Current Status, Challenges, and Pathways for the Integration of Local and Immigrant Cultures in Dongguan under the 'Dual Ten Thousand' Context

Abstract

Dongguan is one of China’s most representative immigrant cities, and the long-running encounter between local and migrant cultures has continually shaped its urban life. As the city enters the “Dual Ten Thousand” stage—over one trillion RMB in GDP and more than ten million residents—questions of cultural identity become increasingly important for social cohesion and long-term development. Based on historical change and current realities, this study offers three main findings. First, relations between local and immigrant cultures have moved through three broad periods: open tension around 2000; gradual easing after 2007, supported by initiatives such as the “New Dongguanese” discourse; and a further softening after 2014, when official distinctions between locals and migrants became less salient. Second, cultural integration today remains uneven and multi-layered. It is marked by (1) clear generational divides within the local population, with older residents tending to preserve traditional norms while younger locals embrace more fluid identities; (2) differing migrant experiences shaped by economic stability and Household Register (hukou) status; and (3) the parallel existence of a geographically concentrated local culture and a more dispersed, internally diverse migrant culture. Third, these conditions together create a complex integrative landscape rather than a single, linear path toward assimilation. To strengthen integration and build a shared urban identity, Dongguan needs to raise the visibility and symbolic weight of local culture while making it inclusive, expand spaces for dialogue across groups, and improve migrants’ everyday security through better jobs, healthcare access, and educational provision.