PIP: This paper reviews the literature on labor migration in China since the 1950s and examines the trends in rural-to-urban migration during the period of 1949 to the mid-1980s. Data were obtained from the 1986 sample survey on migration in 74 urban areas in China among 23,895 family households and 1643 collective households in 43 cities and 31 townships of 16 provinces. Non-farmers from rural areas were subtracted from total rural migrants. Non-farmers included recent urban high school graduates and party and government officials who were sent to rural areas during the Cultural Revolution and returned to cities. The sample included 53.3% men. The average age was 23.1 years. About 50% were married at the time of migration. The average educational attainment among persons aged over 15 years was 5.98 years. Reasons for migration included family reunion (49.7%), worker recruitment (28.5%), military recruitment (8.8%), and college attendance (3.0%). The volume of migration fluctuated greatly during 1949-85. During 1949-55, about 200 people in the 200,000 sample size migrated each year. During 1955-58, migrants numbered 459, 307, and 616, respectively. During the famine of 1959-61, migration dropped to 312, 292, and 124, respectively. 1961 was the lowest point of migration; 1958 was the highest point of migration before 1984. During the 1962-64 recovery period, migration remained low at under 200. During 1962-64, migrants totaled 200-300 persons. During the Cultural Revolution of 1967-68, migrants declined to under 200. During 1970-71, migrants increased to over 400 until 1979, when the number reached 576. The largest migration occurred during 1984-85 and peaked at 832 in 1985. The later years reflect a loosening of government policy. Migration followed political events closely. Migrants in later years were unlikely to attain urban resident status and benefits without fundamental policy changes.