Areal differentiation of inter-provincial migration in China and characteristics of the flow field

The authors analyzed migration data of 2000 Census and discovered the areal differentiations of migration rates and the migration flow fields for different reasons in contemporary China. Internal migration in China reached a new era of high activity and high capability. The unbalance of migration rates among east, middle and west belts has been enforced gradually, proving that the "mid-belt subsiding" is a phenomena of society as well as economy. Within the three typical flow patterns, both convergence and radial migration pattern have developed which made the Peal River Delta a powerful convergence center, while convection between Northeast China and Shandong is disappearing. The Northwest is replacing Northeast as a new attractive area. If divided by Qinling-Huaihe and Heihe-Tengchong combined natural with human geographical lines, the migration field in China breaks into two "flow basins" of Southeast and Northwest. Priority of employment is getting greater in migration and market replacing planning acts the first driven force to migration and talent flow. The marriage migration directs mainly from southwest mountainous area to eastern rural area, which creates a "karst bride source" in Southwest China.