Earlier in this process, I made this note after completing an extensive search session and abstract reading frenzy:

Much of the English-language geography literature seems to be analyzing census data to analyze rural-to-urban trends in China, but I failed to find a single article that (according to the abstracts anyway) that actually talked to any of these people. I wonder if the phenomena are actually far more subtle than these macro-models can measure? One article does mention in-depth interviews, but it’s examining gender roles and identities in migrants. I have yet to find a qualitative article about the motivations and experiences of migrants.

This is still true, although I guess it’s less important for me to find one at this point, now that the topic has become more specific.  Still, it’s a general comment that I would still make about English language (the only kind I can read) China geography.