History of the administrative divisions of China before 1912

The history of the administrative divisions of China is quite complex. Across history, what is called 'China' has taken many shapes, and many political organizations. For various reasons, both the borders and names of political divisions have changed—sometimes to follow topography, sometimes to weaken former states by dividing them, and sometimes to realize a philosophical or historical ideal. For recent times, the number of recorded tiny changes is quite large; by contrast, the lack of clear, trustworthy data for ancient times forces historians and geographers to draw approximate borders for respective divisions. But thanks to imperial records and geographic descriptions, political divisions may often be redrawn with some precision. Natural changes, such as changes in a river's course (known for the Huang He, but also occurring for others), or loss of data, still make this issue difficult for ancient times. Template:Chinesetext

Summary

See also: List of current and former capitals of subnational entities of China

For the current administrative divisions of China, see Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China

Historical Administrative Divisions in China
Dynasty	Primary	Secondary	Tertiary	Quaternary
Qin	Commandery (郡, jùn)	County (縣, 县, xiàn)
Han	Province (州, zhōu)	Commandery	County
Jin	Province (州)	Commandery	County
Sui	"Prefecture" (many smaller 州)	County
Tang	Circuit (道, dào)	Prefecture (smaller: 州; larger: 府, fǔ)	County
Song	Circuit (路, lù)	Prefecture (smaller: 州; larger: 府; military: 軍, jūn)	County
Yuan	Province (省, shěng)	Circuit (道)	Prefecture (smaller: 州; larger: 府)
Ming	Province (省)	Circuit (道)	Prefecture (smaller: 州; larger: 府)	County
Qing	Province (省)	Circuit (道)	Prefecture (州)	County
Republic (pre-1949)	Province (省) Special Municipality (院轄市, 院辖市, yuànxiáshì)	Circuit (道)	County Provincial City (省轄市, 省辖市, shěngxiáshì)	District (區, 区, qū) Urban Township (鎮, 镇, zhèn) Rural Township (鄉, 乡, xiāng)

Ancient times

See also: Template:Ancient Chinese provinces

The Nine Provinces of Xia and Zhou

Before the establishment of the Qin Dynasty, China was ruled by a network of kings, nobles, and tribes. There was no unified system of administrative divisions. According to ancient texts, China in the Xia and Zhou dynasties consisted of nine zhou, but various texts differ as to the names and even functions of these zhous.

During the Zhou dynasty, the nation was nominally ruled overall by the "Son of Heaven". In reality, however, the country was divided into competing states, each with a hereditary head, variously styled "prince", "duke", or "king". The rivalry of these groups culminated in the Warring States Period, and the state of Qin eventually emerged dominant.

Provinces under the Qin Dynasty

Further information: the Chinese Wikipedia article on the administration of the Qin Empire

After the state of Qin managed to subdue the rest of China under a unified Qin Dynasty in 221 BC, it designed an administrative hierarchy of two levels:

• Commanderies
• Counties

All of China was divided into commanderies and counties, which were centrally ruled and tightly controlled.

Provinces under the Han and Jin Dynasties

Further information: the Chinese Wikipedia articles on the administrative divisions of the Western Han, Xin, and Eastern Han Dynasties

Han provinces, ca. 190

The Han Dynasty initially added a top level of "kingdoms" (王国, wángguó), each headed by a hereditary prince. However, with increasing concerns about the powers of these princes, this quasi-federal structure was gradually abolished and replaced with thirteen provinces (州, zhōu). After the Rebellion of the Seven States, the system was standardized:

• Provinces
• Commanderies
• Counties

Throughout the Han Dynasty, the Three Kingdoms Period, and the Western Jin Dynasty, this system remained intact. This changed, however, with the invasion of tribes from the north, who disrupted the unity of China and set up a variety of governments.

Provinces of the Han and Western Jin Dynasties
Name	Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Pinyin	Capital		Approximant extent in terms of modern locations
				Ancient name	Modern location
Bingzhou*	幷州	幷州	Bīngzhōu	Jinyang	southwest of Taiyuan	Shanxi
Jiaozhou*	交州	交州	Jiāozhōu	Longbian	East of Hanoi	northern Vietnam
Jingzhou*	荆州	荆州	Jīngzhōu	Jiangling		Hubei, Hunan
Jizhou*	冀州	冀州	Jìzhōu	Xindu	Jizhou, Hebei	southern Hebei
Liangzhou*	涼州	凉州	Liángzhōu	Guzang	Wuwei	western Gansu
Qingzhou*	青州	青州	Qīngzhōu	Linzi	east of Zibo	eastern Shandong
Xuzhou*	徐州	徐州	Xúzhōu	Pengcheng	Xuzhou	northern Jiangsu
Yangzhou*	揚州	扬州	Yángzhōu	Jianye	Nanjing	southern Jiangsu, southern Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanghai
Yanzhou*	兗州	兖州	Yǎnzhōu	Linqiu	northwest of Yuncheng County	western Shandong
Yizhou*	益州	益州	Yìzhōu	Chengdu		central Sichuan, Guizhou
Yongzhou*	雍州	雍州	Yōngzhōu	Chang'an	northwest of Xi'an	central Shaanxi
Youzhou*	幽州	幽州	Yōuzhōu	Zhuoxian		northern Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin
Yuzhou*	豫州	豫州	Yùzhōu	Chenxian	Huaiyang	southern Henan, northern Anhui
Pingzhou	平州	平州	Píngzhōu	Xiangping	Liaoyang	Liaoning, northern Korea
Qinzhou	秦州	秦州	Qínzhōu	Jixian	east of Gangu	southern Gansu
Liangzhou	梁州	梁州	Liángzhōu	Nanzheng	Hanzhong	southern Shaanxi, eastern Sichuan, Chongqing
Ningzhou	寧州	宁州	Níngzhōu	Dianchi	southeast of Kunming	Yunnan
Guangzhou	廣州	广州	Guǎngzhōu	Panyu	Guangzhou	Guangdong, eastern Guangxi
Sizhou	司州	司州	Sīzhōu	Luoyang		central Henan, southern Shanxi

* One of the original provinces established during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Ping was formed out of You; Qin out of Liang (凉); Liang (梁) and Ning out of Yi; and Guang out of Jiao. Jiao had been established from a territory called Jiaozhi (交趾); Si too was a new creation, its territory formerly administered by a metropolitan commandant (司隷校尉, Sīlì xiàowèi) with capacities similar to the provincial governors'. Shuofang (朔方, Shuòfāng), a similar territory in northern Shaanxi, was merged into Bing rather than becoming a full province in its own right.

Provinces under Sui Dynasty

Further information: the Chinese Wikipedia article on the administrative divisions of the Sui Dynasty

Sui provinces, ca. 610

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.

The Sui had 9 provinces, 190 prefectures, 1,225 counties, and about nine million registered households or approximately fifty million people.

Provinces of the Sui Dynasty
Name	Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Pinyin	Capital		Approximate extent in terms of modern locations
				Ancient name	Modern location
Yongzhou	雍州	雍州	Yōngzhōu	?	?	?
Jizhou	冀州	冀州	Jìzhōu	?	?	?
Yanzhou	兗州	兖州	Yǎnzhōu	?	?	?
Qingzhou	青州	青州	Qīngzhōu	?	?	?
Yuzhou	豫州	豫州	Yùzhōu	?	?	?
Xuzhou	徐州	徐州	Xúzhōu	?	?	?
Liangzhou	梁州	梁州	Liángzhōu	?	?	?
Jingzhou	荆州	荆州	Jīngzhōu	?	?	?
Yangzhou	揚州	扬州	Yángzhōu	?	?	?

Provinces under the Tang Dynasty

Tang provinces, ca. 742

Emperor Taizong (r. 626−649) set up 10 "circuits" (道, dào) in 627 as a new primary level of administration. The enormity of these circuits, however, originally left them more descriptive than practical, the prefecture remaining the true, human-manageable administrative division. In 639, there were 10 circuits, 43 commanderies (都督府, dūdū fǔ), and 358 prefectures (州 and later 府, fǔ). Emperor Xuanzong added five more circuits before 733.

The Tang Dynasty also created military districts (藩鎮, fānzhèn) controlled by military commissioners (節都使, jiédōushǐ) charged with protecting frontier areas susceptible to foreign attack (similar to the Western marches and marcher lords). This system was eventually generalized to other parts of the country as well and essentially merged into the circuits. Just as in the West, the greater autonomy and strength of the commissioners permitted insubordination and rebellion, which in China led to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period.

• Circuits and Military Districts
• Commanderies and Prefectures
• Counties

Circuits of the Tang Dynasty
Name		Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Pinyin	Capital		Approximate extent in terms of modern locations
					Ancient name	Modern location
Duji*		都畿	都畿	Dūjī	Henan Fu	Luoyang	Luoyang and environs
Guannei		關內	关内	Guānnèi	Jingzhao Fu	Xi'an	northern Shaanxi, central Inner Mongolia, Ningxia
Hebei		河北	河北	Héběi	Weizhou	Wei County, Hebei	Hebei
Hedong		河東	河东	Hédōng	Puzhou	Puzhou, Yongji, Shanxi	Shanxi
Henan		河南	河南	Hénán	Bianzhou	Kaifeng	Henan, Shandong, northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui
Huainan		淮南	淮南	Huáinán	Yangzhou		central Jiangsu, central Anhui
Jiannan		劍南	剑南	Jiànnán	Yizhou	Chengdu	central Sichuan, central Yunnan
Jiangnan		江南	江南	Jiāngnán			Jiangnanxi + Jiangnandong (see map)
	Jiangnanxi**	江南西	江南西	Jiāngnánxī	Hongzhou	Nanchang	Jiangxi, Hunan, southern Anhui, southern Hubei
	Jiangnandong**	江南東	江南东	Jiāngnándōng	Suzhou		southern Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanghai
Jingji*		京畿	京畿	Jīngjī	Jingzhao Fu	Xi'an	Xi'an and environs
Lingnan		嶺南	岭南	Lǐngnán	Guangzhou		Guangdong, eastern Guangxi, northern Vietnam
Longyou		隴右	陇右	Lǒngyou	Shanzhou	Ledu County, Qinghai	Gansu
Qianzhong*		黔中	黔中	Qiánzhōng	Qianzhou	Pengshui	Guizhou, western Hunan
Shannan		山南	山南	Shānnán			Shannanxi + Shannandong (see map)
	Shannanxi**	山南西	山南西	Shānnánxī	Liangzhou	Hanzhong	southern Shanxi, eastern Sichuan, Chongqing
	Shannandong**	山南東	山南东	Shānnándōng	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 into an eastern and a western circuit.

Other Tang-era circuits include the West Lingnan, Wu'an, and Qinhua circuits.

Provinces under the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty abolished the commissioners and renamed their circuits 路 (lù, which however is still usually translated into English as "circuits"). They also added a number of "army" prefectures (軍, jūn).

• Circuits (路, lù)
• Prefectures (larger: 府, fǔ; smaller: 州, zhōu; military: 軍, jūn)
• Counties

Circuits of the Northern Song Dynasty
Name	Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Pinyin	Capital		Approximant extent in terms of modern locations
				Ancient name	Modern location
Chengdufu	成都府	成都府	Chéngdūfǔ	Chengdu		central Sichuan
Fujian	福建	福建	Fújiàn	Fuzhou		Fujian
Guangnandong	廣南東	广南东	Guǎngnándōng	Guangzhou		eastern Guangdong
Guangnanxi	廣南西	广南西	Guǎngnánxī	Guizhou	Guilin	western Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan
Hebeidong	河北東	河北东	Héběidōng	Beijing	Daming County, Hebei	eastern Hebei
Hebeixi	河北西	河北西	Héběixī	Zhending	Zhengding County, Hebei	western Hebei
Hedong	河東	河东	Hédōng	Taiyuan		Shanxi
Huainandong	淮南東	淮南东	Huáinándōng	Yangzhou		central Jiangsu
Huainanxi	淮南西	淮南西	Huáinánxī	Shouzhou	Fengtai County, Anhui	central Anhui
Jiangnandong	江南東	江南东	Jiāngnándōng	Jiangning Fu	Nanjing	southern Anhui
Jiangnanxi	江南西	江南西	Jiāngnánxī	Hongzhou	Nanchang	Jiangxi
Jingdongdong	京東東	江东东	Jīngdōngdōng	Qingzhou	Qingzhou, Shandong	eastern Shandong
Jingdongxi	京東西	江东西	Jīngdōngxī	Nanjing	south of Shangqiu, Henan	western Shandong
Jinghubei	荊湖北	荆湖北	Jīnghúběi	Jiangling		Hubei, western Hunan
Jinghunan	荊湖南	荊湖南	Jīnghúnán	Tanzhou	Changsha	Hunan
Jingji	京畿	京畿	Jīngjī	Chenliu	Chenliu, Kaifeng, Henan	Kaifeng and environs
Jingxibei	京西北	京西北	Jīngxīběi	Xijing	Luoyang	central Henan
Jingxinan	京西南	京西南	Jīngxīnán	Xiangzhou	Xiangfan	southern Henan, northern Hubei
Kuizhou	夔州	夔州	Kuízhōu	Kuizhou	Fengjie County, Chongqing	Chongqing, eastern Sichuan, Guizhou
Liangzhe	兩浙	两浙	Liǎngzhè	Hangzhou		Zhejiang, southern Jiangsu, Shanghai
Lizhou	利州	利州	Lìzhōu	Xingyuan	Hanzhong	northern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi
Qinfeng	秦鳳	秦凤	Qínfèng	Qinzhou	Tianshui	southern Gansu
Yongxingjun	永興軍	永兴军	Yǒngxīngjūn	Jingzhao	Xi'an	Shaanxi
Zizhou	梓州	梓州	Zǐzhōu	Zizhou	Santai County, Sichuan	central southern Sichuan

Provinces under the Jin and Southern Song Dynasties

The Jurchens invaded China proper in the 12th century. In 1142, peace was formalized between the Jurchen Jin Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty, which was forced to cede all of North China to the Jurchens.

By the beginning of the 13th century, the Jurchens had moved their capital to Zhongdu (modern Beijing) and had adopted Chinese administrative structures. The Song Dynasty also maintained the same structure over the southern half of China that they continued to govern.

Circuits of China under the Jurchen Jin Dynasty and the Southern Song Dynasty
Name	Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Pinyin	Capital		Approximant extent in terms of modern locations
				Ancient name	Modern location
Jin Dynasty
Beijing	北京	北京	Běijīng	Beijing	Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia	eastern Manchuria
Damingfu	大名府	大名府	Dàmíngfǔ	Daming Fu	Daming County, Hebei	border of Henan, Hebei, Shandong
Dongjing	東京	东京	Dōngjīng	Dongjing	Liaoyang	Liaoning
Fengxiang	鳳翔	凤翔	Fèngxiáng	Fengxiang Fu	Fengxiang County, Shaanxi	western Shaanxi, eastern Gansu
Fuyan	鄜延	鄜延	Fūyán	Yan'an		northern Shaanxi
Hebeidong	河北東	河北东	Héběidōng	Hejian	Hejian, Hebei	eastern Hebei
Hebeixi	河北西	河北西	Héběixī	Zhending	Zhengding County, Hebei	western Hebei
Hedongbei	河東北	河东北	Hédōngběi	Taiyuan		northern Shanxi
Hedongnan	河東南	河东南	Hédōngnán	Pingyang	Linfen	southern Shanxi
Jingzhaofu	京兆府	京兆府	Jīngzhàofǔ	Jingzhao Fu	Xi'an	central Shaanxi
Lintao	臨洮	临洮	Líntáo	Lintao	Lintao County, Gansu	southern Gansu
Nanjing	南京	南京	Nánjīng	Nanjing	Kaifeng	Henan, northern Anhui
Qingyuan	慶原	庆原	Qìngyuán	Qingyang		eastern Gansu
Shandongdong	山東東	山东东	Shāndōngdōng	Yidu Fu	Qingzhou, Shandong	eastern Shandong
Shandongxi	山東西	山东西	Shāndōngxī	Dongping Fu	Dongping County, Shandong	western Shandong
Shangjing	上京	上京	Shàngjīng	Shangjing	Acheng, Heilongjiang	northern Manchuria
Xianping	咸平	咸平	Xiánpíng	Xianping Fu	Kaiyuan, Liaoning	northern Liaoning
Xijing	西京	西京	Xījīng	Xijing	Datong	northern Shanxi, central Inner Mongolia
Zhongdu	中都	中都	Zhōngdū	Zhongdu	Beijing	northern Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin
Southern Song Dynasty
Chengdufu	成都府	成都府	Chéngdūfǔ	Chengdu		central Sichuan
Fujian	福建	福建	Fújiàn	Fuzhou		Fujian
Guangnandong	廣南東	广南东	Guǎngnándōng	Guangzhou		eastern Guangdong
Guangnanxi	廣南西	广南西	Guǎngnánxī	Jingjiang Fu	Guilin	western Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan
Huainandong	淮南東	淮南东	Huáinándōng	Yangzhou		central Jiangsu
Huainanxi	淮南西	淮南西	Huáinánxī	Luzhou	Hefei	central Anhui
Jiangnandong	江南東	江南东	Jiāngnándōng	Jiangning Fu	Nanjing	southern Anhui
Jiangnanxi	江南西	江南	Jiāngnánxī	Longxing Fu	Nanchang	Jiangxi
Jinghubei	荊湖北	荊湖北	Jīnghúběi	Jiangling		Hubei, western Hunan
Jinghunan	荊湖南	荊湖南	Jīnghúnán	Tanzhou	Changsha	Hunan
Jingxinan	京西南	京西南	Jīngxīnán	Xiangyang Fu	Xiangfan	southern Henan, northern Hubei
Kuizhou	夔州	夔州	Kuízhōu	Kuizhou	Fengjie County, Chongqing	Chongqing, eastern Sichuan, Guizhou
Liangzhedong	兩浙東	兩浙东	Liǎngzhèdōng	Shaoxing		central and southern Zhejiang
Liangzhexi	兩浙西	兩浙西	Liǎngzhèxī	Hangzhou		northern Zhejiang, southern Jiangsu, Shanghai
Lizhoudong	利州東	利州东	Lìzhōudōng	Xingyuan	Hanzhong	northern Sichuan, southern Shaanxi
Lizhouxi	利州西	利州西	Lìzhōuxī	Mianzhou	Lueyang, Shaanxi	northern Sichuan, southern Gansu
Tongchuanfu	潼川府	潼川府	Tóngchuānfǔ	Luzhou		central southern Sichuan

Provinces under the Yuan Dynasty

The Mongols, who succeeded in subjugating all of China under the Yuan Dynasty in 1279, introduced the precursors to the modern provinces as a new primary administrative level:

• Provinces (行中書省, xíngzhōngshūshěng)
• Circuits (道, dào)
• Prefectures (larger: 府, fǔ; smaller: 州, zhōu)
• Counties

Provinces of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty
Name	Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Pinyin	Capital		Approximant extent in terms of modern locations
				Ancient name	Modern location
Gansu	甘肅	甘肃	Gānsù	Ganzhou	Zhangye	Gansu, Ningxia
Huguang	湖廣	湖广	Huguǎng	Wuchang		Hunan, western Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan
Henanjiangbei	河南江北	河南江北	Hénánjiāngběi	Bianliang	Kaifeng	Henan, northern Hubei, northern Jiangsu, northern Anhui
Jiangxi	江西	江西	Jiāngxī	Longxing	Nanchang	Jiangxi, eastern Guangdong
Jiangzhe	江浙	江浙	Jiāngzhè	Hangzhou		Zhejiang, southern Jiangsu, southern Anhui, Fujian
Liaoyang	遼陽	辽阳	Liáoyáng	Liaoyang		Manchuria
Lingbei	嶺北	岭北	Lǐngběi	Helin	Kharkhorin (Karakorum)	Mongolia, northern Inner Mongolia
Shaanxi	陝西	陝西	Shǎnxi	Fengyuan	Xi'an	Shaanxi
Sichuan	四川	四川	Sìchuān	Chengdu		eastern and central Sichuan
Yunnan	雲南	云南	Yúnnán	Zhongqing	Kunming	Yunnan

The area around the capital, corresponding to modern Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, central Inner Mongolia, Beijing, and Tianjin, was called the Central Region (腹裏) and not put into any province, but was directly controlled by the Secretariat (中書省).

Provinces under the Ming Dynasties

The Ming Dynasty continued with this system and had provinces that were almost exactly the same as those in modern China proper. The differences were Huguang had not yet been split into Hubei and Hunan; Gansu and Ningxia were still part of Shaanxi; Anhui and Jiangsu were together as South Zhili; portions of what are today the provinces of Hebei, Beijing, and Tianjin were part of the province of North Zhili; and Hainan, Shanghai, and Chongqing were still parts of their original provinces at this time.) This makes for a total of 15 provinces.

Provinces of the Ming Dynasty
Name	Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Pinyin	Capital	Traditional Hanzi	Simplified Hanzi	Modern divisions
North Zhili	北直隸	北直隶	Běizhílì	Shuntian (Beijing)	順天府(北京)	顺天府（北京）	Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin
South Zhili	南直隸	南直隶	Nánzhílì	Yingtian (Nanjing)	應天府(南京)	应天府（南京）	Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanghai
Fujian	福建	福建	Fújiàn	Fuzhou (Fuzhou)	福州府	福州府
Guangdong	廣東	广东	Guǎngdōng	Guangzhou (Guangzhou)	廣州府	广州府	Guangdong, Hainan
Guangxi	廣西	广西	Guǎngxī	Guilin (Guilin)	桂林府	桂林府
Guizhou	貴州	贵州	Guìzhōu	Guiyang (Guiyang)	貴陽府	贵阳府
Henan	河南	河南	Hénán	Kaifeng (Kaifeng)	開封府	开封府
Huguang	湖廣	湖广	Húguǎng	Wuchang (Wuhan)	武昌府(武漢)	武昌府（武汉）	Hubei, Hunan
Jiangxi	江西	江西	Jiāngxī	Nanchang (Nanchang)	南昌府	南昌府
Shaanxi	陝西	陝西	Shǎnxī	Xi'an (Xi'an)	西安府	西安府	Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi
Shandong	山東	山东	Shāndōng	Jinan (Jinan)	濟南府	济南府
Shanxi	山西	山西	Shānxī	Taiyuan (Taiyuan)	太原府	太原府
Sichuan	四川	四川	Sìchuān	Chengdu (Chengdu)	成都府	成都府	Chongqing, Sichuan
Yunnan	雲南	云南	Yúnnán	Yunnan (Kunming)	雲南府(昆明)	云南府（昆明）
Zhejiang	浙江	浙江	Zhèjiāng	Hangzhou (Hangzhou)	杭州府	杭州府

Provinces and Protectorates under the Qing Dynasties

1820's China and its provinces, near its greatest extent.

In 1644, China fell to the Manchus, who established the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty of China. The Qing government applied the following system over China proper:

• Provinces (省, shěng)
• Circuits (道, dào)
• Prefectures (府, fǔ), Independent Departments (直隸州, zhílìzhōu), and Independent Subprefectures (直隸廳, zhílìtīng)
• Counties (縣, 县, xiàn), Departments (散州, sànzhōu), Subprefectures (散廳, sàntīng)

The Qing split Shaanxi into Shaanxi and Gansu, Huguang into Hubei and Hunan, and South Zhili into Jiangsu and Anhui. Hebei was now called Zhili rather than North Zhili. These provinces are now nearly identical to modern ones. Collectively they are called the "Eighteen Provinces", a concept that endured for several centuries as synonymous to China proper.

This system applied only to China proper, with the rest of the empire under differently systems. Manchuria, Xinjiang, and Outer Mongolia were ruled by military generals assigned by the Lifan Yuan, while Inner Mongolia was organized into leagues. The Qing court put Amdo under their direct control and organized it as Qinghai and also sent imperial commissioners to Tibet (Ü-Tsang and western Kham, approximately the area of the present-day Tibet Autonomous Region) to oversee its affairs.

In the late 19th century, Xinjiang and Taiwan were both set up as provinces. However, Taiwan was ceded to Imperial Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895. Near the end of the dynasty, Manchuria was also reorganized into three more provinces (Fengtian, Jilin, Heilongjiang), bringing the total number to twenty-two. In 1906, the first romanization system of Mandarin Chinese, Chinese Postal Map Romanization, was officially sanctioned by the Imperial Postal Joint-Session Conference, which showed in the following table.

Provinces of the Qing Dynasty (1911)
Period Name (Current Name)	Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese	Pinyin	Abbreviation	Capital	Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese
China proper
Anhwei (Anhui)	安徽	安徽	Ānhuī	皖 wǎn	Anching (Anqing)	安慶	安庆
Chekiang (Zhejiang)	浙江	浙江	Zhèjiāng	浙 zhè	Hangchow (Hangzhou)	杭州	杭州
Chihli (Zhili)	直隸	直隶	Zhílì	直 zhí	Paoting (Baoding)	保定	保定
Fukien (Fujian)	福建	福建	Fújiàn	閩 mǐn	Foochow (Fuzhou)	福州	福州
Honan (Henan)	河南	河南	Hénán	豫 yù	Kaifeng (Kaifeng)	開封	开封
Hupeh (Hubei)	湖北	湖北	Húběi	鄂 è	Wuchang (Wuchang)	武昌	武昌
Hunan (Hunan)	湖南	湖南	Húnán	湘 xiāng	Changsha (Changsha)	長沙	长沙
Kansu (Gansu)	甘肅	甘肃	Gānsù	甘 gān or 隴 lǒng	Lanchow (Lanzhou)	蘭州	兰州
Kiangsu (Jiangsu)	江蘇	江苏	Jiāngsū	蘇 sū	Kiangning (Nanjing) Soochow (Suzhou)	江寧(南京) 蘇州	江宁(南京) 苏州
Kiangsi (Jiangxi)	江西	江西	Jiāngxī	贛 gàn	Nanchang (Nanchang)	南昌	南昌
Kwangtung (Guangdong)	廣東	广东	Guǎngdōng	粵 yuè	Canton (Guangzhou)	廣州	广州
Kwangsi (Guangxi)	廣西	广西	Guǎngxī	桂 guì	Kweilin (Guilin)	桂林	桂林
Kweichow (Guizhou)	貴州	贵州	Guìzhōu	黔 qián or 貴 guì	Kweiyang (Guiyang)	貴陽	贵阳
Shansi (Shanxi)	山西	山西	Shānxī	晉 jìn	Taiyuan (Taiyuan)	太原	太原
Shantung (Shandong)	山東	山东	Shāndōng	魯 lǔ	Tsinan (Jinan)	濟南	济南
Shensi (Shaanxi)	陝西	陝西	Shǎnxī	陝 shǎn or 秦 qín	Sian (Xi'an)	西安	西安
Szechwan (Sichuan)	四川	四川	Sìchuān	川 chuān or 蜀 shǔ	Chengtu (Chengdu)	成都	成都
Yunnan (Yunnan)	雲南	云南	Yúnnán	滇 diān or 雲 yún	Yunnan (Kunming)	雲南(昆明)	云南(昆明)
Manchuria (1907 incorporated into China proper)
Fengtien (Fengtian)	奉天	奉天	Fèngtiān	奉 fèng	Mukden (Shenyang)	盛京(瀋陽)	盛京(沈阳)
Heilungkiang (Heilongjiang)	黑龍江	黑龙江	Hēilóngjiāng	黑 hēi	Tsitsihar (Qiqihar)	齊齊哈爾	齐齐哈尔
Kirin (Jilin)	吉林	吉林	Jílín	吉 jí	Kirin (Jilin)	吉林	吉林
Sinkiang (1884 incorporated into China proper)
Sinkiang (Xinjiang)	新疆	新疆	Xīnjiāng	新 xīn or 疆 jiāng	Tihwa (Urumqi)	迪化(烏魯木齊)	迪化(乌鲁木齐)

Protectorates of the Qing Dynasty
Period Name (Current Name)		Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese	Pinyin	Abbreviation	Capital	Traditional Chinese	Simplified Chinese
Tibet (Tibet)		西藏	西藏	Xīzàng	藏 zàng	Lhasa (Lhasa)	喇薩(拉薩)	喇萨(拉萨)
Tsinghai (Qinghai)		青海	青海	Qīnghǎi	青 qīng	Sining (Xining)	西寧	西宁
Uliastai (Mongolia)		烏里雅蘇臺(蒙古)	乌里雅苏台(蒙古)	Wūlǐyǎsūtái (Ménggǔ)	—	Uliastai (Uliastai)	烏里雅蘇臺	乌里雅苏台
Altay (Altay)		阿爾泰	阿尔泰	Āĕrtài	—	Chenghua Temple (Altay)	承化寺(阿勒泰)	承化寺(阿勒泰)
Inner Mongolia		内蒙古	内蒙古	Nèi Měnggǔ	None (The divisions below are direct administered by Lifan Yuan)
	Jirim (Tongliao)	哲里木盟(通遼)	哲里木盟(通辽)	Zhélǐmù	?	?	?	?
	Josutu (part of Chifeng)	卓索圖盟	卓索图盟	Zhuósuǒtú	?	?	?	?
	Yekejuu (Ordos)	伊克昭盟(鄂尔多斯)	伊克昭盟(鄂尔多斯)	Yīkèzhāo	?	?	?	?
	Juuuda (Chifeng)	昭烏達盟(赤峰)	昭乌达盟(赤峰)	Zhāowūdá	?	?	?	?
	Xilingol	錫林郭勒盟	锡林郭勒盟	Xīlínguōlè	?	Xilinhot	錫林浩特	锡林浩特
	Ulanqab	烏蘭察布盟	乌兰察布盟	Wūlánchábù	?	?	?	?
	Chahar (part of Xilingol)	察哈爾	察哈尔	Cháhā'ěr	?	Kalgan (Zhangjiakou)	喀拉幹(張家口)	喀拉干(张家口)
	Alxa	阿拉善厄魯特旗	阿拉善厄鲁特旗	Ālāshàn'èlŭtè	?	Bayanhot	定遠營	定远营
	Ejin (Ejin Banner)	額濟納土爾扈特旗	额济纳土尔扈特旗	Éjìnàtŭĕrhùtè	?	?	?	?

Republic of China

Main article: Administrative divisions of the Republic of China

Mainland Era (1912–1949)

Map of the Republic of China in 1926

Map of the Republic of China in 1936

Map of administrative divisions and claims by the Republic of China between 1949 and 2005.

The Republic of China streamlined the system down to three levels:

• Provinces (省, shěng)
• Circuits (道, dào)
• Counties (縣, xiàn)

Circuits were then abolished in 1928 as being superfluous. However, this reform was soon found to be unfeasible since the average province now had 50+ counties and some more than a hundred. As a result, some provinces were later subdivided into several prefectures.

The Republic of China set up four more provinces out of Inner Mongolia and the surrounding areas (Ningxia, Suiyuan, Chahar, Jehol) and two others out of parts of historical Tibet (Xikang out of Kham and Qinghai out of Amdo; Ü-Tsang was the Dalai Lama's realm at this time and not part of any province), bringing the total number of provinces up to 28. The Republic of China also began setting up municipalities, cities directly administered by the central government. More levels began to be added below the county, townships for instance.

The creation of the puppet state Manchukuo by Japan in the 1930s deprived China of 4 provinces in the northeast (Fengtian, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jehol). After the defeat of Japan in 1945, Manchuria was reincorporated into China as nine provinces. Taiwan and the Pescadores were also returned to China and organized into Taiwan Province. By this time there was a total of thirty-five provinces, twelve municipalities (院轄市, yuànxiáshì), one special administrative region (特別行政區, tèbié xíngzhèngqǖ), and two regions (地方, difāng) as first-level divisions under the Republic of China.

Provinces and Equivalents of the Republic of China (1949)
Period Name (Current Name)	Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Abbreviation	Capital	Chinese
Provinces
Antung (Andong)	安東	Āndōng	安 ān	Tunghwa (Tonghua)	通化
Anhwei (Anhui)	安徽	Ānhuī	皖 wǎn	Hofei (Hefei)	合肥
Chahar (Chahar)	察哈爾	Cháhār	察 chá	Changyuan (Zhangjiakou)	張垣(張家口)
Chekiang (Zhejiang)	浙江	Zhèjiāng	浙 zhè	Hangchow (Hangzhou)	杭州
Fukien (Fujian)	福建	Fújiàn	閩 mǐn	Foochow (Fuzhou)	福州
Hopeh (Hebei)	河北	Héběi	冀 jì	Tsingyuan (Baoding)	清苑(保定)
Heilungkiang (Heilongjiang)	黑龍江	Hēilóngjiāng	黑 hēi	Peian (Bei'an)	北安
Hokiang (Hejiang)	合江	Héjiāng	合 hé	Chiamussu (Jiamusi)	佳木斯
Honan (Henan)	河南	Hénán	豫 yù	Kaifeng (Kaifeng)	開封
Hupeh (Hubei)	湖北	Húběi	鄂 è	Wuchang (Wuchang)	武昌
Hunan (Hunan)	湖南	Húnán	湘 xiāng	Changsha (Changsha)	長沙
Hsingan (Xing'an)	興安	Xīng'ān	興 xīng	Hailar (Hulunbuir)	海拉爾(呼倫貝爾)
Jehol (Rehe)	熱河	Rèhé	熱 rè	Chengteh (Chengde)	承德
Kansu (Gansu)	甘肅	Gānsù	隴 lǒng	Lanchow (Lanzhou)	蘭州
Kiangsu (Jiangsu)	江蘇	Jiāngsū	蘇 sū	Chingkiang (Zhenjiang)	鎮江
Kiangsi (Jiangxi)	江西	Jiāngxī	贛 gàn	Nanchang (Nanchang)	南昌
Kirin (Jilin)	吉林	Jílín	吉 jí	Kirin (Jilin)	吉林
Kwangtung (Guangdong)	廣東	Guǎngdōng	粵 yuè	Canton (Guangzhou)	廣州
Kwangsi (Guangxi)	廣西	Guǎngxī	桂 guì	Kweilin (Guilin)	桂林
Kweichow (Guizhou)	貴州	Guìzhōu	黔 qián	Kweiyang (Guiyang)	貴陽
Liaopeh (Liaobei)	遼北	Liáoběi	洮 táo	Liaoyuan (Liaoyuan)	遼源
Liaoning (Liaoning)	遼寧	Liáoníng	遼 liáo	Shenyang (Shenyang)	瀋陽
Ningsia (Ningxia)	寧夏	Níngxià	寧 níng	Yinchuan (Yinchuan)	銀川
Nunkiang (Nenjiang)	嫩江	Nènjiāng	嫩 nèn	Tsitsihar (Qiqihar)	齊齊哈爾
Shansi (Shanxi)	山西	Shānxī	晉 jìn	Taiyuan (Taiyuan)	太原
Shantung (Shandong)	山東	Shāndōng	魯 lǔ	Tsinan (Jinan)	濟南
Shensi (Shaanxi)	陝西	Shǎnxī	陝 shǎn	Sian (Xi'an)	西安
Sikang (Xikang)	西康	Xīkāng	康 kāng	Kangting (Kangding)	康定
Sinkiang (Xinjiang)	新疆	Xīnjiāng	新 xīn	Tihwa (Urumqi)	迪化(烏魯木齊)
Suiyuan (Suiyuan)	綏遠	Suīyuǎn	綏 suī	Kweisui (Hohhot)	歸綏(呼和浩特)
Sungkiang (Songjiang)	松江	Sōngjiāng	松 sōng	Mutankiang (Mudanjiang)	牡丹江
Szechwan (Sichuan)	四川	Sìchuān	蜀 shǔ	Chengtu (Chengdu)	成都
Taiwan (Taiwan)	臺灣	Táiwān	臺 tái	Taipei	臺北
Tsinghai (Qinghai)	青海	Qīnghǎi	青 qīng	Sining (Xining)	西寧
Yunnan (Yunnan)	雲南	Yúnnán	滇 diān	Kunming (Kunming)	昆明
Special Administrative Region
Hainan (Hainan)	海南	Hǎinán	瓊 qióng	Haikow (Haikou)	海口
Regions
Mongolia Area (Outer Mongolia)	蒙古	Ménggǔ	蒙 méng	Kulun (Ulaanbaatar)	庫倫(烏蘭巴托)
Tibet Area (Tibet)	西藏	Xīzàng	藏 zàng	Lhasa	拉薩
Special Municipalities
Chungking (Chongqing)	重慶	Chóngqìng	渝 yú	(Yuzhong District)	渝中區
Dairen (Dalian)	大連	Dàlián	連 lián	(Xigang District)	西崗區
Hankow (Hankou, Wuhan)	漢口	Hànkǒu	漢 hàn	(Jiang'an District)	江岸區
Harbin (Harbin)	哈爾濱	Hā'ěrbīn	哈 hā	(Nangang District)	南崗區
Kwangchow or Canton (Guangzhou)	廣州	Guǎngzhōu	穗 suì	(Yuexiu District)	越秀區
Nanking (Nanjing)	南京	Nánjīng	京 jīng	(Xuanwu District)	玄武區
Peiping or Peking (Beijing)	北平	Běipíng	平 píng	(Xicheng District)	西城區
Shanghai (Shanghai)	上海	Shànghǎi	滬 hù	(Huangpu District)	黄浦區
Shenyang or Mukden (Shenyang)	瀋陽	Shěnyáng	瀋 shěn	(Shenhe District)	瀋河區
Sian (Xi'an)	西安	Xī'ān	安 ān	(Weiyang District)	未央區
Tientsin (Tianjin)	天津	Tiānjīn	津 jīn	(Heping District)	和平區
Tsingtao (Qingdao)	青島	Qīngdǎo	青 qīng	(Shinan District)	市南區

Government on Taiwan (1949–2005)

Map comparing political divisions as drawn by the Republic of China and People's Republic of China.

After the loss of the mainland to the Communist Party of China in the Chinese Civil War and its retreat to Taiwan in 1949, the Nationalist Party continued to regard the Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. The jurisdiction of the Republic was restricted to Taiwan, the Pescadores, and a few islands off Fujian, but the Republic of China has never retracted its claim to mainland China or Mongolia. Accordingly, the official first-order divisions of Republic of China remain the historical divisions of China immediately prior to the loss of mainland China and maps of China and the world published in Taiwan sometimes show provincial and national boundaries as they were in 1949, ignoring changes made by the Communist government and including Mongolia, northern Burma, and Tannu Uriankhai as part of the Republic.

In 2005, the nominal political divisions of the Republic were 35 provinces, 1 special administrative region, 2 regions, 14 special municipalities (adding Taipei and Kaohsiung to the original list), 14 leagues, and 4 special banners. For second-order divisions, under provinces and special administrative regions, there are counties, province-controlled cities (56), bureaus (34) and management bureaus (7). Under provincial-level municipalities there are districts, and under leagues there are banners (127). Since 1997, however, most of the Taiwan Provincial Government duties and powers have been transferred to the national government of the Republic of China, streamlining provincial administration in favor of counties and provincial cities.

• Provinces (省, shěng) and Special Municipalities (直轄市, zhíxiáshì)
• Counties (縣, xiàn) and Provincial Cities (市, shì)

Changes made to Province-level divisions of the Republic of China between 1949 and 2005
Name	Traditional Chinese	Pinyin	Abbreviation	Capital	Capital in Chinese		Notes
Provinces
Fujian	福建	Fújiàn	閩 mǐn	Jincheng Township	金城鎮		The capital of Fukien Province was moved to Xindian in 1956, and moved to Jincheng Township, Kinmen since 1996.
Taiwan	臺灣	Táiwān	臺 tái	Zhongxing New Village	中興新村		The capital of Taiwan Province was moved to Zhongxing Village in Nantou County from Taipei in the 1960s.
Kiangsu	江蘇	Jiāngsū	蘇 sū	Shengsi County	嵊泗縣		The government of Kiangsu Province was moved to Shengsi County in 1949. In 1950 the county was conquered by the PLA and the Kiangsu Provincial Government was abolished soon after.
Chekiang	浙江	Zhèjiāng	浙 zhè	Taiwan Province	臺灣省		The government of Chekiang Province in Ganlan Township of Dinghai County was abolished in 1950. In 1951, the provincial government was re-established on the Tachen Islands of Wenling County, later to be moved to Taiwan Province in 1953. After the loss of the Yijiangshan Islands during the Battle of Yijiangshan Islands in 1955, the provincial government was abolished.
Szechwan	四川	Sìchuān	蜀 shǔ	Xichang County	西昌縣		After the loss of its capital of Chengdu in the December of 1949, the Provincial Government was moved to Xichang County of Xikang Province and remained there until its abolishment in 1950.
Sikang	西康	Xīkāng	康 kāng	Xichang County	西昌縣		The government of Xikang Province was re-established in Xichang County in Dec. 1949. In 1950, Xichang was taken over by the PLA.
Kwangtung	廣東	Guǎngdōng	粵 yuè	Haikou City	海口市		The government of Kwangtung Province was moved to Haikou City of Hainan in 1949 after the loss of its capital Guangdong. After the loss of Hainan in 1950, the government was subsequently abolished.
Yunnan	雲南	Yúnnán	滇 diān	Bangkok	曼谷		The government of Yunnan was moved to Bangkok in 1950 and abolished in 1951.
Sinkiang	新疆	Xīnjiāng	新 xīn	Dihua City	迪化市		Provincial Government of Sinkiang was abolished in 1992.
Special Administrative Regions
Hainan	海南	Hǎinán	瓊 qióng	Haikow	海口市		Government abolished in 1950.
Special Municipalities							The Chinese name 院轄市 Yuànxiáshì was changed to 直轄市 Zhíxiáshì in 1994.
Kaohsiung	高雄	Gāoxióng	高 gāo	Lingya District	苓雅區		Kaohsiung was elevated in 1979.
Taipei	臺北	Táiběi	北 běi	Xinyi District	信義區		Taipei was elevated in 1967.

Recent changes

Recently, the government stopped claiming the divisions in mainland China and stated the top-level divisions of ROC should be the two streamlined provinces (Taiwan and Fukien), five special municipalities (the two previous held on Taiwan plus New Taipei, Taichung, and Tainan, which were upgraded in 2010), fourteen counties, and three provincial cities.

People's Republic of China

Main article: Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China

Founding

Map comparing administrative divisions as drawn by the PRC and ROC.

The communist forces initially held scattered fragments of China at the start of the Chinese civil war. By late 1949, they controlled the majority of mainland China, forcing the Republic of China government to relocate to Taiwan.

The People's Republic made the following changes:

• China was divided into 6 greater administrative areas (大行政区 dà xíngzhèngqū) that came above provinces.
• Manchuria was reorganized completely.
• Inner Mongolia was formed out of parts of Manchuria as the first autonomous region.
• The short-lived province Pingyuan was set up.
• Jiangsu was temporarily divided into two administrative regions: Subei and Sunan.
• Anhui was temporarily divided into two administrative regions: Wanbei and Wannan.
• Sichuan was temporarily divided into four administrative regions: Chuandong, Chuannan, Chuanxi and Chuanbei.

1950s

In 1952 the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui and Sichuan were restored. Pingyuan and Chahar were split into their surrounding provinces. Nanjing, old capital of the Republic of China, was deprived of municipality status and annexed by Jiangsu province. In 1953 Changchun and Harbin were elevated to municipality status.

In 1954 a massive campaign to cut the number of provincial-level divisions was initiated. Of the 14 municipalities existing in 1953, 11 were annexed by nearby provinces, with only Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin remaining. The province of Liaoning was formed out of the merger of Liaodong and Liaoxi, while Suiyuan and Ningxia disappeared into Inner Mongolia and Gansu.

The greater administrative area level was abolished in 1954.

The process continued in 1955 with Rehe being split among Hebei, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia, and Xikang disappearing into Sichuan. In that same year Xinjiang became the second autonomous region of China, and plans for a third, Tibet Autonomous Region, were initiated. Qamdo territory was put under the planned Tibet Autonomous Region.

In 1957 two more autonomous regions were added, Ningxia (split back out of Gansu) and Guangxi (which was previously a province). In 1958 Tianjin was annexed by Hebei, leaving only two municipalities, Beijing and Shanghai.

1960s and 1970s

In 1965 Tibet Autonomous Region was established out of the formerly self-governing Tibet region, plus Qamdo territory. In 1967 Tianjin was split back out as a municipality.

1980s, 1990s and 2000s

Starting in the 1980s, prefecture-level cities and county-level cities began to appear in very large numbers, usually by replacing entire prefectures and counties. Hainan and some other islands were split out of Guangdong and set up as a Hainan Province in 1988.

In 1997 Chongqing became the fourth municipality of China. In that same year Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule and became the first special administrative region. Macau became the second in 1999.

In the 1990s, there has been a campaign to abolish district public offices as a level. By 2004 very few remain.

In the meantime, most prefectures have become prefecture-level cities.

List of all provincial-level divisions since the proclamation of the People's Republic

  abolished   claimed

Administrative divisions of China

Greater Administrative Areas
Name	Simplified Hanzi	Traditional Hanzi	Pinyin	Translation	Capital	Simplified Hanzi	Traditional Hanzi	Notes
Huabei	华北	華北	Huáběi	"North China"	Beijing	北京	北京	1949–1954
Dongbei	东北	東北	Dōngběi	"Northeast"	Shenyang	沈阳	瀋陽	1949–1954
Huadong	华东	華東	Huádōng	"East China"	Shanghai	上海	上海	1949–1954
Zhongnan	中南	中南	Zhōngnán	"South Central"	Wuhan	武汉	武漢	1949–1954
Xibei	西北	西北	Xīběi	"Northwest"	Xi'an	西安	西安	1949–1954
Xinan	西南	西南	Xīnán	"Southwest"	Chongqing	重庆	重慶	1949–1954
Name	Simplified Hanzi	Traditional Hanzi	Pinyin	Abbreviation	Capital	Simplified Hanzi	Traditional Hanzi	GAA	Note
Provinces
Andong	安东	安東	Āndōng	安 ān	Tonghua	通化	通化	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Liaodong, Jilin
Chahar	察哈尔	察哈爾	Cháhā'ěr	察 chá	Zhangjiakou	张家口	張家口	Huabei	1952 abolished → Inner Mongolia, Hebei
Fujian	福建	福建	Fújiàn	闽 mǐn	Fuzhou	福州	福州	Huadong
Gansu	甘肃	甘肅	Gānsù	甘 gān	Lanzhou	兰州	蘭州	Xibei
Guangdong	广东	廣東	Guǎngdōng	粤 yuè	Guangzhou	广州	廣州	Zhongnan	1952 & 1965 Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Beihai → Guangxi; 1955 reverted 1988 Hainan split into its own province
Guangxi	广西	廣西	Guǎngxī	桂 guì	Nanning	南宁	南寧	Zhongnan	1958 province → autonomous region
Guizhou	贵州	貴州	Guìzhōu	黔 qián	Guiyang	贵阳	貴陽	Xinan
Hainan	海南	海南	Hǎinán	琼 qióng	Haikou	海口	海口	Zhongnan
Hebei	河北	河北	Héběi	冀 jì	Baoding (49-54; 67-68) Tianjin (54-67) Shijiazhuang (present)	保定 天津 石家庄	保定 天津 石家莊	Huabei
Hejiang	合江	合江	Héjiāng	合 hé	Jiamusi	佳木斯	佳木斯	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Heilongjiang
Heilongjiang	黑龙江	黑龍江	Hēilóngjiāng	黑 hēi	Qiqihar (49-54) Harbin (present)	齐齐哈尔 哈尔滨	齊齊哈爾 哈爾濱	Dongbei	1952 part of Xing'an split into Inner Mongolia
Henan	河南	河南	Hénán	豫 yù	Kaifeng (49-54) Zhengzhou (present)	开封 郑州	開封 鄭州	Zhongnan
Hubei	湖北	湖北	Húběi	鄂 è	Wuhan	武汉	武漢	Zhongnan	1967 Tianjin split into its own municipality
Hunan	湖南	湖南	Húnán	湘 xiāng	Changsha	长沙	長沙	Zhongnan
Jiangsu	江苏	江蘇	Jiāngsū	苏 sū	Nanjing	南京	南京	Huadong	1949 abolished → Subei, Subnan; 1952 reverted
Jiangxi	江西	江西	Jiāngxī	赣 gàn	Nanchang	南昌	南昌	Huadong
Jilin	吉林	吉林	Jílín	吉 jí	Jilin (49-54) Changchun (present)	吉林 长春	吉林 長春	Dongbei	1952 north part split into Inner Mongolia
Liaobei	辽北	遼北	Liáoběi	洮 táo	Liaoyuan	辽源	遼源	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Jilin, Liaoning
Liaodong	辽东	遼東	Liáodōng	关 guān	Dandong	丹东	丹東	Dongbei	1954 abolished → Liaoning
Liaoning	辽宁	遼寧	Liáoníng	辽 liáo	Shenyang	沈阳	瀋陽	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Liaodong, Liaoxi; 1954 reverted 1952 north part split into Inner Mongolia
Liaoxi	辽西	遼西	Liáoxī	辽 liáo	Jinzhou	锦州	錦州	Dongbei	1954 abolished → Liaoning
Nenjiang	嫩江	嫩江	Nènjiāng	嫩 nèn	Qiqihar	齐齐哈尔	齊齊哈爾	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Heilongjiang
Ningxia	宁夏	寧夏	Níngxià	宁 níng	Yinchuan	银川	銀川	Xibei	1958 province → autonomous region
Mudanjiang	牡丹江	牡丹江	Mǔdānjiāng	丹 dān	Mudanjiang	牡丹江	牡丹江	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Heilongjiang
Pingyuan	平原	平原	Píngyuán	平 píng	Xinxiang	新乡	新鄉	Zhongnan	1952 abolished → Henan, Shandong
Qinghai	青海	青海	Qīnghǎi	青 qīng	Xining	西宁	西寧	Xibei
Rehe	热河		Rèhé	热 rè	Chengde	承德	承德	Dongbei	1955 abolished → Inner Mongolia, & Liaoning
Sichuan	四川	四川	Sìchuān	川 chuān	Chengdu	成都	成都	Xinan	1949 abolished → Chuanbei, Chuandong, Chuannan, Chuanxi; 1952 reverted 1997 Chongqing split into its own municipality
Shaanxi	陕西	陕西	Shǎnxī	陕 shǎn	Xi'an	西安	西安	Xibei
Shandong	山东	山東	Shāndōng	鲁 lǔ	Jinan	济南	濟南	Huadong
Shanxi	山西	山西	Shānxī	晋 jìn	Taiyuan	太原	太原	Huabei
Songjiang	松江	松江	Sōngjiāng	松 sōng	Harbin	哈尔滨	哈爾濱	Dongbei	1954 abolished → Heilongjiang
Suiyuan	绥远	綏遠	Suíyuǎn	绥 suí	Hohhot	呼和浩特	呼和浩特	Huabei	1954 abolished → Inner Mongolia
Taiwan	台湾	臺灣	Táiwān	台 tái	Taibei	台北	臺北	Huadong	claimed since 1949 the founding of the PRC
Xikang	西康	西康	Xīkāng	康 kāng	Kangding (49-50) Ya'an (50-55)	康定 雅安	康定 雅安	Xinan	1955 abolished → Sichuan & Qamdo
Xing'an	兴安	興安	Xīkāng	兴 xīng	Hulunbuir	呼伦贝尔	呼倫貝爾	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Heilongjiang
Xinjiang	新疆	新疆	Xīnjiāng	疆 jiāng	Urumqi	乌鲁木齐	烏魯木齊	Xibei	1955 province → autonomous region
Yunnan	云南	雲南	Yúnnán	滇 diān	Kunming	昆明	昆明	Xinan
Zhejiang	浙江	浙江	Zhèjiāng	浙 zhè	Hangzhou	杭州	杭州	Huadong
Autonomous Regions
Guangxi	广西	廣西	Guǎngxī	桂 guì	Nanning	南宁	南寧	Zhongnan	1958 province → autonomous region
Inner Mongolia	內蒙古	內蒙古	Nèi Měnggǔ	蒙 měng	Hohhot	呼和浩特	呼和浩特	Huabei	1952 created; 1969 abolished → Liaoning, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Gansu, Ningxia; 1979 reverted
Ningxia	宁夏	寧夏	Níngxià	宁 níng	Yinchuan	银川	銀川	Xibei	1958 province → autonomous region
Tibet	西藏	西藏	Xīzàng	藏 zàng	Lhasa	拉萨	拉薩	Xinan	1965 region → autonomous region
Xinjiang	新疆	新疆	Xīnjiāng	疆 jiāng	Urumqi	乌鲁木齐	烏魯木齊	Xibei	1955 province → autonomous region
Municipalities
Anshan	鞍山	鞍山	Ānshān	鞍 ān	Tiedong District	铁东区	鐵東區	Dongbei	1954 abolished → Liaoning
Beijing	北京	北京	Běijīng	京 jīng	Dongcheng District	东城区	東城區	Huabei
Benxi	本溪	本溪	Běnxī	本 běn	Pingshan District	平山区	平山區	Dongbei	1954 abolished → Liaoning
Changchun	长春	長春	Chángchūn	春 chūn	Nanguan District	南关区	南關區	Dongbei	1953 created; 1954 abolished → Jilin
Chongqing	重庆	重慶	Chóngqìng	渝 yú	Yuzhong District	渝中区	渝中區	Xinan	1954 abolished → Sichuan; 1997 reverted
Dalian	大连	大連	Dàlián	连 lián	Xigang District	西岗区	西崗區	Dongbei	1949 abolished → Luda, 1950 reverted, 1954 abolished → Liaoning
Fushun	抚顺	撫順	Fǔshùn	抚 fǔ	Shuncheng District	顺城区	順城區	Dongbei	1954 abolished → Liaoning
Harbin	哈尔滨	哈爾濱	Hāěrbīn	哈 hā	Nangang District	南岗区	南崗區	Dongbei	1953 created, 1954 abolished → Heilongjiang
Guangzhou	广州	廣州	Guǎngzhōu	穗 suì	Yuexiu District	越秀区	越秀區	Zhongnan	1954 abolished → Guangdong
Nanjing	南京	南京	Nánjīng	宁 níng	Xuanwu District	宣武区	宣武區	Huadong	1952 abolished → Jiangsu
Shanghai	上海	上海	Shànghǎi	沪 hù	Huangpu District	黄浦区	黃浦區	Huadong
Shenyang	沈阳	瀋陽	Shěnyáng	沈 shěn	Shenhe District	沈河区	瀋河區	Dongbei	1954 abolished → Liaoning
Tianjin	天津	天津	Tiānjīn	津 jīn	Heping District	和平区	和平區	Huabei	1954 abolished → Hebei, 1967 reverted
Wuhan	武汉	武漢	Wǔhàn	汉 hàn	Jiang'an District	江岸区	江岸區	Zhongnan	1949 abolished → Hubei
Xi'an	西安	西安	Xī'ān	镐 hào	Weiyang District	未央区	未央區	Xibei	1954 abolished → Shaanxi
Special Administrative Regions
Hainan	海南	海南	Hǎinán	琼 qióng	Haikou	海口	海口	Zhongnan	1949 abolished → Guangdong
Hong Kong	香港	香港	Xiānggǎng	港 gǎng	Hong Kong	香港	香港	Zhongnan	1997 created (Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong)
Macau	澳门	澳門	Àomén	澳 ào	Macau	澳门	澳門	Zhongnan	1999 created (Transfer of sovereignty over Macau)
Administrative Territories
Chuanbei	川北	川北	Chuānběi	充 chōng	Nanchong	南充	南充	Xinan	1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Chuandong	川东	川東	Chuāndōng	渝 yú	Chongqing	重庆	重慶	Xinan	1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Chuannan	川南	川南	Chuānnán	泸 lú	Luzhou	泸州	瀘州	Xinan	1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Chuanxi	川西	川西	Chuānxī	蓉 róng	Chengdu	成都	成都	Xinan	1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Subei	苏北	蘇北	Sūběi	扬 yáng	Yangzhou	扬州	揚州	Huadong	1949 created; 1952 abolished → Jiangsu
Sunan	苏南	蘇南	Sūnán	锡 xī	Wuxi	无锡	無錫	Huadong	1949 created; 1952 abolished → Jiangsu
Wanbei	皖北	皖北	Wǎnběi	合 hé	Hefei	合肥	合肥	Huadong	1949 created; 1952 abolished → Anhui
Wannan	皖南	皖南	Wǎnnán	芜 wú	Wuhu	芜湖	蕪湖	Huadong	1949 created; 1952 abolished → Anhui
Luda	旅大	旅大	Wǎnnán	旅 Lǚ	Dalian	大连	大連	Dongbei	1949 created; 1950 abolished → Dalian
Regions
Tibet	西藏	西藏	Xīzàng	藏 zàng	Lhasa	拉萨	拉薩	Xinan	1965 region → autonomous region
Territories
Qamdo	昌都	昌都	Chāngdū	昌 chāng	Qamdo	昌都	昌都	Xinan	1965 merge into Tibet

Compare with the current provinces at Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China.

See also

• Physiographic macroregions of China‎

Sources

• Twitchett, D. (1979), Cambridge History of China, Sui and T'ang China 589-906, Part I, vol. vol.3, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-21446-7 {{citation}}: |volume= has extra text (help)

External links

• Summary of terms
• Historical map scans - maps of various sheng, dao, fu, ting, and xian of the late Qing era.
• Map showing the provincial boundaries of the PRC in 1971