A blue paper released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says China's urban population will outnumber its rural population by the end of this year.

Experts call on the government to adopt new policies and social management methods as this will cause profound changes in people's lifestyles, employment, consumption and even values.

Wu Jia has more.

The blue paper says more than 50 percent of the Chinese now live in cities as more farmers flock into urban areas.

Professor Chen Zhong is Director of the Center for Chinese Urbanization Studies at Suzhou University.

"Fifty percent is a landmark figure symbolizing that cities have transformed from traditional societies into urban societies. Chinese cities are on a path of transformation. As a result, people's way of thinking, development methods and even values will all undergo fundamental changes."

Chen Zhong says in traditional societies, small towns or cities were not densely populated, and most people were scattered around rural areas. But during the urbanization process, large and diverse populations began crowding into cities.

"Such an assembly in the cities will be a strong force that drives the development of our society. At the same time, it will impose some challenges. The populations in traditional societies are relatively stable, while people's mobility increases greatly in urban societies, causing more social contradictions and requiring new ways to manage them."

Like Chen Zhong, many other experts are calling on the government to adopt policies to help new immigrants fit in well in the cities.

Latest nationwide census last year indicated that China's urban population accounted for 49.68 percent of the country's total.

Li Tie, Director of the China Center for Urban Development, elaborates.

"More than 49 percent of China's population resides in cities, but only about 40 percent of the residents have urban household registration. That is to say, about 10 percent, or more than 200 million people, cannot enjoy the same public services and welfare benefits that other urban residents have. "

According to Professor Chen Zhong from Suzhou University, many cities have already started to reform the rigid household registration system. But he points out that the country as a whole still lacks a clear roadmap for the rapid urban growth.

Chen Zhong adds that government officials need training in order to better cope with the situation.