Abstract: Since the reform and opening up, China has undergone 40 years of social structural reform. The landscapes of towns and villages have changed significantly. With the progress of urbanization, urban-rural differences have been gradually narrowed and have evolved into urban-rural integration. Such evolution partly reflects the process of social practice. It is necessary to realize that the urban-rural differences will exist for long and urban-rural integration is the only way to successful balanced development of urban and rural areas. In order to properly deal with the urban-rural differences and integration in the practice of social structural reform, we must further improve the policy system of urban-rural integration, accelerate the development of urban-rural industrial integration, strengthen institutional construction, and increase institutional intelligence and flexibility to ensure the ultimate urban-rural integration.

Key words: social practice, urban-rural differences, urban-rural integration, urban-rural balance, common development