Abstract: Social autonomy is an important dimension in the process of modernization. Social autonomy's resistance to market erosion and constraints on state power are beneficial for the formation of a balanced governance structure. There are three perspectives to understand social autonomy, including the historical dimension of modernization, the relative dimension of relation category and the function dimension of governance modernization. China has formed a state-centered tradition during the process of its long history. Because of reform and opening, China has created a relative autonomous society and realized the separation of state and society. Chinese society lacks the culture and concept foundation of autonomy mechanism. State needs to take the initiative to promote the development of social autonomy through three ways:input path, cooperative path and cultivating path.