Effects of the Hukou system on the geographies of young people in contemporary urban China

The Chinese institution for population registration is called the hukou system. It divides residents into local and non-local hukou holders concerning geographical mobility. Within Chinese society, young people often move away from their birthplace and subsequently become non-local hukou holders in the destinations. The hukou system has become a barrier to the access of young people to urban rights, placing them in a peripheral position in society. To understand the often-overlooked geographies of young people in China, the article examines how the hukou system undermines young people’s right to the city. Subsequently, the invisible politics of young people in China is discussed, based on a scoping review that approaches the issue through three themes: young people’s tactics in their mobilities; housing inequality and residential segregation; and young people’s aspirations for the future. Combining authoritarianism and neoliberalism, the hukou system controls the distribution of city rights, and thus regulates the flows of young people. Such regulation constitutes a transitional regime that shapes the life trajectories of Chinese youths. Therefore, the article recommends hearing the voices of Chinese young people in the field of Children’s Geographies, and thus enabling their voices to influence future reforms of hukou policies.