Employing empirical data derived from a
questionnaire survey and in-depth
interviews (1997±1998) in the Three Gorges
reservoir area, and using secondary sources
in both Chinese and English, the paper
describes the number, categories and spatial
distribution of migrant ¯ows, evaluates the
major methods of settling relocatees, and
explores the state of relocatees' feelings
about their relocation. We found that the
number of people to be relocated is still
uncertain and environmental, social and
behavioural factors in¯uence the number.
The relocation programmes are involved in
settling people in nearby areas, in moving
them far away, or in settling rural migrants in
urban industrial enterprises. These
resettlement processes are challenged
respectively by a tight people/land
relationship on higher ground above the
reservoir, by the dif®culties in rebuilding
production systems and adapting to a new
social setting outside the reservoir area, and
by increasing unemployment in urban
China. A series of problems with the
relocation operation have resulted because of
the lack of a generalised framework for
population relocation and the inadequate
involvement of those affected in policymaking
and relocation affairs. Despite
expressing their support for the project, the
majority of rural migrants have mixed
feelings about their relocation. The results of
our survey and interviews have revealed the
fact that a number of relocatees are facing the
risk of impoverishment because of a shortage
of ®nancial and economic resources, the
environmental constraints on relocation
capacity, and mismanagement of the
operation. Under such circumstances, it is
very dif®cult for those affected to view their
displacement as a good opportunity to
improve their standard of living.