Autonomous prefectures () are one type of autonomous administrative division in China, existing at the prefectural level, with either ethnic minorities forming over 50% of the population or being, most commonly, the historic home of significant minorities. The official name of an autonomous prefecture includes the most significant minority in that region, sometimes two, rarely three. For example, a prefecture with a large number of Kazakhs (Kazak in official naming system) may be called a Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. Like all other prefectural level divisions, autonomous prefectures are divided into county level divisions. There is one exception: Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture contains two prefectures of its own. Under the Constitution of China, autonomous prefectures cannot be abolished.
Autonomous administrative divisions
The PRC's autonomous administrative divisions may be found in the first (or top) to third levels of its national administrative divisions thus:
Level Type Chinese Pinyin Number as of June 2005 Province (1) Autonomous regions 5 Prefecture (2) Autonomous prefectures 30 County (3) Autonomous counties 117 Autonomous banners 3
List of autonomous prefectures Province Name Simplified Chinese and Pinyin Designated minority Local name Capital Gansu Linxia Hui (The Hui speak Chinese) Xiao'erjing: Linxia city Gannan Tibetan Tibetan: (Kan-lho Bod-rigs rang-skyong-khul) Hezuo (Hzö) city Guizhou Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Hmu: Qeef Dongb Naif Dol Yat Hmub Zid Zid ZebDong: Qeenc Dongs Nanc Nyenc Miiul Nyenc Gaeml Zil Zl Zous Kaili (Kad Linx) city Qiannan Bouyei and Miao Bouyei: Qianfnanf Buxqyaix Buxyeeuz ziqziqzouyHmu: Qeef Naif Dol Yat Dol Hmub Zid Zid Zeb Duyun city Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao Bouyei: Qianfxiynanf Buxqyaix Buxyeeuz ZiqziqzouyHmu: Qeef Xib Naif Dol Yat Dol Hmub Zid Zid Zeb Xingyi city Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Tujia: Eng Shiv Bif Ziv Kar hev Bef Kar zouf xengv zuvзHmong: Ee Si Thws Ca Txhwj Mioj Txhwj Txim Tsim Tsawb Enshi city Hunan Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Tujia: Xiз’angv Xif Bif Ziv Kar hev Bef Kar zouf xengv zuvзHmong: Xyaa Xyi Thws Ca Txhwj Mioj Txhwj Txim Tsim Tsawb Jishou city Jilin Yanbian Korean (Yeonbyeon Joseonjok Jachiju) Yanji (Yeongil) city Qinghai Haibei Tibetan Tibetan: (Mtsho-byang Bod-rigs rang-skyong-khul) Haiyan County Hainan Tibetan Tibetan: (Mtsho-lho Bod-rigs rang-skyong-khul) Gonghe County Huangnan Tibetan Tibetan: (Rma-lho Bod-rigs rang skyong khul) Tongren city Golog Tibetan Tibetan: (Mgo-log Bod-rigs rang-skyong-khul) Maqên County Yushu Tibetan Tibetan: (Yul-shul Bod-rigs rang-skyong-khul) Yushu city Haixi Mongolian & Tibetan Mongolian: (Borotal a-yin mongγol ebereen öbertegen zasaqu ǰuu)Tibetan: (Mtsho-nub Sog-rigs dang Bod-rigs rang-skyong-khul) Delingha (Delhi) city Sichuan Ngawa Tibetan & Qiang Tibetan: (Rnga-ba Bod-rigs dang Chavang-rigs rang skyong khul)Qiangic: Ggabba Shbea Rrmea nyujugvez zhou Barkam city Garzê Tibetan Tibetan: (Dkar-mdzes Bod-rigs rang-skyong khul) Kangding (Dartsedo) city Liangshan Yi (Niepsha Nuosu Zytjiejux dde Zho) Xichang (Op Rro) city Xinjiang Kizilsu Kyrgyz Kyrgyz: (Kızılsuu Kırgız avtonom oblastı) Artux city Bortala Mongolian Mongolian: (Borotala mongγol ebereen zasaqu ǰuu) Bole (Bortala) city Changji Hui (The Hui speak Chinese) Xiao'erjing: Changji city Bayingolin Mongolian Mongolian: (Bayangol mongγol ebereen zasaqu ǰuu) Korla city Ili(Altay)(Tacheng) ()()()() Kazakh Kazakh: (İle Qazaq awtonomïyalıq oblısı)(Kazakh: ) (Altay aymağı)(Kazakh: ) (Tarbağatay aymağı) Yining (Ghulja) city(Altay city)(Tacheng city) Yunnan Dehong Dai and Jingpo Tai Nüa - (Sakhkung Sam Jinghpo Amyu Madu Uphkang Mungdo)Zaiwa: Mangshi city Nujiang Lisu Lisu: ꓠꓳ-ꓟꓵ ꓡꓲ-ꓢꓴ ꓫꓵꓽ ꓚꓲꓸ ꓛꓬꓽ ꓗꓪꓼ ꓫꓵꓽ ꓝꓳꓴ (Nolmut lisu shit jilqait guatshit zhou) Lushui city Dêqên (Diqing) Tibetan Tibetan: (Bde-chen Bod-rigs rang-skyong khul) Shangri-La city Dali Bai Bai: Darl•lit Baif•cuf zirl•zirl•zox Dali city Chuxiong Yi (Olu Nuosu Zytjiejux dde Zho) Chuxiong city Honghe Hani and Yi Hani: Haoqhoq Haqniqssaq Haqhholssaq Ziiqziifzel (Hopho Nuosu Zytjiejux dde Zho) Mengzi city Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Hmong: Veej Sa Tsuaam Txhwj Mioj Txhwj Txim Tsim Tsawb Wenshan city Xishuangbanna (Sibsongbanna) Dai Jinghong city
Ethnic composition of autonomous prefectures Note: * - denotes as the second titular ethnic group Autonomousprefecture Yearestablished Province Titularethnic group Otherminorities Han % Totalpopulation% 2000% 2010% 2000% 201020002010Bayingolin Prefecture 1954 Xinjiang Mongolian 3.40 3.40 Uyghur 31.83 31.83 59.29 59.29 Bortala Prefecture 1954 Xinjiang Mongolian 5.64 5.66 Uyghur 12.53 13.32 67.19 64.96 Changji Prefecture1954 Xinjiang Hui 11.55 9.52 Kazakh 7.98 9.33 75.14 75.31 Chuxiong Prefecture 1958 Yunnan Yi 26.31 26.70 Lisu 2.03 1.98 67.45 66.94 Dali Prefecture 1956 Yunnan Bai 32.80 32.19 Yi 12.94 13.02 50.35 50.69 Dehong Prefecture 1953 Yunnan Dai 30.14 28.88 Jingpo* 11.53 11.09 50.66 51.93 Dêqên (Diqing) Prefecture1957 Yunnan Tibetan 33.12 32.36 Lisu 27.78 26.72 16.39 18.34 Enshi Prefecture 1983 Hubei Tujia 45.00 47.50 Miao* 5.45 5.01 47.24 45.32 Gannan Prefecture 1953 Gansu Tibetan 51.44 54.64 Hui 6.43 6.25 41.75 38.70 Garzê Prefecture 1950 Sichuan Tibetan 78.37 78.29 Yi 2.56 2.66 18.24 18.24 Golog Prefecture 1954 Qinghai Tibetan 91.63 91.86 Hui 1.11 0.96 6.59 6.57 Haibei Prefecture 1953 Qinghai Tibetan 24.15 24.36 Hui 30.58 31.52 36.63 35.88 Hainan Prefecture 1953 Qinghai Tibetan 62.77 66.31 Hui 6.97 6.84 28.06 24.84 Haixi Prefecture 1954 Qinghai Mongol 7.23 5.53 Tibetan* 12.16 10.93 64.95 66.01 Honghe Prefecture 1957 Yunnan Hani 16.60 17.55 Yi* 23.57 23.19 44.31 42.85 Huangnan Prefecture 1953 Qinghai Tibetan 66.32 68.55 Mongol 13.54 13.98 7.54 6.08 Ili Prefecture 1954 Xinjiang Kazakh 21.53 Uyghur 26.88 35.22 Kizilsu Prefecture1954 Xinjiang Kyrgyz 28.32 27.32 Uyghur 63.98 64.68 6.41 6.78 Liangshan Prefecture 1952 Sichuan Yi 44.43 49.13 Tibetan1.49 1.39 51.9747.55Linxia Prefecture 1956 Gansu Hui 31.59 Dongxiang 25.99 39.70 Ngawa Prefecture 1953 Sichuan Tibetan 53.72 54.50 Qiang* 18.28 17.58 24.69 24.56 Nujiang Prefecture 1954 Yunnan Lisu 47.13 48.21 Bai 26.97 26.04 13.13 12.35 Qiandongnan Prefecture 1956 Guizhou Miao 41.48 41.57 Dong* 31.40 29.02 19.3 21.73 Qiannan Prefecture 1956 Guizhou Buyei 32.46 31.22 Miao* 13.37 12.69 43.37 44.84 Qianxinan Prefecture1982 Guizhou Buyei 30.04 27.56 Miao* 7.51 7.08 57.53 60.62 Wenshan Prefecture 1958 Yunnan Miao 12.94 13.68 Zhuang* 30.04 29.20 41.99 42.69 Xiangxi Prefecture 1957 Hunan Tujia 42.73 Miao* 33.85 22.85Xishuangbanna (Sibsongbanna) Prefecture1953 Yunnan Dai 29.89 27.89 Hani 18.73 19.01 29.11 30.03 Yanbian Prefecture 1952 Jilin Korean 36.26 32.45 Manchu 2.58 2.52 60.70 64.55 Yushu Prefecture 1951 Qinghai Tibetan 96.49 Hui 0.22 3.09
Former autonomous prefectures of China Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (1952–1988) in Guangdong, abolished because of the establishment of Hainan Province. Hedong Hui Autonomous Prefecture (1954–1955) in Gansu, later changed name as Wuzhong Hui Autonomous Prefecture (1955–1958), abolished because of the establishment of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Xihaigu Hui Autonomous Prefecture (1953–1955) in Gansu, later changed name as Guyuan Hui Autonomous Prefecture (1955–1958), abolished because of the establishment of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Guixi Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture (sub-provincial level, 1953–1955) in Guangxi Province, abolished because of the establishment of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Bayinhot Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (1954–1956) in Gansu, included today's Dengkou County and Alxa League. The autonomy abolished after it merged into Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Administrative prefecture level units with a population of 30% or more of ethnic minorities Excluding prefecture level units of autonomous regions in 2000.
Hebei: Chengde (Han - 55.32%, Manchu - 39.87%) Liaoning: Benxi (Han - 66.84%, Manchu - 30.22%), Dandong (Han - 64.11%, Manchu - 32.99%) Hunan: Zhangjiajie (Tujia - 68.40%, Han - 22.81%), Huaihua (Han - 61.33%, Dong - 17.42%, Miao - 15.63%) Guizhou: Anshun (Han - 61.6%, Buyei - 16.92%, Miao - 14.27%), Tongren (Tujia - 37.81%, Han - 31.76%, Miao - 14.87%, Dong - 11.41%) Yunnan: Yuxi (Han - 68,18%, Yi - 19,32%), Pu'er (Han - 40,92%, Hani - 16,98%, Yi - 16.58%, Lahu - 11.47%), Lijiang (Han - 42.71%, Nakhi 20.51%, Yi - 18.68%, Lisu - 9.62%), Lincang (Han - 61.22%, Dai - 15.77%, Lahu and Va - 9.76%) Qinghai: Haidong (Han - 56.33%, Hui - 20.38%, Tibetan - 9.2%, Tu - 8.06%)
See also List of prefecture-level divisions of China Tusi Native Chieftain System Autonomous regions of China
External links Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities in China