Research　on　Chinese　internal　migrants　has　gradually　shifted　from　a　focus　on　the　rapid　expansion　of　this　population　to　its　relationship　with　the　restructuring　of　spatial　distribution　in　cities.　The　settlement　intentions　of　migrants　are　key　to　how　China＇s　urbanisation　and　the　urban　system　will　evolve.　Yet,　although　there　is　a　considerable　body　of　research　on　this　subject,　the　determinants　of　migrants＇　settlement　intentions　remain　debatable.　In　this　study,　in　light　of　the　dramatic　economic　and　social　transition　undergone　by　China　in　the　past　70　years,　we　demonstrate　the　importance　of　considering　the　cohort　perspective　in　relation　to　Chinese　migrants＇　settlement　intentions.　Specifically,　we　examine　the　effects　of　differences　between　migrants＇　origins　and　their　destinations　on　settlement　intentions　in　relation　to　year　of　birth.　Our　results　show　that　destination-to-origin　differences　in　terms　of　population　size,　administrative　level,　economic　condition,　and　public　services　are　positively　associated　with　migrants’　settlement　intentions,　whereas　geographic　distance　and　cultural　distance　between　origin　and　destination　are　negatively　related　to　the　intention　to　settle　in　destination　cities.　Further,　these　effects　vary　significantly　across　birth　cohorts.　Our　findings　demonstrate　the　importance　of　going　beyond　the　standard　dichotomy　between　old　and　new　generation　that　is　often　used　in　the　analysis　of　migration　trends.　To　achieve　more　inclusive　urbanisation　in　the　future,　targeted　policies　that　take　into　account　inter-city　and　inter-cohort　variations　are　critical　to　addressing　obstacles　to　the　settlement　of　migrants　in　destination　cities.　©　2021　John　Wiley　&　Sons　Ltd.