Cities Change Hukou Rules to Give Renters Access to Urban Services
The cities Qingdao and Tianjin have both introduced localized reforms regarding the hukou system, a national household registration system which distinguishes and regulates urban and rural residency and associated benefits. Qingdao has loosened its limitations on receiving an urban hukou by lifting restrictions for renters who have a stable residence. Tianjin has introduced a similar policy, offering graduate students who find work in Qingdao but have obtained their graduate education in other provincial areas to more easily obtain an urban hukou. These implementation reforms of the hukou system are part of a nationwide effort to annually transfer 13 million residents from their rural to urban hukous in the context of goals set out in the country’s 13th Five-Year Plan for 2016-2020. To the article...
