FOR MANY MEMBERS OF THE MIGRANT POPULATION in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province, although they have lived in the city for many years, it is only when they have a local hukou, or household registration, that they finally consider themselves part of the city. Southern Metropolis Daily commented on Tuesday:

The equality of the migrant population with the local one means the former have both the perception and reality of an urban identity. This does not just mean they have a local household registration but also a sense of belonging.

In many countries, an urban identity is as much the result of soft factors as hard ones, since a city's identity generally derives from the lifestyle of its residents and its cultural traditions.