The Age of Migration in China

Using data from the 1987 and 1995 China One Percent Population Sample Surveys, this article examines migration patterns during 1982–95, a period of sweeping social and economic changes in China. Several major patterns are evident: the increase in overall migration and especially in temporary migration, the increasing importance of inter‐provincial migration, and the concentration of migrants in the coastal region. Over time, migrants of rural origin were more likely to choose cities as destinations than towns. The consequences and implications of the changes in migration patterns are explored.