Political divisions of China facts for kids

China's main administrative divisions

The People's Republic of China (often called China) is a very large country. To help manage it, China is divided into different areas. These areas are like different parts of a big puzzle. There are 23 provinces, 4 municipalities, 5 autonomous regions, and 2 special administrative regions.

China also claims the island of Taiwan as one of its provinces. However, Taiwan is currently governed by its own government, known as the Republic of China (Taiwan). It is not controlled by the People's Republic of China.

How China is Divided

Map of China's prefectural level divisions

Map of China's county-level divisions

Map of the PRC in 1949

China has 34 main types of divisions. These are like big sections that help organize the country. Each type of division has its own way of being governed.

Big Cities (Municipalities)

Municipalities are very large and important cities. They are so big that they are managed like provinces. This means they have a lot of power over their own areas.

• Beijing
• Shanghai
• Tianjin
• Chongqing

China's Provinces

Provinces are the most common type of division in China. They are similar to states in other countries. Each province has its own capital city and government.

• Anhui
• Fujian
• Gansu
• Guangdong
• Guizhou
• Hainan
• Hebei
• Heilongjiang
• Henan
• Hubei
• Hunan
• Jilin
• Jiangsu
• Jiangxi
• Liaoning
• Qinghai
• Shaanxi
• Shandong
• Shanxi
• Sichuan
• Taiwan (claimed by China)
• Yunnan
• Zhejiang

Special Areas (Autonomous Regions)

Autonomous regions are areas where many people from a specific ethnic group live. They have more freedom to make their own rules about culture and local matters. However, they are still part of China.

• Xinjiang
• Tibet
• Inner Mongolia
• Guangxi
• Ningxia

Unique Regions (Special Administrative Regions)

Special Administrative Regions (SARs) have a very high level of freedom. They have their own laws, money, and customs. They are different from the rest of China. This system is often called "one country, two systems."

• Hong Kong
• Macau

Images for kids

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  Map of China's prefectural level divisions

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  Map of China's county-level divisions

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  The Qing dynasty in 1820, with provinces in yellow, military governorates and protectorates in light yellow, tributary states in orange

See also

In Spanish: Organización territorial de la República Popular China para niños