Changes in the international migration calls for further research. By reviewing the history of international migration transition, we find that the flow, direction, and structure of international migration have undergone remarkable changes towards a larger scale and more complex structures. At the same time, although Chinas international migration has fluctuated, the number of international migrants either from or to mainland China has increased constantly. It is expected that with the deepening reform and opening and “The Belt and Road” initiatives, the scale of China's international migration will keep growing. China will transit from a state with few international migrants and limited knowledge about international migration towards a state with large-scale international migration which needs more understanding towards international migration and related affairs. To enter the incoming era of large-scale international migration, China should systematically collect the information of international migrants, work out the details of relevant laws and regulations, carry out international migration perspective assessment on major economic, trade, diplomatic and other strategies, and establish targeted migration plans.

The low spatial population mobility has been the demographic characteristic of Rural China for thousands of years. In the past 40 years, China has experienced and is experiencing the transition from a Rural China with few migrations to a Migrating China with large-scale and high-frequency migrations. The historical transition from the Rural era to the Migration era is realized in a short period of 40 years, which has its internal mechanism, including the reform of the land system, the change of population structure, the development of urban market economy and the loosening of migration policies. This will enable high population spatial mobility to be continued into a long time in the future. In adjusting to a Migrating China, relevant cultural construction and cultural adaptation play an important role. It is necessary to gradually move from a Static Culture adapted to Rural China for thousands of years to a Dynamic Culture adapted to Migrating China.