A Study Of Urban Adaptability Among Floating Ethnic Minority Population In Yuexiu District Of Guangzhou

With the establishment, development and improvement of socialist market economy system since the 1990 s, China has witnessed a large number of population flow from rural area into urban area on account of a variety of reasons. The flow which involves numerous ethnic minorities is contributing to the growing urban minority population. As some minorities, particularly those who dwell in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have very different lifestyle, cultural background and customs compared with inlanders in urban communities, they are faced with the dual challenge of rural-urban differences and ethnic disparity when they migrate to urban area. To different degree, the floating population of minorities is facing the problem of how to adapt to urban life. Simultaneously, they also have great influence on local social structure and ethnic relations in the process of adapting to urban life. Thus the study of minorities’ urban adaptability can firstly figure out the problems facing them in urban area and put forward the solutions. Secondly, this research is of significance in promoting the sound social and economic development. Nevertheless, there is a shortage of research done on this realistic social problem.With the migrant minorities in Yuexiu District, Guangzhou as the research object and on the basis of their ethnic identity and the industry they are in, this research comparatively studies the adapting features of different ethnic groups in different industries through the investigation of representative groups. Methodologies including questionnaire, in-depth interview and bibliographic research are adopted. The adaptation process, reasons for migration, difficulties they face, causes of the difficulties and so forth are analyzed based upon the relevant ethnology and sociology theories. In accordance with the collected data and previous research, this research concludes the universal and regular problems facing the minorities in the process of adaptation and accordingly proposes countermeasures and suggestions.Economically and culturally, this research has found that urban area and the regions inhabited by ethnic groups are two totally different social environments for some migrant minorities in urban area. In the adaptation process, they need to experience a geographic and cultural change in order to constantly adapt to the urban life. Presently, research on the floating minorities in urban communities is weak, but it is of great academic and practical significance in studying the status quo of the floating population, particularly when it is in the background of rapidly increasing urban minority population and accelerated urbanization. This research aims to help urban administrative departments and city dwellers in understanding the floating population of minorities, promote the communication between them and help ethnic minorities to be better able to adapt to urban life so as to ultimately develop a harmonious and punitive urban ethnic relationship.