More Chinese are moving from the countryside to the cities. Or perhaps in some cases, cities are spreading to incorporate the countryside.

According to this story from People’s Daily, China’s rural population fell from 74 percent in 1990, to 64 percent in 2001, and down to 56 percent at the end of 2006. That means 44 percent of Chinese now live in cities.

China’s urban population stands at 577 million people, and its rural population stands at 737 million people.

Chinese demographers and population planners have told me that China is trying to invert the 60/40 ratio of rural to urban residents. They say the economy cannot modernize until more people live in cities, and fewer rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

Beijing is feeling the result. Its current population of 15.6 million will soar to 20 million residents by 2020, according to this report.