A new resident credit system was adopted in Zhangjiagang of Jiangsu province in May 2012, and it has proved useful after two years of operation.

Twenty-five-year-old Xu Lingli, originally from Sichuan province, has been working in Zhangjiagang for 9 years. She used her credits to apply for school for her child.

"With the system, my child is able to enter the local primary school, so we can live together. I don't have to worry about leaving my child in my hometown due to household registration limitations."

People coming from other places and working in Zhangjiagang will get a certain number of credits according to regulations in the system. With the credits, they are able to move their household registration, have their kids enter local schools and have medical insurance that meets local standards.

Zhangjiagang is the first of its kind to use credits to determine household registration moves. The previous requirements of house and insurance have been cancelled.

In the past 2 years, more than 100,000 people have received the application form for new resident credits, 15,000 people have receive medical insurance, 16,000 kids have gone to schools in Zhangjiagang to stay with their parents and over 500 people have had their household registration moved to the city.

"The credit management system has been well received by new residents. It keeps talent in the city. The regulations encourage people to work hard, obey laws and attend social activities to contribute more to society. The effects have met our expectations," said Zhang Songxiang, deputy director of the new resident issue department.