This paper analyzes the ego-centered social network composition of urban dwellers in China from a social class perspective. A random sample (n= 1004 )questionnaire survey was conducted in the city areas of Beijing in the summer of 2000. The discussion name-generator approach was employed to measure people’s social network structures. Social class positions were divided into four levels on the basis of occupation, property rights, authority and skill:(1)professional/ administrator, (2)white collar, (3)small proprietor, and (4)working class. Results reveal that a person’s social position affects the class composition of his/her social networks. In Beijing, the class compositions of the professionals/administrators and the working class people are less heterogeneous than those of the white collar workers and small proprietors. People in all classes tend to make in group choices, i.e., selecting discussion network members of similar class status. Compared to the working class people, however, the professionals/administrators have a stronger tendency to maintain a closured social network while the small proprietors are more likely to form cross class networks. These findings can be explained by the relatively low degree of differentiation in China’s social class structure and by the opportunities and constraints faced by people in the different classes.
