Provincial-level divisions of China

The People's Republic of China is officially divided into 34 provincial-level administrative divisions, the first level of administrative division in the country. There are four types of divisions at the provincial level: Provinces (23) Autonomous regions (5) Direct-administered municipalities (4) Special administrative regions (SARs, 2)

Provincial-level division can be traced back to the Yuan dynasty. The political status of Taiwan Province, as well as small portions of other provinces, are disputed.

Government The legislative branch at the provincial level is the People's Congress, modeled on the National People's Congress. Provincial People's Congresses have had legislative powers since 1979, and pass laws on a wide variety of issues. The executive branch is the Provincial People's Government, led by a governor in the provinces, a mayor in provincial-level cities, a chairman in the autonomous regions. The head of the government is assisted by a number of subordinate officials such as Vice-Governors. The head of the People's Government is appointed by the State Council. That said, the People's Governments are responsible to both the State Council and the regional People's Congress, and implement the decisions of both bodies. They also pass the State Council's instructions down to the lower levels of the administration. Province-level governments have the power to set budgets and raise revenue, although they are subject to the State Council's approval. They can pursue development projects without seeking central government approval.

The Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps is commonly considered an entity parallel to the provincial-level local governments in official Chinese sources.

Provincial-level party structure As with the central government, provincial-level divisions are governed by parallel party and state structures. Each province-level branch of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) holds a Party Congress every five years. The congress will elect a Party Committee, which in turn elects a Standing Committee. The Standing Committee includes a party secretary, who is the leader of the CCP in that provincial-level division. The Standing Committee usually includes the top members of the People's Government as well.

Provincial People's Government buildings

History

The first provincial-level divisions were created in the Yuan dynasty, and have remained one of the most stable forms of Chinese government since then. They were created to help the Imperial court manage local county governments, which were too numerous and far-flung to be managed directly. The number of provinces grew steadily during subsequent dynasties, reaching 28 by the time of the Republic of China. Under the Nationalist Government, large cities began to be classified separately from other administrative units. Starting in 1930, some of these "special cities" became "direct jurisdiction cities" under the central government, the predecessor of province-level cities. During the Warlord Era, provinces became largely or completely autonomous and exercised significant national influence. Province-level units proliferated and under the early People's Republic there were over 50.

In the mid-1950s, the People's Republic (PRC) made several major reforms to province-level administration. Despite closely modelling other aspects of the PRC on the Soviet Union, the CCP's experience with territorial disintegration during the Warlord Era led them to reject the Soviet federal structure. Instead, the total number of provinces was significantly reduced and the unitary state structure was retained. Most direct jurisdiction cities were abolished, although a few became province-level cities. Limited autonomy was granted to ethnic minorities in five new "Autonomous Regions" (see below). People's Congresses were set up to run province-level governments. During the Cultural Revolution, these Congresses each elected a revolutionary committee to exercise both executive and legislative power when they were not in session. Provincial-level divisions had limited independent authority before the period of reform and opening up, due to the centrally planned nature of the economy. Their main role was to implement the decisions made by the central government regarding production goals, raising and spending of revenue, and resource allocation. However, in contrast with the Soviet system, there was some degree of regional autonomy. Many provincial governments ran smaller manufacturing firms independently of the central government. Since 1979, the central government has granted increased decision-making authority to provincial level governments. In turn, they have devolved the power to make local regulations to cities and other local governments.

List of provincial-level divisions GB/T 2260-2007ISOISO 3166-2:CN (ISO 3166-2 codes for the provinces of China)ProvinceChineseHanyu PinyinCapitalPopulationDensityArea Abbreviation AH CN-AH Anhui Ānhuī Shěng Hefei 61,027,171 436.29 139,879 Wǎn BJ CN-BJ Beijing Municipality Běijīng Shì Tongzhou 21,893,095 1,334.05 16,411Jīng CQ CN-CQ Chongqing Municipality Chóngqìng Shì Yuzhong 32,054,159 388.99 82,403 Yú FJ CN-FJ Fujian Fújiàn Shěng Fuzhou 41,540,086 335.66 123,756 Mǐn GD CN-GD Guangdong Guǎngdōng Shěng Guangzhou 126,012,510 700.02 180,013 Yuè GS CN-GS Gansu Gānsù Shěng Lanzhou 25,019,831 54.70 457,382 Gān (Lǒng) GX CN-GX Guangxi Guǎngxī Zhuàngzú Zìzhìqū Nanning 50,126,804 210.78 237,818 Guì GZ CN-GZ Guizhou Guìzhōu Shěng Guiyang 38,562,148 218.93 176,140 Guì (Qián) HA (HEN) CN-HA Henan Hénán Shěng Zhengzhou 99,365,519 600.52 165,467 Yù HB (HUB) CN-HB Hubei Húběi Shěng Wuhan 57,752,557 310.87 185,776 È HE (HEB) CN-HE Hebei Héběi Shěng Shijiazhuang 74,610,235 393.08 189,809Jì HI CN-HI Hainan Hǎinán Shěng Haikou 10,081,232 294.27 34,259Qióng HK CN-HK Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Xiānggǎng Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū N/A 7,061,200 6,396.01 1,108 Gǎng HL CN-HL Heilongjiang Hēilóngjiāng Shěng Harbin 31,850,088 67.37 472,766Hēi HN (HUN) CN-HN Hunan Húnán Shěng Changsha 66,444,864 313.65 211,842 Xiāng JL CN-JL Jilin Jílín Shěng Changchun 24,073,453 126.51 190,282 Jí JS CN-JS Jiangsu Jiāngsū Shěng Nanjing 84,748,016 847.91 99,949 Sū JX CN-JX Jiangxi Jiāngxī Shěng Nanchang 45,188,635 270.69 166,939 Gàn LN CN-LN Liaoning Liáoníng Shěng Shenyang 42,591,407 289.59 147,076 Liáo MO CN-MO Macau Special Administrative Region Àomén Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū N/A 552,300 19,044.82 29 Ào NM CN-NM Inner Mongolia Nèi Měnggǔ Zìzhìqū Hohhot 24,049,155 20.05 1,199,372Měng (Suí) NX CN-NX Ningxia Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū Yinchuan 7,202,654 108.47 66,400 Níng QH CN-QH Qinghai Qīnghǎi Shěng Xining 5,923,957 8.58 720,000 Qīng SC CN-SC Sichuan Sìchuān Shěng Chengdu 83,674,866 174.93 484,056Chuān (Shǔ) SD CN-SD Shandong Shāndōng Shěng Jinan 101,527,453 643.78 157,704 Lǔ SH CN-SH Shanghai Municipality Shànghǎi Shì Huangpu 24,870,895 3,922.24 6,341 Hù (Shēn) SN (SAA) CN-SN Shaanxi Shǎnxī Shěng Xi'an 39,528,999 192.24 205,624 Shǎn (Qín) SX (SAX) CN-SX Shanxi Shānxī Shěng Taiyuan 34,915,616 222.80 156,713Jìn TJ CN-TJ Tianjin Municipality Tiānjīn Shì Hexi 13,866,009 1,194.32 11,610Jīn TW CN-TW Taiwan Province Táiwān Shěng Taipei 23,162,123 650.97 36,161 Tái XJ CN-XJ Xinjiang Xīnjiāng Wéiwú'ěr Zìzhìqū Ürümqi 25,852,345 15.72 1,644,707 Xīn XZ CN-XZ Tibet Xīzàng Zìzhìqū Lhasa 3,648,100 3.03 1,204,776 Zàng YN CN-YN Yunnan Yúnnán Shěng Kunming 47,209,277 123.20 383,195 Yún (Diān) ZJ CN-ZJ Zhejiang Zhèjiāng Shěng Hangzhou 64,567,588 615.67 104,873 Zhè

Provincial-level divisions of China

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