<p>Intergenerational educational mobility is a metric used to assess education dynamics within a family that reflects the structure of educational opportunities in society. This study utilizes a sociopolitical perspective to examine the changes in intergenerational educational correlations across birth cohorts from 1949 to 2003, focusing on vertical time changes and horizontal group heterogeneities. A multilevel regression analysis of parental education on offspring’s education revealed a significant disparity based on birth year. The intergenerational relationship exhibited a fluctuating W-shaped trend, with individuals born in the mid-1960s, mid-1970s and mid-1980s as turning points. The quantile regression results revealed simultaneous “bottom persistence” and “top mobility”, as people with lower education were more sensitive to external changes compared to the middle and upper classes’ established mobility status. Gender and geographical articulations of residence were also significant factors. Females were more vulnerable to policy changes and the gender gap fluctuated. Measuring for household registration further revealed the institutional isolation imposed on rural residents, as well as an expanding <i>hukou</i> gap. Promoting intergenerational mobility is key to removing barriers to social progress and fostering broader prosperity.</p>