This paper studies the urban residential problems in Chinese metropolis by employing the concept of residential structure. It gives a new connotation of the urban residential structure of Chinese metropolises, involving employment and residential layout, public service facility, as well as housing supply system, and presents the current problems existing in the urban residential structure. Finally, it attempts to propose some relevant suggestions on optimization method of the urban residential structure of Chinese metropolises like compact employment and housing structure, balanced public service facility along with multi-level housing supply system, attaching great importance to the necessity of informal housing in the urban residential structure.