Abstract：With the rapid reform of both the economic system and social structure in China, floating population has become one of the hottest research topics in the disciplines like geography, sociology, demography, urban planning, etc. There lacks research on residential segregation of floating population. The paper aims to summarize the spatial-temporal characteristics in the past ten years and driving forces of residential segregation of floating population.
Firstly, as Guangzhou a case, using the fouth and fifth census data, the paper summarizes spatial-temporal characteristics of residential segregation of floating population. In the past ten years the indices of segregation increased not only on urban scale but also on district scale. There exists a distinct differentiation in urban area, and the indices of outer-areas are greater than those of inner-areas. The spatial pattern of residential segregation of floating population can be identified as multi which disperse in urban area. Because floating population often change their accommodation, the social structure of segregated residential areas is unstable.
Secondly, when talking about the driving forces of spacial distribution and housing of floating population, registration system (hukou system) is the most important factor. There exits "locality and non-locality" and "rural and urban" differentiation of hukou system. In former papers and publication, researchers paid more attention on "rural and urban" differentiation. In this reaserch, the author did 490 questionnaires in three typical neighbourhoods of floating population and three typical neighbourhoods of registrated low-income population. By logistic regression, the paper argues that the "locality and non-locality" of hukou system is much more important than other factors. Without local hukou, the floating population works in the lowest level of labour force markt with low-income and they almost have no insurance. There are lack of housing provision and other social benefits, especially the public houses and affordable houses from the local government who only pays attetion to registrated population of the city. The floating population has to rent low-rent appartments in private market. Apartments in urban villages with low-rent, good location and good transportation condition are ideal residential area for them. The urban planning and urban sprawl have produced hundreds of isolated urban villages in the past ten years in the newly built-up areas, which also influence the spatial pattern of residential segregation and the social characteristics of residential areas of the floating population.
