A number of publications discuss China's population migration from rural to urban areas. In this paper, Dong Hui reviews the literature and summarizes the discussions on rural labor force transition and patterns of urbanization in China. The literature shows that a rural surplus labor force has existed in China since the 1950s. This surplus labor force has abandoned agriculture and moved to urban areas, a transition that will continue as economic development advances. Smaller cities and towns act as reservoirs in absorbing large rural surplus labor population and will regulate the migration of people who want to move to medium-sized and large cities. Recent Chinese literature concentrates only on explaining this transition and urbanization. ALthough many study these aspects theoretically, few study the effects of indirect factors, such as economic policies, education, labor skill training, the consequences of labor migration in urban and rural areas, and the consequences of the development of small cities and towns. Study of the rural labor force transition and the resulting urbanization is just beginning and is expected to become more thorough, systematic, and theoretical.