The study aims to examine migration flows within the subnational framework in China from 1990 to 2020. I find that state provinical capacity and citizen registration policy are essential components and make substantial differences in attracting population migration. By employing Relative Political Extraction (RPE) measures and citizen registration (Hukou) index, the study tests their significance to migration flow while controlling the economic factors, and education levels between origins and destinations. Finally, I find that in addition to traditional push-pull factors, both citizen registration policy (hukou) and provincial state capacity are essential components that significantly intermediate differences in migration across Chinese provinces.