Temporary residence

暂住 (zàn zhù): temporary residence

The state of “temporary residence” refers to permission that some Chinese must obtain to work or live in 21 cities in China. Those in the cities without a temporary residence permit may be fined or deported. While the disparity in development between China's countryside and urban areas has made it economically necessary for many rural residents to live as temporary residents in large cities, the permit system prevents them from enjoying the same privileges and rights as those originally from the cities.

The temporary residence permits are of questionable legality because a similar national system of temporary residence permits has been abolished, and many scholars find cities’ current systems of temporary residence permits to be unconstitutional. However, notable among those cities that retain the system of temporary residence permits are Beijing and Shanghai, which claim the permits are necessary to impose order. Some cities have changed the name of the permits from “temporary residence permit” to “residence permit” while retaining the same basic system.

People lining up in front of a police station in Beijing in 2008. Before the Olympics, Beijing stepped up its enforcement of temporary residence permits.

Police officer weeding out people without the necessary permit.

Runner #2 is chained to a post labeled “out-of-town residency.” The system of residency permits has been a hot topic of conversation in China and many calls have been made for its abolition. However, its supporters claim that it is necessary to prevent crime and overcrowding in the cities.