in Rural China." Paper presented at annual meetings of the Population Association of America. California, LA. March.

Zai Liang, Shitau Miura. 2005. "Migration, Return Migration, and Housing Condition in Source Community in China." Paper presented at annual meetings of the American Sociological Association. Philadelphia, PA. August.

Zai Liang, Hideki Morooka. 2005. "Migration Networks, Hukou, and Destination Choices." Paper presented at annual meetings of the Population Association of America. Philadelphia, PA. March.

Zai Liang. 2005. "China's Floating Population: Current Status and Future Prospects." Invited talk at Harvard University. Feb. 22.

Zai Liang, Xu Gang, Zhongdong Ma, and Cui Hongyan. 2004. "Recent Trends in Floating Population in China." Paper presented at International Seminar on China's 2000 Population and Housing Census, sponsored by the National Bureau of Statistics of China. April 27-29, Beijing, China.

Zai Liang and Kerry Dohm. 2004. "Migration and Minority Opportunities in China." Paper presented at mini-conference of North American Chinese Sociologists Association, August, San Francisco, CA.

Zai Liang, Hy Luong, and Yiu Por Chen. 2004. "Demographic Sources of China's Urbanization: Patterns and Regional Variations." Paper presented at conference on Urban China in Transition, sponsored by Urban China Research Network (University at Albany). May 1-2, Santa Monica, CA.

Zai Liang and Yiu Por Chen. 2004. "Migration and Educational Selectivity." Paper presented at conference on Migration and Urbanization in China, sponsored by People's University of China. June 9-11, Beijing.

Zhongdong Ma, Zhang Weimin, Zai Liang, and Hongyan Cui. 2004. "The Impact of Migration on Local Development: An Econometric Analysis of Income Growth and Education in China in the 1990s." Paper presented at 2004 annual meetings of the Population Association of America. April 1-3, Boston.

Zai Liang. 2003. "Internal Migration in China: Data Sources, Major Patterns, and a New Research Agenda." Paper presented at workshop on demographic trends in China in the beginning of the 21st century. Australian National University. December 10-12.

Zai Liang and Xueji Liang. 2003. "Education of Migrant Children in Beijing: Choice or Constraint?" Paper presented at annual meetings of the North American Chinese Sociologists Association. Atlanta, Georgia. August.

Zai Liang and Zhongdong Ma. 2002. "China's Floating Population: New Evidence from the 2000 Census." Paper presented at conference on China's 2000 Population Census sponsored by Duke University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, June 19-21.

Zai Liang and Yiu Por Chen. 2002. "Education of Migrant Children in China." Paper presented at annual meetings of the Population Association of America, Atlanta, GA. May. The paper was also presented at annual meetings of the Association of American Geographers, Los Angeles, CA. March.

Zai Liang and Yiu Por Chen. 2001. "Migration and Educational Selectivity in China, 1982-1995." Paper presented at annual meetings of the American Sociological Association. Anaheim, CA. August.

Zai Liang and Yiu Por Chen. 2001. "Education of Migrant Children in Urban China." Paper presented at International Forum on Labor Mobility in China sponsored by the Rural Development Center of China's State Council, July 3-5, Beijing, China.

Zai Liang, Yanmin Gu, and Yiu Por Chen. 2001. "Rural Industrialization and Internal Migration in China." Paper presented at conference on Urbanization in China, sponsored by the Chinese Economist Society, June 27-28, Xiamen, China.

Zai Liang and Yiu Por Chen. 2001. :Urbanization in China: Historical Overview and Emerging Patterns in the 1990s." Paper presented at annual meetings of Population Association of America, Washington, DC. March 29-31.

Zai Liang. 2001. "Urbanization in China: Historical Overview and Emerging Patterns in the 1990s." Invited presentation at University of Pennsylvania. March 22.

Zai Liang. 2000. "Urbanization in China." Invited presentation at Population Studies and Training Center, Brown University. November 30.

Zai Liang and Yiu Por Chen. 1999. "Migration, Gender, and Return to Education in Shenzhen, China." Paper presented at Seminar on Women in the Labor Market in Changing Economics: Demographic Issues, sponsored by IUSSP, Rome, September 22-24.

Zai Liang. 1999. Discussant at conference on "Internal Migration and its Impacts on Chinese Urbanization." State University of New York at Albany, May.

Zai Liang. 1998. "Market Reforms, Changing Patterns of Migration and Occupational Attainment." Paper presented at annual meetings of Population Association of America, Chicago, IL, April 2-4.

Zai Liang. 1998. "Market Reforms and Changing Patterns of Migration and Occupational Attainment in China." Presentation at Princeton University. April 7 and at China Center for Economic Research at Beijing University, July 23.

Zai Liang. 1998. "The Age of Migration in China." Presentation at Annual Meetings of American Sociological Association, San Francisco, CA, August, 1998.
 

Photos

Photographs

Credit: Xueji Liang

  • A crowd of people walk in front of Guangzhou Station in China. The station has three red and teal awnings out front, a clock on its facade and signs in Chinese that translate to, "Unify the motherland," "Guangzhou Station" and "Revitalize...," with the remaining text out of frame.
  • A crowd of people walk in front of Guangzhou Station in China. The station has red and teal awnings out front, a clock on its facade and a sign in Chinese that translate to, "Guangzhou Station."
  • A crowd of people walk in front of Guangzhou Station in China. The station has red tents and red and teal awnings out front, a clock on its facade and signs in Chinese that translate to, "Guangzhou Station" and "Revitalize China."
  • A crowd of people walk in front of Guangzhou Station in China. The station has red, yellow and teal striped awnings out front, a clock on its facade and three signs in Chinese that translate to: "Unify the motherland," "Guangzhou Station" and "Revitalize China."
  • People stand beneath a row of teal pop-up tents in front of Guangzhou Station in China. Behind them, the building displays signs written in Chinese, and the logo for Fujifilm, and a digital clock face lit up in red.
  • A crowd of people are packed beneath a red, teal and yellow awning outside of Guangzhou Station in China.
  • A man in a green and red military uniform stands below a red and white umbrella. Behind him, a crowded line of people wait with suitcases in hand.
  • People walk in a crowded crosswalk in China, many rolling suitcases behind them. Traffic signs and metal partitions surround the crosswalk.
  • A man walks through a crowd in China, using a wooden pole to carry two large bags slung over his shoulder. One is a light-blue plaid pattern and the other is black with white trim and white text that reads "BaoMa."
  • A woman stands on a walkway in china, surrounded by a sea of people walking by. Behind her, a traffic sign displays Chinese text that points to three locations. The text translates to "Provincial bus station", "Guangzhou Bus Terminal," and "Zhannan Road".
  • The dashboard of a white shuttle bus. A sign in the window visible behind the windshield wiper, displays Chinese text that translates to: "Jin Tang Yi Shenzhen."
  • A Chinese woman wearing a pink and white striped tank top stands on the pavement, with a crowd of people, next to a shuttlebus.
  • A crowd of people waits by a shuttlebus in China. The image is slight out-of-focus.
  • A man sits next to a bright green, white and yellow sign and palm plant in China. The sign, written in Chinese, promoted ticket sales and the Migrant Workers Population.

Photographs from Sichuan

Sending Province

  • A woman crouches on a stoop in front of a blue and white sign. Children are standing beside her as she sits with her cheek resting on her hand.
  • People stand on a street inside outside a storefront adorned with Chinese advertisements for a bus and transportation service.
  • A crowd of people waits by a shuttlebus in China as a man with a yellow bag walks off the bus.
  • A street in China, lined with brick buildings with green windows. The street's entrance is decorated with a wrought iron arch overhead, displaying Chinese lettering.
  • A sign displays an advertisement for Pearl Milk Tea written in red Chinese lettering on a green backdrop. A refreshing looking image of the tea is displayed next to the text.
  • A man walks into a labor office in China. All around the entrance, signs written in Chinese promote work and labor recruitment.
  • A gold sign with black and red Chinese lettering that translates to, "The first town for migrant workers in Chin/Hailong Employment Service Cooperation/Chengdu Hailong Information Co., Ltd. Jintang County Zhupeng Town Labor Service Station Four"

Photographs from Guangzhou, Guangdong

Receiving Province

  • A clay and green-brick archway hangs over a street in China, with deep brown Chinese lettering. Below, people and cars travel through the archway.
  • Handwritten signs hang on a faded and chipped hallway made of green tile, advertising rooms for rent in China
  • Handwritten signs hang on a faded and chipped wall of green tile, advertising rooms for rent in China
  • A family walks along a run down street in China, signs and clothes are displayed outside of storefronts on either side of the street.
  • AIDS prevention signs hang on a faded and chipped white and peach tile wall.
  • An entrance to Tzu Chi Clinic, with black Chinese lettering on metallic paneling overhead identifying the clinic and its services.
  • A man in dark clothes with a cart stands in a dark alley, surrounded by signs advertising goods and services. Another man walks past him on the left.
  • A person walks through an out-of-focus dark alley in China.

Photographs from Houjie Town, Guangdong

Receiving Province

  • A one-story tan brink building, adorned with a blue awning and surrounded by pillars and metal fencing. Chinese lettering on one pillar translates to "Panyu Li Chang Shoes Co., Ltd."
  • A group of workers in bright yellow jackets stand outside a building in China, in front of a wall with red Chinese lettering that translates to "Yongshan Shoes."
  • A man in a blue shirt and black slacks guides and bicycle toward a group of workers in bright yellow jackets outside of a building in China.
  • A black sign with white Chinese lettering displaying different destinations in China
  • A transportation schedule on a white board, displaying times and locations in white and red Chinese lettering.

Maps

A black-and-white map of China, with the provinces outlined in black and Guangdong Province labeled and highlighted in blue.
Guangdong Province

 

 

A black-and-white map of China, with the provinces outlined in black and Sichuan Province labeled and highlighted in yellow.
Sichuan Province