Province-level administrative divisions | |
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Category | Unitary one-party socialist republic (PRC) Unitary semi-presidential republic (ROC) |
Location | ![]() ![]() |
Created | 1947 (ROC constitution) |
Number | PRC: 31 (Direct Jurisdiction) + 2 (Special Administrative Regions) + 1 (Disputed) ROC: 22 (Direct jurisdiction + 2 (Streamlined) + 48 (Claimed areas) |
Populations | 552,300 (Macau) - 104,303,132 (Guangdong) |
Areas | 30.4 km2 (11.7 sq mi) (Macau)[2] - 1,664,897 km2 (642,820 sq mi) (Xinjiang)[3] |
Government | Single-Party Government SARs: 1 country, 2 systems Provincial government |
Subdivisions | Sub-provincial city, Prefecture Counties |
province-level administrative divisions | |||||||||
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province | |||||||||
Chinese | ? | ||||||||
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Tibetan name | |||||||||
Tibetan | |||||||||
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Zhuang name | |||||||||
Zhuang | Swngj | ||||||||
Mongolian name | |||||||||
Mongolian script | ? | ||||||||
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Uyghur name | |||||||||
Uyghur | | ||||||||
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Manchu name | |||||||||
Manchu script | ? | ||||||||
Romanization | golo |
Provincial-level administrative divisions (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) or first-level administrative divisions (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), are the highest-level Chinese administrative divisions. There are 34 such divisions claimed by the People's Republic of China, classified as 23 provinces (Chinese: ?; pinyin: ), four municipalities, five autonomous regions, and two Special Administrative Regions. The political status of Taiwan Province along with a small fraction of Fujian Province remain in dispute, as those are currently under separate rule by the Republic of China.
Every province on mainland China (including the island province of Hainan) has a Communist Party of China provincial committee (Chinese: ; pinyin: ), headed by a secretary (Chinese: ; pinyin: ). The Committee Secretary is effectively in charge of the province, rather than the governor (Chinese: /?/?; pinyin: ) of the provincial government.[4]
The government of each standard province (Chinese: ?; pinyin: ) is nominally led by a provincial committee, headed by a secretary. The committee secretary is first-in-charge of the province; second-in-command is the governor of the provincial government. In practice, day-to-day affairs are managed by a provincial party standing committee, which makes decisions for a province analogous to the Politburo for the central government.
The People's Republic of China (PRC) claims the island of Taiwan and its surrounding islets, including Penghu, as "Taiwan Province", though Taiwan has not been under control of a government that ruled from mainland China since 1949, when the Republic of China (ROC) lost the mainland to the Communist Party of China, which established the PRC. (Kinmen and the Matsu Islands are claimed by the PRC as part of its Fujian Province. Pratas Island and the Vereker Banks and Itu Aba (Taiping Island) are claimed by the PRC as part of Guangdong and Hainan provinces respectively.) The territory is controlled by the Republic of China (ROC, commonly called "Taiwan") though the provinces were streamlined in 1998 and the provincial governments were de facto dissolved in 2019.
A municipality (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin:
; lit. 'direct-administrated city') or municipality directly under the administration of the central government is a higher level of city which is directly under the Chinese government, with status equal to that of the provinces. In practice, their political status is higher than that of common provinces.An autonomous region (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin:
) is a minority subject which has a higher population of a particular minority ethnic group along with its own local government, but an autonomous region theoretically has more legislative rights than in actual practice. The governor of each autonomous region is usually appointed from the respective minority ethnic group.A special administrative region (SAR) (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin:
) is a highly autonomous and self-governing sub national subject of the People's Republic of China that is directly under the Central People's Government. Each SAR has a chief executive as head of the region and head of government. The region's government is not fully independent, as foreign policy and military defence are the responsibility of the central government, according to the basic laws.GB/T 2260-2007[5] | ISO[6] | Province | Chinese Hanyu Pinyin |
Capital | Population[a] | Density[b] | Area[c] | Abbreviation[d] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AH | CN-AH | Anhui Province | ?nhu? Sh?ng |
Hefei | 59,500,510 | 425.91 | 139,700 | ? W?n |
BJ | CN-BJ | Beijing Municipality | B?ij?ng Shì |
19,612,368 | 1,167.40 | 16,800 | ? J?ng | |
CQ | CN-CQ | Chongqing Municipality | Chóngqìng Shì |
28,846,170 | 350.50 | 82,300 | ? Yú | |
FJ | CN-FJ | Fujian Province[e] | Fújiàn Sh?ng |
Fuzhou (PRC) Jincheng (ROC)[f] |
36,894,216 | 304.15 | 121,580 | ? M?n |
GD | CN-GD | Guangdong Province[g] | Gu?ngd?ng Sh?ng |
Guangzhou | 104,303,132 | 579.46 | 180,000 | ? Yuè |
GS | CN-GS | Gansu Province | G?nsù Sh?ng |
Lanzhou | 25,575,254 | 56.29 | 454,300 | ?(?) G?n (L?ng) |
GX | CN-GX | Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region | ? Gu?ngx? Zhuàngzú Zìzhìq? |
Nanning | 46,026,629 | 195.02 | 236,000 | ? Guì |
GZ | CN-GZ | Guizhou Province | Guìzh?u Sh?ng |
Guiyang | 34,746,468 | 197.42 | 176,000 | ?(?) Guì (Qián) |
HA (HEN) | CN-HA | Henan Province | Hénán Sh?ng |
Zhengzhou | 94,023,567 | 563.01 | 167,000 | ? Yù |
HB (HUB) | CN-HB | Hubei Province | Húb?i Sh?ng |
Wuhan | 57,237,740 | 307.89 | 185,900 | ? È |
HE (HEB) | CN-HE | Hebei Province | Héb?i Sh?ng |
Shijiazhuang | 71,854,202 | 382.81 | 187,700 | ? Jì |
HI | CN-HI | Hainan Province[h] | H?inán Sh?ng |
Haikou | 9,171,300[8] | 255.04 | 34,000 | ? Qióng |
HK | CN-HK[i] | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | ? Xi?ngg?ng Tèbié Xíngzhèngq? |
7,556,810 | 6,396.01 | 1,108 | ? G?ng | |
HL | CN-HL | Heilongjiang Province | ? H?ilóngji?ng Sh?ng |
Harbin | 38,312,224 | 84.38 | 454,000 | ? H?i |
HN (HUN) | CN-HN | Hunan Province | Húnán Sh?ng |
Changsha | 65,683,722 | 312.77 | 210,000 | ? Xi?ng |
JL | CN-JL | Jilin Province | Jílín Sh?ng |
Changchun | 27,462,297 | 146.54 | 187,400 | ? Jí |
JS | CN-JS | Jiangsu Province | Ji?ngs? Sh?ng |
Nanjing | 78,659,903 | 766.66 | 102,600 | ? S? |
JX | CN-JX | Jiangxi Province | Ji?ngx? Sh?ng |
Nanchang | 44,567,475 | 266.87 | 167,000 | ? Gàn |
LN | CN-LN | Liaoning Province | Liáoníng Sh?ng |
Shenyang | 43,746,323 | 299.83 | 145,900 | ? Liáo |
MO | CN-MO[j] | Macau Special Administrative Region | ? Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngq? |
682,800 | 19,044.82 | 29 | ? Ào | |
NM | CN-NM | Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region | Nèi M?ngg? Zìzhìq? |
Hohhot | 24,706,321 | 20.88 | 1,183,000 | (?/?) Nèi M?ngg? (Suí/M?ng) |
NX | CN-NX | Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region | ? Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìq? |
Yinchuan | 7,229,220 | 94.89 | 66,400 | ? Níng |
QH | CN-QH | Qinghai Province | Q?ngh?i Sh?ng |
Xining | 5,626,722 | 7.80 | 721,200 | ? Q?ng |
SC | CN-SC | Sichuan Province | Sìchu?n Sh?ng |
Chengdu | 80,418,200 | 165.81 | 485,000 | ?(?) Chu?n (Sh?) |
SD | CN-SD | Shandong Province | Sh?nd?ng Sh?ng |
Jinan | 95,793,065 | 622.84 | 153,800 | ? L? |
SH | CN-SH | Shanghai Municipality | Shàngh?i Shì |
23,019,148 | 3,630.20 | 6,341 | ?(?) Hù (Sh?n) | |
SN (SAA) | CN-SN | Shaanxi Province | Sh?nx? Sh?ng |
Xi'an | 37,327,378 | 181.55 | 205,600 | ?(?) Sh?n (Qín) |
SX (SAX) | CN-SX | Shanxi Province | Sh?nx? Sh?ng |
Taiyuan | 35,712,111 | 228.48 | 156,300 | ? Jìn |
TJ | CN-TJ | Tianjin Municipality | Ti?nj?n Shì |
12,938,224 | 1,144.46 | 11,305 | ? J?n | |
TW | CN-TW[k] | Taiwan Province[l] | Táiw?n Sh?ng |
Taipei (PRC claimed) Zhongxing New Village (ROC)[m] |
23,162,123 | 650.97 | 36,161 | ?(?) Tái |
XJ | CN-XJ | Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region | X?nji?ng Wéiwú'?r Zìzhìq? |
Ürümqi | 21,813,334 | 13.13 | 1,660,400 | ? X?n |
XZ | CN-XZ | Tibet Autonomous Region | X?zàng Zìzhìq? |
Lhasa | 6,500,000 | 2.44 | 1,228,400 | ? Zàng |
YN | CN-YN | Yunnan Province | Yúnnán Sh?ng |
Kunming | 45,966,239 | 116.66 | 394,000 | ?(?) Yún (Di?n) |
ZJ | CN-ZJ | Zhejiang Province | Zhèji?ng Sh?ng |
Hangzhou | 54,426,891 | 533.59 | 102,000 | ? Zhè |
HK
MO
TW
By the time unity was finally reestablished by the Sui dynasty, the provinces had been divided and redivided so many times by different governments that they were almost the same size as commanderies, rendering the two-tier system superfluous. As such, the Sui merged the two together. In English, this merged level is translated as "prefectures". In Chinese, the name changed between zhou and jun several times before being finally settled on zhou. Based on the apocryphal Nine Province system, the Sui restored nine zhou.[9]
Provinces of the Sui dynasty | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Pinyin | Capital | Approximate extent in terms of modern locations | |
Ancient name | Modern location | |||||
Yongzhou | Y?ngzh?u | ? | ? | Guanzhong, Gansu, and the Upper Yellow basin | ||
Jizhou | Jìzh?u | ? | ? | Shanxi and Northern Hebei, including modern Beijing and Tianjin | ||
Yanzhou | Y?nzh?u | ? | ? | Lower Yellow River area- west of Qingzhou and east of Jizhou | ||
Qingzhou | Q?ngzh?u | ? | ? | Shandong Peninsula | ||
Yuzhou | Yùzh?u | ? | ? | Henan | ||
Xuzhou | Xúzh?u | ? | ? | Modern Xuzhou area- southern Shandong and northern Jiangsu | ||
Liangzhou | Liángzh?u | ? | ? | Upper Yangtze- Sichuan Basin + south of the Qinling | ||
Jingzhou | J?ngzh?u | ? | ? | Central Yangtze | ||
Yangzhou | Yángzh?u | ? | ? | Lower Yangtze, entire SE Coast, Hainan, and Northern Vietnam |
Emperor Taizong (r. 626-649) set up 10 "circuits" (?; ) in 627 as inspection areas for imperial commissioners monitoring the operation of prefectures, rather than a new primary level of administration. In 639, there were 10 circuits, 43 commanderies (???; ), and 358 prefectures (? and later ?; ).[10] In 733, Emperor Xuanzong expanded the number of circuits to 15 by establishing separate circuits for the areas around Chang'an and Luoyang, and by splitting the large Shannan and Jiangnan circuits into 2 and 3 new circuits respectively. He also established a system of permanent inspecting commissioners, though without executive powers.[11]
Circuits of the Tang dynasty | |||||||
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Name | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Pinyin | Capital | Approximate extent in terms of modern locations | ||
Ancient name | Modern location | ||||||
Duji* | D?j? | Henan Fu | Luoyang | Luoyang and environs | |||
Guannei | Gu?nnèi | Jingzhao Fu | Xi'an | northern Shaanxi, central Inner Mongolia, Ningxia | |||
Hebei | Héb?i | Weizhou | Wei County, Hebei | Hebei | |||
Hedong | Héd?ng | Puzhou | Puzhou, Yongji, Shanxi | Shanxi | |||
Henan | Hénán | Bianzhou | Kaifeng | Henan, Shandong, northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui | |||
Huainan | Huáinán | Yangzhou | central Jiangsu, central Anhui | ||||
Jiannan | Jiànnán | Yizhou | Chengdu | central Sichuan, central Yunnan | |||
Jiangnan | Ji?ngnán | Jiangnanxi + Jiangnandong (see map) | |||||
Qianzhong** | Qiánzh?ng | Qianzhou | Pengshui | Guizhou, western Hunan | |||
Jiangnanxi** | Ji?ngnánx? | Hongzhou | Nanchang | Jiangxi, Hunan, southern Anhui, southern Hubei | |||
Jiangnandong** | Ji?ngnánd?ng | Suzhou | southern Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanghai | ||||
Jingji* | J?ngj? | Jingzhao Fu | Xi'an | Xi'an and environs | |||
Lingnan | L?ngnán | Guangzhou | Guangdong, eastern Guangxi, northern Vietnam | ||||
Longyou | L?ngyou | Shanzhou | Ledu County, Qinghai | Gansu | |||
Shannan | Sh?nnán | Shannanxi + Shannandong (see map) | |||||
Shannanxi** | Sh?nnánx? | Liangzhou | Hanzhong | southern Shanxi, eastern Sichuan, Chongqing | |||
Shannandong** | Sh?nnánd?ng | Xiangzhou | Xiangfan | southern Henan, Hubei |
* Circuits established under Xuanzong, as opposed to Taizong's original ten circuits.
** Circuits established under Xuanzong by dividing Taizong's Jiangnan and Shannan circuits.
Other Tang-era circuits include the West Lingnan, Wu'an, and Qinhua circuits.
The Song government abolished the previous commissioners and renamed their circuits (?; , literally meaning "roads", but however is still usually translated into English as "circuits"). They also added a number of "army" prefectures (?; ). Similarly, Liao and Jurchen Jin dynasties also established circuits as the first-level administrative division.
Circuits of the Northern Song dynasty | ||||||
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Name | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Pinyin | Capital | Approximant extent in terms of modern locations | |
Ancient name | Modern location | |||||
Chengdufu | Chéngd?f? | Chengdu | central Sichuan | |||
Fujian | Fújiàn | Fuzhou | Fujian | |||
Guangnan East | Gu?ngnánd?ng | Guangzhou | eastern Guangdong | |||
Guangnan West | Gu?ngnánx? | Guizhou | Guilin | western Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan | ||
Hebei East | Héb?id?ng | Beijing | Daming County, Hebei | eastern Hebei | ||
Hebei West | Héb?ix? | Zhending | Zhengding County, Hebei | western Hebei | ||
Hedong | Héd?ng | Taiyuan | Shanxi | |||
Huainan East | Huáinánd?ng | Yangzhou | central Jiangsu | |||
Huainan West | Huáinánx? | Shouzhou | Fengtai County, Anhui | central Anhui | ||
Jiangnan East | Ji?ngnánd?ng | Jiangning Fu | Nanjing | southern Anhui | ||
Jiangnan West | Ji?ngnánx? | Hongzhou | Nanchang | Jiangxi | ||
Jingdong East | J?ngd?ngd?ng | Qingzhou | Qingzhou, Shandong | eastern Shandong | ||
Jingdong West | J?ngd?ngx? | Nanjing | south of Shangqiu, Henan | western Shandong | ||
Jinghu North | J?nghúb?i | Jiangling | Hubei, western Hunan | |||
Jinghu South | J?nghúnán | Tanzhou | Changsha | Hunan | ||
Jingji | J?ngj? | Chenliu | Chenliu, Kaifeng, Henan | Kaifeng and environs | ||
Jingxi North | J?ngx?b?i | Xijing | Luoyang | central Henan | ||
Jingxi South | J?ngx?nán | Xiangzhou | Xiangfan | southern Henan, northern Hubei | ||
Kuizhou | Kuízh?u | Kuizhou | Fengjie County, Chongqing | Chongqing, eastern Sichuan, Guizhou | ||
Liangzhe | Li?ngzhè | Hangzhou | Zhejiang, southern Jiangsu, Shanghai | |||
Lizhou | Lìzh?u | Xingyuan | Hanzhong | northern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi | ||
Qinfeng | Qínfèng | Qinzhou | Tianshui | southern Gansu | ||
Yongxingjun | Y?ngx?ngj?n | Jingzhao | Xi'an | Shaanxi | ||
Zizhou | Z?zh?u | Zizhou | Santai County, Sichuan | central southern Sichuan |
China was reorganised into 11 provinces keeping most of the previous boundaries of provinces created by the previous dynasty unchanged, the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) had 2 addition regions: Central region ruled by the Zhongshu Sheng () and the Tibetan region ruled by the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs ().
Circuits of the Yuan dynasty | |||||||||
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Name | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Pinyin | Capital | Approximant extent in terms of modern locations | ||||
Ancient name | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Pinyin | Modern location | |||||
Gansu | G?nsù | Ganzhou Circuit | G?nzh?u Lù | Zhangye | Consist of modern location of Gansu, Ningxia, & eastern Inner Mongolia. | ||||
Huguang | Húgu?ng | Wuchang Circuit | W?ch?ng Lù | Wuhan | Consist of modern location of Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, southern Hubei & western Guangdong. | ||||
Henanjiangbei | ? | Hénánji?ngb?i | Bianliang Circuit | Biànliáng Lù | Kaifeng | Consist of modern location of Henan, northern Hubei, northern Jiangsu, & northern Anhui. | |||
Jiangxi | Ji?ngx? | Longxing Circuit | Lóngxìng Lù | Nanchang | Consist of modern location of Jiangxi & eastern Guangdong. | ||||
Jiangzhe | Ji?ngzhè | Hangzhou Circuit | Hángzh?u Lù | Hangzhou | Consist of modern location of Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, southern Jiangsu, & southern Anhui. | ||||
Liaoyang | Liáoyáng | Liaoyang Circuit | Liáoyáng Lù | Liaoyang | Consist of modern location of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, eastern Hebei, northwestern Inner Mongolia, northern Korea, & Outer Manchuria. | ||||
Lingbei | L?ngb?i | Hening Circuit | Héníng Lù | Kharkhorin | Consist of modern location of Mongolia & southern Siberia. | ||||
Shaanxi | Sh?nxi | Fengyuan Circuit | Fèngyuán Lù | Xi'an | Consist of modern location of Shaanxi & mid-western Sichuan | ||||
Sichuan | Sìchu?n | Chengdu Circuit | Chéngd? Lù | Chengdu | Consist of modern location of western Sichuan & Chongqing | ||||
Yunnan | Yúnnán | Zhongqing Circuit | Zh?ngqìng Lù | Kunming | Consist of modern location of Yunnan and Upper Myanmar. | ||||
Zhengdong | Zh?ngd?ng | Kaicheng Circuit | K?ichéng Lù | Kaesong | Consist of modern location of southern Korea. | ||||
Central region* | Zh?ngsh? Sh?ng | none | Consist of modern location of Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shandong, northern Henan, central Inner Mongolia, & western Hebei. A direct rule region under Zhongshu Sheng (Central Secretariat). | ||||||
Tibetan region* | Xu?nzhèng Yuàn | none | Consist of modern location of Tibet, Qinghai, & western Sichuan. A region set up to supervised Buddhist monks in addition to managing the territory of Tibet under the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs. |
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) kept the province system set up by the Yuan Dynasty, however, it divided the original 10 provinces into 16 provinces, later 2 capital metropolitan areas and 13 provinces () within China proper and 5 additional military ruled regions.
Circuits of the Yuan dynasty | |||||||||
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Name | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Pinyin | Capital | Approximant extent in terms of modern locations | ||||
Ancient name | Traditional Chinese |
Simplified Chinese |
Pinyin | Modern location | |||||
Fujian | Fújiàn | Fuzhou Prefecture | Fúzh?u F? | ||||||
Guangdong | Gu?ngd?ng | Guangzhou Prefecture | Gu?ngzh?u G? | ||||||
Guangxi | Gu?ngx? | Guilin Prefecture | Guìlín F? | ||||||
Guizhou | Guìzh?u | Guiyang Prefecture | Guìyáng F? | ||||||
Henan | Hénán | Kaifeng Prefecture | K?if?ng F? | ||||||
Huguang | Húgu?ng | Wuchang Prefecture | W?ch?ng F? | Consist of modern location of Hunan & Hubei. Provincial seat modern location is Wuhan. | |||||
Jiangxi | Ji?ngx? | Nanchang Prefecture | Nánch?ng F? | ||||||
Shaanxi | Sh?nx? | Xi'an Prefecture | X?'?n F? | Consist of modern location of Shaanxi, Gansu, & Ningxia. | |||||
Shandong | Sh?nd?ng | Jinan Prefecture | J?nán F? | ||||||
Shanxi | Sh?nx? | Taiyuan Prefecture | Tàiyuán F? | ||||||
Sichuan | Sìchu?n | Chengdu Prefecture | Chéngd? F? | Consist of modern location of Chongqing & eastern Sichuan. | |||||
Yunnan | Yúnnán | Yunnan Prefecture | Yúnnán F? | Provincial seat modern location is Kunming. | |||||
Zhejiang | Zhèji?ng | Hangzhou Prefecture | Hángzh?u F? | ||||||
Jiaozhi | Ji?ozh? | Jiaozhou Prefecture | Ji?ozh?u F? | Consist of modern location of northern Vietnam. 1407-1428 | |||||
North Zhili | B?izhílì | Shuntian Prefecture | Shùnti?n F? | Consist of modern location of Beijing, Tianjin, & Hebei. Provincial seat modern location is Beijing. | |||||
South Zhili | Nánzhílì | Yingtian Prefecture | Yìngti?n F? | Consist of modern location of Shanghai, Jiangsu, & Anhui. Provincial seat modern location is Nanjing. | |||||
Nurgan* | Nú'ergàn | none | Consist of modern location of Heilongjiang, Jilin, central-eastern Inner Mongolia, & Outer Manchuria. 1409-1616 | ||||||
Liaodong* | Liáod?ng | none | Consist of modern location of Liaoning. 1375-1621 | ||||||
Ü-Tsang* | W?s?zàng | none | Consist of modern location of Tibet. 1372-1565 | ||||||
Dokham* | Du?g?n | none | Consist of modern location of Qinghai & western Sichuan. 1372-1644 | ||||||
Elis* | Élìs? | none | Consist of modern location of Ngari, Tibet. 1375-1565 |
By the latter half of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), there were 18 provinces, all of them in China proper (). Jiangsu and Anhui were originally one province called Jiangnan, with its capital at Nanjing. There was no discrete time period when the two halves of Jiangnan were split, but rather, this was a gradual process.
Each province had a xunfu (; ; translated as "governor"), a political overseer on behalf of the emperor, and a tidu (; ; translated as "captain general"), a military governor. In addition, there was a zongdu (; ), a general military inspector or governor general, for every two to three provinces.
Outer regions of China (those beyond China proper) were not divided into provinces. Military leaders or generals (; ) oversaw Manchuria (consisting of Fengtian (now Liaoning), Jilin, Heilongjiang), Xinjiang, and Mongolia, while vice-dutong (; ) and civilian leaders headed the leagues (; ), a subdivision of Mongolia. The ambans (?; ) supervised the administration of Tibet.
In 1884 Xinjiang became a province; in 1907 Fengtian, Jilin, and Heilongjiang were made provinces as well. Taiwan became a province in 1885, but China ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895. As a result, there were 22 provinces in China (Outer China and China proper) near the end of the Qing Dynasty.
The Republic of China, established in 1912, set up four more provinces in Inner Mongolia and two provinces in historic Tibet, bringing the total to 28. In 1931, Ma Zhongying established Hexi in the northern parts of Gansu but the ROC never acknowledged the province. However, China lost four provinces with the establishment of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo in Manchuria. After the defeat of Japan in World War II in 1945, China re-incorporated Manchuria as 10 provinces, and assumed control of Taiwan as a province. As a result, the Republic of China in 1946 had 35 provinces. Although the Republic of China now only controls one province (Taiwan), and some islands of a second province (Fujian), it continues to formally claim all 35 provinces (including those that no longer form part of the area of the People's Republic of China).
abolished claimed
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Translation | Capital | Hanzi | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huabei | Huáb?i | "North China" | Beijing | 1949-1954 | |||
Dongbei | D?ngb?i | "Northeast" | Shenyang | 1949-1954 | |||
Huadong | Huád?ng | "East China" | Shanghai | 1949-1954 | |||
Zhongnan | Zh?ngnán | "South Central" | Wuhan | 1949-1954 | |||
Xibei | X?b?i | "Northwest" | Xi'an | 1949-1954 | |||
Xinan | X?nán | "Southwest" | Chongqing | 1949-1954 |
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Abbreviation | Capital | Hanzi | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andong | ?nd?ng | ? ?n | Tonghua | 1949 abolished -> Liaodong, Jilin | ||
Anhui | ?nhu? | ? w?n | Hefei | 1949 abolished -> Wanbei, Wannan; 1952 reverted | ||
Chahar | Cháh?'?r | ? chá | Zhangjiakou | 1952 abolished -> Inner Mongolia, Hebei | ||
Fujian | Fújiàn | ? m?n | Fuzhou (PRC) Jincheng (ROC) |
parts of the Fujian Province consisting of Kinmen and Matsu are part of Taiwan (ROC) | ||
Gansu | G?nsù | ? g?n | Lanzhou | 1958 Ningxia split into its own autonomous region | ||
Guangdong | Gu?ngd?ng | ? yuè | Guangzhou | 1952 & 1965 Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Beihai -> Guangxi; 1955 reverted 1988 Hainan split into its own province | ||
Guangxi | Gu?ngx? | ? guì | Nanning | 1958 province -> autonomous region | ||
Guizhou | Guìzh?u | ? qián | Guiyang | |||
Hainan | H?inán | ? qióng | Haikou | |||
Hebei | Héb?i | ? jì | Tianjin (1954-67) Shijiazhuang (present) |
1967 Tianjin split into its own municipality | ||
Hejiang | Héji?ng | ? hé | Jiamusi | 1949 abolished -> Heilongjiang | ||
Heilongjiang | H?ilóngji?ng | ? h?i | Qiqihar (1949-54) Harbin (present) |
? |
1952 part of Xing'an split into Inner Mongolia | |
Henan | Hénán | ? yù | Kaifeng (1949-54) Zhengzhou (present) |
|||
Hubei | Húb?i | ? è | Wuhan | |||
Hunan | Húnán | ? xi?ng | Changsha | |||
Jiangsu | Ji?ngs? | ? s? | Nanjing | 1949 abolished -> Subei, Subnan; 1952 reverted | ||
Jiangxi | Ji?ngx? | ? gàn | Nanchang | |||
Jilin | Jílín | ? jí | Jilin (1949-54) Changchun (present) |
1952 north part split into Inner Mongolia | ||
Liaobei | Liáob?i | ? táo | Liaoyuan | 1949 abolished -> Jilin, Liaoning | ||
Liaodong | Liáod?ng | ? gu?n | Dandong | 1954 abolished -> Liaoning | ||
Liaoning | Liáoníng | ? liáo | Shenyang | 1949 abolished -> Liaodong, Liaoxi; 1954 reverted 1952 north part split into Inner Mongolia | ||
Liaoxi | Liáox? | ? liáo | Jinzhou | 1954 abolished -> Liaoning | ||
Nenjiang | Nènji?ng | ? nèn | Qiqihar | ? | 1949 abolished -> Heilongjiang | |
Ningxia | Níngxià | ? níng | Yinchuan | 1954 province -> Gansu | ||
Mudanjiang | M?d?nji?ng | ? d?n | Mudanjiang | 1949 abolished -> Heilongjiang | ||
Pingyuan | Píngyuán | ? píng | Xinxiang | 1952 abolished -> Henan, Shandong | ||
Qinghai | Q?ngh?i | ? q?ng | Xining | |||
Rehe | Rèhé | ? rè | Chengde | 1955 abolished -> Inner Mongolia, & Liaoning | ||
Sichuan | Sìchu?n | ? chu?n | Chengdu | 1949 abolished -> Chuanbei, Chuandong, Chuannan, Chuanxi; 1952 reverted 1997 Chongqing split into its own municipality | ||
Shaanxi | Sh?nx? | ? sh?n | Xi'an | |||
Shandong | Sh?nd?ng | ? l? | Jinan | |||
Shanxi | Sh?nx? | ? jìn | Taiyuan | |||
Songjiang | S?ngji?ng | ? s?ng | Harbin | 1954 abolished -> Heilongjiang | ||
Suiyuan | Suíyu?n | ? suí | Hohhot | ? | 1954 abolished -> Inner Mongolia | |
Taiwan | Táiw?n | ? tái | Taipei Zhongxing New Village (ROC only) |
claimed since the founding of the PRC in 1949 | ||
Xikang | X?k?ng | ? k?ng | Kangding (1949-50) Ya'an (1950-55) |
1955 abolished -> Sichuan, Yunnan, Tibet Autonomous Region | ||
Xing'an | X?ng'?n | ? x?ng | Hulunbuir | ? | 1949 abolished -> Heilongjiang | |
Xinjiang | X?nji?ng | ? ji?ng | Ürümqi | ? | 1955 province -> autonomous region | |
Yunnan | Yúnnán | ? di?n | Kunming | |||
Zhejiang | Zhèji?ng | ? zhè | Hangzhou |
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Abbreviation | Capital | Hanzi | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guangxi | Gu?ngx? | ? guì | Nanning | 1958 province -> autonomous region | ||
Inner Mongolia | Nèi M?ngg? | ? m?ng | Ulaanhot (1947-50) Hohhot (present) |
? ? |
1947 created; 1969 truncated -> Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Gansu, Ningxia; 1979 reverted | |
Ningxia | Níngxià | ? níng | Yinchuan | 1958 special region -> autonomous region | ||
Tibet | X?zàng | ? zàng | Lhasa | 1965 area -> autonomous region | ||
Xinjiang | X?nji?ng | ? ji?ng | Ürümqi | ? | 1955 province -> autonomous region |
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Abbreviation | Capital | Hanzi | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Anshan | ?nsh?n | ? ?n | Tiedong District | 1954 abolished -> Liaoning | ||
Beijing (PRC) | B?ij?ng | ? j?ng | Dongcheng District Tongzhou District |
|||
Benxi | B?nx? | ? b?n | Pingshan District | 1954 abolished -> Liaoning | ||
Changchun | Chángch?n | ? ch?n | Nanguan District | 1953 created; 1954 abolished -> Jilin | ||
Chongqing (PRC) | Chóngqìng | ? yú | Yuzhong District | 1954 abolished -> Sichuan; 1997 reverted | ||
Dalian -> Lüda | -> | Dàlián | ? lián | Xigang District | 1949 abolished -> Luda, 1950 reverted, 1954 abolished -> Liaoning | |
Fushun | F?shùn | ? f? | Shuncheng District | 1954 abolished -> Liaoning | ||
Guangzhou | Gu?ngzh?u | ? suì | Yuexiu District | 1954 abolished -> Guangdong | ||
Harbin | H?'?rb?n | ? h? | Nangang District | 1953 created, 1954 abolished -> Heilongjiang | ||
Kaohsiung (ROC) | G?oxióng | ? g?o | Lingya District Fongshan District |
|||
Nanjing | Nánj?ng | ? níng | Xuanwu District | 1952 abolished -> Jiangsu | ||
New Taipei (ROC) | X?nb?i | x?nb?i | Banqiao District | |||
Shanghai (PRC) | Shàngh?i | ? hù | Huangpu District | |||
Shenyang | Sh?nyáng | ? sh?n | Shenhe District | 1954 abolished -> Liaoning | ||
Taichung (ROC) | Táizh?ng | ? zh?ng | Xitun District | |||
Tainan (ROC) | Táinán | ? nán | Anping District Xinying District |
|||
Taipei (ROC) | Táib?i | ? b?i | Xinyi District | |||
Taoyuan (ROC) | Táoyuán | ? táo | Taoyuan District | |||
Tianjin (PRC) | Ti?nj?n | ? j?n | Heping District | 1954 abolished -> Hebei, 1967 reverted | ||
Hankou -> Wuhan | -> | W?hàn | ? hàn | Jiang'an District | 1949 abolished -> Hubei | |
Xi'an | X?'?n | ? hào | Weiyang District | 1954 abolished -> Shaanxi |
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Abbreviation | Capital | Hanzi | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hong Kong | Xi?ngg?ng | ? g?ng | Hong Kong | created 1997 (Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong) | ||
Macau | Àomén | ? ào | Macau | created 1999 (Transfer of sovereignty over Macau) |
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Abbreviation | Capital | Hanzi | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chuanbei | Chu?nb?i | ? ch?ng | Nanchong | 1950 created; 1952 abolished -> Sichuan | ||
Chuandong | Chu?nd?ng | ? yú | Chongqing | 1950 created; 1952 abolished -> Sichuan | ||
Chuannan | Chu?nnán | ? lú | Luzhou | 1950 created; 1952 abolished -> Sichuan | ||
Chuanxi | Chu?nx? | ? róng | Chengdu | 1950 created; 1952 abolished -> Sichuan | ||
Hainan | H?inán | ? qióng | Haikou | 1949 abolished -> Guangdong | ||
Lüda | L?dà | ? l? | Dalian | 1949 created; 1950 abolished -> Dalian | ||
Subei | S?b?i | ? yáng | Yangzhou | 1949 created; 1952 abolished -> Jiangsu | ||
Sunan | S?nán | ? x? | Wuxi | 1949 created; 1952 abolished -> Jiangsu | ||
Wanbei | W?nb?i | ? hé | Hefei | 1949 created; 1952 abolished -> Anhui | ||
Wannan | W?nnán | ? wú | Wuhu | 1949 created; 1952 abolished -> Anhui |
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Abbreviation | Capital | Hanzi | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tibet | X?zàng | ? zàng | Lhasa | 1965 region -> autonomous region |
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Abbreviation | Capital | Hanzi | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Qamdo | Ch?ngd? | ? ch?ng | Qamdo | 1965 merged into Tibet |
The People's Republic of China abolished many of the provinces in the 1950s and converted a number of them into autonomous regions. Hainan became a separate province in 1988, bringing the total number of provinces under PRC control to 22.
In contrast, the Republic of China also had a number of provinces under its control such as Taiwan and Fujian, which the ROC currently administers, though the ROC abolished the Xinjiang Provincial Office in 1992. In 1998, after streamlining of the two provinces, some of its powers from the Taiwan and Fujian Provincial Governments were gradually transferred to county governments. This fractured further between 2018 and 2019 when the ROC central government de facto abolished the provincial governments with most of the remaining powers given to the Executive Yuan.
During the 20th century, China claimed that numerous neighbouring countries and regions in Asia were lost territories of China.[12][13] Many of these lost territories were under the rule of Imperial Chinese dynasties or were tributary states.[12]Sun Yat-sen claimed that these territories were lost due to unequal treaties, forceful occupation and annexation, and foreign interference. Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong, among others, were supportive of these claims.[14] China published a series of maps during this time known as a Map of National Shame (simplified Chinese: ?; traditional Chinese: ?; pinyin: ) which showcased some of the lost territories that had links to various Imperial Chinese dynasties.
Name | Hanzi | Pinyin | Note |
---|---|---|---|
South Tibet[13] (part of modern-day Arunachal Pradesh) | (South Tibet)/
(Arunachal Pradesh) |
Zàng nán (South Tibet)/
? l? nà qià ?r b?ng (Arunachal Pradesh) |
Lost to the British Empire |
The Great Northeast (Left bank of Amur River)[13] | N/A | N/A | Lost to the Russian Empire |
The Great Northeast[13] (Outer Manchuria) | N/A | N/A | Lost to the Russian Empire |
Bhutan[12] | Bù d?n | Lost to the British Empire | |
Ryukyu Islands[13] | ? | Liúqiú qúnd?o | Lost to the Empire of Japan |
Annam[13] (modern-day Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos) | ?nnán d? hù f? | Lost to French Empire | |
Burma[13] | Mi?ndiàn | Lost to the British Empire | |
Sikkim[13] | Xíj?n b?ng | Lost to the British Empire | |
Ceylon[12] (Sri Lanka) | X? lán | Visited by Admiral Zheng He in the early 15th century. First colonised by the Portuguese Empire, then the Dutch Empire, and finally the British Empire. | |
Malaya[13] (part of modern-day Malaysia and Singapore) | M? lái yà | Lost to the British Empire | |
Taiwan and Penghu[12] | (Taiwan)/
(Penghu) |
Táiw?n (Taiwan)/
P?nghú xiàn (Penghu) |
Lost to the Empire of Japan |
Korea[13] | Cháoxi?n | Lost to the Empire of Japan | |
Pamir Mountains/Ladakh area[13] | N/A | N/A | Lost to the Russian Empire and the British Empire |
Nepal[12] | Níbó'?r | Lost to the British Empire | |
Thailand[12] | Tàiguó | Became independent between British and French territories in 1904 | |
Andaman and Nicobar Islands[13] | ?ndá màn qúnd?o | Lost to the British Empire | |
Sulu Archipelago[12] | ? | S? lù qúnd?o | Lost to the Spanish Empire |
Sakhalin[13] (in Chinese, Kuye) | (Kuye)
? (Sakhalin) |
Kùyè d?o (Kuye)
Sàh?lín d?o (Sakhalin) |
Lost to the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan |
Java[12] | Zh?ow? d?o | Lost to the Dutch Empire | |
Borneo[12] (part of modern-day Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei) | Póluó zh?u | Lost to the British Empire and the Dutch Empire |
The provinces in southeast coastal area of China - such as Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian and (mainly) Guangdong - tend to be more industrialized, with regions in the hinterland less developed.