| Abstract: | The rapid increase in transient population has become a common phenomenon in China's major cities in recent years, and has presented new problems for city planning, construction and management. The Beijing city government conducted a large scale survey on this problem in April, 1985. According to an earlier, incomplete survey, in 1983 the daily average transient population reached approximately 500,000-600,000. The April, 1985 survey showed the number of temporary residents in the city to be 870,000. The concentration of the flow is no longer limited to before and after the Chinese new year, or during summer months; it is now a year round event. The railroad is the chief means of transportation for this influx. The flow can be divided into 3 categories: 18% to visit friends and relatives; 45.1% to study, attend conferences, conduct business, or tour the city. Other temporary visitors include people seeking employment and sellers at farm markets. By the end of this survey a new kind of flow had emerged: Beijing's textile, rubber, and leather industries had begun to attract workers from the villages, who commute daily. Many are concerned about how this uncontrolled flow could unfavorably influence Beijing's natural growth. The survey proposed taking appropriate measures to utilize this population flow and ease the conflicts it causes. To accomplish this, the city government must determine the mechanics of the flow as well as improve city management in order to respond to the challenge. The city government's responsibility should not be limited to making policies and regulations; it should delegate management and settlement of the transient population to the appropriate departments. Emphasis should be placed on providing information through the media about room and board and transportation, improving the transportation system, incorporating the farm markets into city planning, and strengthening security and supervision. |
