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New
New
Year 7

Rural to urban migration in China

I can describe reasons why people migrate from rural areas to cities in China and identify benefits and challenges of this migration.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 7

Rural to urban migration in China

I can describe reasons why people migrate from rural areas to cities in China and identify benefits and challenges of this migration.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Each year millions of people move from rural areas to cities in China.
  2. More than 64% of people in China live in urban areas and this proportion is increasing rapidly.
  3. There are different reasons why people migrate from rural to urban areas.
  4. The migration of people from rural to urban areas has benefits and brings challenges.

Keywords

  • Migration - moving from one place to another with the intention of staying there

  • Push factor - a reason prompting people to leave the place they live, such as lack of jobs, hazards, conflict

  • Pull factor - a reason attracting people to a new place, such as more jobs, better living conditions, better services

  • Economy - the way money in a particular area is made and spent

  • Cultural diversity - the variety of cultural and ethnic groups within a society

Common misconception

All migrants are forced to move.

Explain that there are different reasons which can lead to someone migrating. These might be related to work, education, family, better services, living environment or safety. Spend time discussing these in more detail.


To help you plan your year 7 geography lesson on: Rural to urban migration in China, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Drama and role play could be used to further explore the thoughts that a young person might have about whether to move from a rural area to the city.
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Adult supervision recommended

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which part of China has the highest population density?
Western China
Correct answer: Eastern China
Northern China
Central China
Q2.
Why is Western China less populated than Eastern China?
Correct answer: It has mountains and deserts
It has too many cities
It is too small
Q3.
What is the most widely spoken language in China?
Correct answer: Mandarin
English
Portuguese
Q4.
What is the main difference between rural and urban areas?
Rural areas have more cars
Urban areas have more nature
Correct answer: Urban areas have more people and buildings; rural areas have more open space
Q5.
What is an example of an urban area?
A small village
A remote countryside
Correct answer: A large city like New York, London or Shanghai
Q6.
Which of the following is a common feature of rural areas?
Tall skyscrapers
Correct answer: Farms and open spaces
Public transportation systems

4 Questions

Q1.
What is rural-to-urban migration?
People moving from one country to another
Correct answer: People moving from the countryside to cities
People moving from one city to another
People moving back to rural areas
Q2.
What is a major reason for rural-to-urban migration in China?
Less pollution in cities
More farmland in cities
Correct answer: Better job opportunities in cities
Fewer schools in cities
Q3.
What is one problem caused by rapid rural-to-urban migration in China?
More available housing
Less traffic
Correct answer: Overcrowding
Q4.
A factor is a reason attracting people to a new place, such as more jobs, better living conditions, better services.
Correct Answer: pull