China’s provinces and regions at a glance
China’s map breaks into 34 provincial-level regions. Knowing how each category works—province, autonomous region, municipality, Special Administrative Region—helps you target the right policies, logistics, and audience.
23
Includes Taiwan (claimed) plus coastal engines like Guangzhou (Guangdong), Hangzhou (Zhejiang), Xiamen (Fujian).
5
Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Ningxia—ethnic autonomy with large land area.
4
Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing—directly under central government.
2
Hong Kong and Macau—separate legal & customs systems under “One Country, Two Systems”.
How provincial-level divisions work
Each category has different governance rules, economic profiles, and travel implications. Use this quick breakdown before drilling into city-level decisions.
Provinces
Large territories beyond municipal boundaries. They set regional GDP targets, own tourism bureaus, and manage provincial highways and airports.
Autonomous regions
Provide ethnic minority self-governance (Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Ningxia). Often share borders with neighbouring countries.
Municipalities
Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing hold provincial powers but govern a city+county area. Perfect for national pilot programs.
Special Administrative Regions
Hong Kong and Macau maintain their own visa systems, currencies, and legal frameworks while coordinating with mainland policies.
| Region type | Count | Examples | Quick takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Province | 23 | Guangdong, Sichuan, Hainan, Anhui | Most tourism bureaus, manufacturing bases, and local tax incentives sit at province level. |
| Autonomous region | 5 | Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, Ningxia | Ethnic autonomy, big land mass, border trade, special visa permits (Tibet). |
| Municipality | 4 | Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing | Provincial authority concentrated in ultra-large cities; ideal for national campaigns. |
| SAR | 2 | Hong Kong, Macau | Separate customs, currencies, visa-free access for many travellers, major financial centres. |
Provincial heavyweights
Five regions shape most of China’s travel demand and supply chains—start there when plotting routes.
Guangdong
≈127M residents, Pearl River Delta manufacturing, Shenzhen tech, Guangzhou Canton Fair, Greater Bay Area corridors.
Shandong
120M residents, coastal ports in Qingdao, heavy industry, beer, and Confucian heritage (Qufu).
Explore provinces by size, population, and focus
Click a marker to see land area, population stats, flagship cities, and travel/business highlights.
Legend
- Province / autonomous region
- Municipality / SAR
Frequently asked questions
How do provinces relate to cities?
Most provinces oversee multiple prefecture-level cities (e.g., Guangdong manages Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan). Municipalities like Shanghai directly control districts instead.
Do travellers need special permits?
All provinces are open, but Tibet requires tour permits, and some border areas (Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia) may have extra checkpoints.
Which provinces lead GDP growth?
Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, Zhejiang top total GDP; Fujian, Hainan, Anhui, and Hubei see fastest growth in 2024–25.
How are policies rolled out?
National policy sets the direction; provinces tailor incentives (e.g., EV subsidies in Anhui, tourism campaigns in Yunnan). Always check provincial guidelines for execution details.
Plan with China's provinces in mind
Use these resources to connect provincial data with cities, transport, and campaigns.
- Population update — see which provinces hold the biggest urban clusters.
- How big is China? — understand distances and landforms.
- City tier guide — bridge province policy with city execution.
- City playbooks — 50+ destination deep dives.