Chen and his family are beneficiaries of a reform carried out by the provincial government, which allows the registered residence of people, formerly permanent, to change based on where they own a house.

Today in Zhejiang, some 2,400 farmers follow Chen's footsteps each day to become city residents. During the past three years, an estimated 2.88 million local farmers have left the countryside and moved into cities.

Zhejiang took the lead in the household registration system reform seven years ago and today the strict control exercised over local farmers as well as people coming from other places to make a living has been loosened to a large extent.

Rao xiangang, 38, from the countryside of Henan Province, has been doing business in the city of Fenghua in Zhejiang for 10 years. Two years ago he moved the registered residence of his five-member household from Henan to Zhejiang.

Rao became one of the first beneficiaries of a reform by Fenghua city government, which stipulates that non-townsfolk with a legal settled residence and stable occupation or financial income in the city can apply for permanent registered residence.

This year, Zhejiang has taken several major steps in the reform of the household registration system.

(eastday.com February 8, 2003)