Abstract:The urban-rural dual structure, marked by significant disparities in economic, social, and political aspects, has long been a fundamental issue in China. These disparities create deep asymmetries in resource allocation, access to social welfare, and development opportunities. This divide leads to unequal access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure, widening the gap in living standards and economic development. The urban-rural divide presents a critical challenge for national governance, and overcoming its contradictions is a central task in China’s development agenda. Achieving fair resource allocation and equal opportunities is urgent, as these factors directly impact national stability and social cohesion. The land system is one of the key institutional mechanisms for addressing this issue. As an important component of the national governance system, the arrangement of property rights, the distribution of benefits, and the protection of development opportunities play a crucial role in resource allocation, social equity, and economic sustainability, profoundly influencing urban-rural relations. Over the years, related research has conducted long-term, longitudinal historical analyses of the evolution of China's land system. However, it often focuses on the distribution of land ownership and the process of market-oriented reforms, with less emphasis on analyzing the structural contradictions of the land system and land rights within the context of the urban-rural dual structure. This paper seeks to fill that gap by providing a systematic review of the evolution of China’s land system, highlighting its internal logic and the various ways it has adapted over time to address the shifting needs of society. The evolution of the land system can be divided into four stages: the New Democratic Revolution period(1921-1949), characterized by breaking the feudal land ownership system; the Socialist Revolution and Construction period(1949-1978), marked by land collectivization and industrial accumulation; the Reform and Opening-up period(1978-2012), which was characterized by market-oriented transformation and the solidification of the urban-rural dual structure; and the New Era of Urban-Rural Integration Development period(2012-present), which is defined by property rights reform and the flow of production factors. One of characteristics of the evolution of the land system is the expansion of rights and powers. Through political, economic, and legal empowerment, the land system gradually subdivides and allocates land rights. In addition to land ownership, new rights such as land contract rights and management rights have emerged, which enhance the property rights associated with land. Another feature is the coordination between regulation and market mechanisms. From administrative control to market-based allocation, an innovative “administrative regulation as the body, market mechanisms as the tool” hybrid governance model has been developed. 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At a deeper level, institutional barriers to land rights exist, and under the urban-rural dual structure, the urban-rural relationship remains unequal. The division of ownership, usage rights, and income rights, along with the lack of protection for these rights, has constrained rural economic development, preventing farmers from fully realizing their economic potential. The asymmetry of land rights between urban and rural areas is a core issue that must be addressed in future land system reforms. To promote urban-rural integration and social equity, land system reforms should focus on the dual dimensions of survival rights and development rights. Survival rights refer to the rights that ensure farmers’ basic living needs are met and they can enjoy essential living security. Development rights refer to the right of farmers to use land for production and development, ensuring they can equally participate in economic activities. Land system reforms should not only guarantee farmers’ basic living needs but also provide them with more development opportunities, ensuring that farmers can participate equally in the urban-rural integration pro