History of the administrative divisions of China (1949–present)

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ROC vs PRC.svg
Map comparing administrative divisions as drawn by current PRC and the ROC before 1946.
China in 1949.svg
Claimed divisions of the PRC in 1949.
China in 1950.svg
Claimed divisions of the PRC in 1950.
China in 1966.svg
Claimed divisions of the PRC in 1966.
China in 1979.svg
Claimed divisions of the PRC in 1979.

The history of the administrative divisions of China after 1949 refers to the administrative divisions under the People's Republic of China. In 1949, 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.

Contents

Founding

The Government of China made the following changes:

1950s

In 1952, the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui and Sichuan were restored. Pingyuan and Chahar were split into their surrounding provinces. Nanjing, the old capital of the Republic of China, was deprived of its 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 Songjiang, Suiyuan and Ningxia disappeared into Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia and Gansu, respectively.

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. During the Great Leap Forward, townships were abolished and people's communes were introduced.

1960s and 1970s

In 1965 Tibet Autonomous Region was established out of the formerly self-governing Tibet Area, as well as the Qamdo Territory. In 1967 Tianjin was split back out as a municipality. In 1969, as part of the Cultural Revolution, Inner Mongolia was truncated; Hulunbuir was ceded to Heilongjiang, Jirim to Jilin, Juuuda to Liaoning, and the Alxa League split between Ejin Banner going to Gansu and the Alashan Region to Ningxia. This was reversed in 1979.

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. People's communes ceased to exist due to the 1982 constitution and were replaced by townships. [1] 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 was a campaign to abolish district public offices as a level. By 2004 very few remained.

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

List of all provincial-level divisions since 1949

  abolished  present  claimed

Administrative divisions of China
Greater Administrative Areas
NameSimplified
Hanzi
Traditional
Hanzi
Pinyin TranslationCapitalSimplified
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
NameSimplified
Hanzi
Traditional
Hanzi
Pinyin AbbreviationCapitalSimplified
Hanzi
Traditional
Hanzi
GAA Note
Provinces
Andong 安东安東Āndōng安 ān Tonghua 通化通化Dongbei1949 abolished → Liaodong, Jilin
Anhui 安徽安徽Ānhuī皖 wǎn Hefei 合肥合肥Dongbei1949 abolished → Wanbei, Wannan; 1952 reverted
Chahar 察哈尔察哈爾Cháhā'ěr察 chá Zhangjiakou 张家口張家口Huabei1952 abolished → Inner Mongolia, Hebei
Fujian 福建福建Fújiàn闽 mǐn Fuzhou 福州福州HuadongThe majority of Fujian is controlled by the PRC, while the ROC still retains control of Kinmen, Wuqiu and Matsu Islands under its Fujian Province
Gansu 甘肃甘肅Gānsù甘 gān Lanzhou 兰州蘭州Xibei1958 Ningxia split into its own autonomous region
Guangdong 广东廣東Guǎngdōng粤 yuè Guangzhou 广州廣州Zhongnan1952 & 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Zhongnan1958 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
Huabei1967 Tianjin split into its own municipality
Hejiang 合江合江Héjiāng合 hé Jiamusi 佳木斯佳木斯Dongbei1949 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
Dongbei1952 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
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Huadong1949 abolished → Subei, Sunan; 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
Dongbei1952 north part split into Inner Mongolia
Liaobei 辽北遼北Liáoběi洮 táo Liaoyuan 辽源遼源Dongbei1949 abolished → Jilin, Liaoning
Liaodong 辽东遼東Liáodōng关 guān Dandong 丹东丹東Dongbei1954 abolished → Liaoning
Liaoning 辽宁遼寧Liáoníng辽 liáo Shenyang 沈阳瀋陽Dongbei1949 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Dongbei1954 abolished → Liaoning
Nenjiang 嫩江嫩江Nènjiāng嫩 nèn Qiqihar 齐齐哈尔齊齊哈爾Dongbei1949 abolished → Heilongjiang
Ningxia 宁夏寧夏Níngxià宁 níng Yinchuan 银川銀川Xibei1954 province → Gansu
Mudanjiang 牡丹江牡丹江Mǔdānjiāng丹 dān Mudanjiang 牡丹江牡丹江Dongbei1949 abolished → Heilongjiang
Pingyuan 平原平原Píngyuán平 píng Xinxiang 新乡新鄉Zhongnan1952 abolished → Henan, Shandong
Qinghai 青海青海Qīnghǎi青 qīng Xining 西宁西寧Xibei
Rehe 热河热河Rèhé热 rè Chengde 承德承德Dongbei1955 abolished → Inner Mongolia, & Liaoning
Sichuan 四川四川Sìchuān川 chuān Chengdu 成都成都Xinan1949 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Dongbei1954 abolished → Heilongjiang
Suiyuan 绥远綏遠Suíyuǎn绥 suí Hohhot 呼和浩特呼和浩特Huabei1954 abolished → Inner Mongolia
Taiwan 台湾臺灣Táiwāntái Taipei 台北臺北Huadongclaimed since 1949 the founding of the PRC; it has not been governed by the PRC since its founding
Xikang 西康西康Xīkāng康 kāng Kangding (49-50)
Ya'an (50-55)
康定
雅安
康定
雅安
Xinan1955 abolished → Sichuan & Qamdo
Xing'an 兴安興安Xīkāng兴 xīng Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔呼倫貝爾Dongbei1949 abolished → Heilongjiang
Xinjiang 新疆新疆Xīnjiāng疆 jiāng Ürümqi 乌鲁木齐烏魯木齊Xibei1955 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
Alxa Khoshut Banner → Alxa 阿拉善和硕特旗→阿拉善阿拉善和碩特旗→阿拉善Ālāshàn阿 ā Bayanhot 巴彥浩特巴彥浩特Huabei1954 merge into Inner Mongolia
Ejin 额济纳額濟納Éjìnà额 é Dalainhob 达拉呼布達拉呼布Huabei1954 merge into Inner Mongolia
Guangxi 广西廣西Guǎngxī桂 guì Nanning 南宁南寧Zhongnan1958 province → autonomous region
Inner Mongolia 内蒙古內蒙古Nèi Měnggǔ蒙 měng Ulaanhot (47-50)
Hohhot (present)
乌兰浩特
呼和浩特
烏蘭浩特
呼和浩特
Huabei1947 created; 1969 truncated → Liaoning, Heilongjiang,
Jilin, Gansu, Ningxia; 1979 reverted
Ningxia 宁夏寧夏Níngxià宁 níng Yinchuan 银川銀川Xibei1958 special region → autonomous region
Tibet 西藏西藏Xīzàng藏 zàng Lhasa 拉萨拉薩Xinan1965 region → autonomous region
Xinjiang 新疆新疆Xīnjiāng疆 jiāng Ürümqi 乌鲁木齐烏魯木齊Xibei1955 province → autonomous region
Municipalities
Anshan 鞍山鞍山Ānshān鞍 ān Tiedong District 铁东区鐵東區Dongbei1954 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Dongbei1954 abolished → Liaoning
Changchun 长春長春Chángchūn春 chūn Nanguan District 南关区南關區Dongbei1953 created; 1954 abolished → Jilin
Chongqing 重庆重慶Chóngqìng渝 yú Yuzhong District 渝中区渝中區Xinan1954 abolished → Sichuan; 1997 reverted
Dalian → Lüda 大连→旅大大連→旅大Dàlián连 lián Xigang District 西岗区西崗區Dongbei1949 abolished → Luda, 1950 reverted, 1954 abolished → Liaoning
Fushun 抚顺撫順Fǔshùn抚 fǔ Shuncheng District 顺城区順城區Dongbei1954 abolished → Liaoning
Harbin 哈尔滨哈爾濱Hārbīn哈 hā Nangang District 南岗区南崗區Dongbei1953 created, 1954 abolished → Heilongjiang
Guangzhou 广州廣州Guǎngzhōu穗 suì Yuexiu District 越秀区越秀區Zhongnan1954 abolished → Guangdong
Nanjing 南京南京Nánjīng宁 níng Xuanwu District 宣武区宣武區Huadong1952 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Dongbei1954 abolished → Liaoning
Tianjin 天津天津Tiānjīn津 jīn Heping District 和平区和平區Huabei1954 abolished → Hebei, 1967 reverted
Hankou → Wuhan 汉口→武汉漢口→武漢Wǔhàn汉 hàn Jiang'an District 江岸区江岸區Zhongnan1949 abolished → Hubei
Xi'an 西安西安Xī'ān镐 hào Weiyang District 未央区未央區Xibei1954 abolished → Shaanxi
Special Administrative Regions
Hainan 海南海南Hǎinán琼 qióng Haikou 海口海口Zhongnan1949 abolished → Guangdong
Hong Kong 香港香港Xiānggǎng港 gǎng Hong Kong 香港香港Zhongnan1997 created (Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong)
Macau 澳门澳門Àomén澳 ào Macau 澳门澳門Zhongnan1999 created (Transfer of sovereignty over Macau)
Administrative Territories
Chuanbei 川北川北Chuānběi充 chōng Nanchong 南充南充Xinan1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Chuandong 川东川東Chuāndōng渝 yú Chongqing 重庆重慶Xinan1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Chuannan 川南川南Chuānnán泸 lú Luzhou 泸州瀘州Xinan1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Chuanxi 川西川西Chuānxī蓉 róng Chengdu 成都成都Xinan1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan
Subei 苏北蘇北Sūběi扬 yáng Yangzhou 扬州揚州Huadong1949 created; 1952 abolished → Jiangsu
Sunan 苏南蘇南Sūnán锡 xī Wuxi 无锡無錫Huadong1949 created; 1952 abolished → Jiangsu
Wanbei 皖北皖北Wǎnběi合 hé Hefei 合肥合肥Huadong1949 created; 1952 abolished → Anhui
Wannan 皖南皖南Wǎnnán芜 wú Wuhu 芜湖蕪湖Huadong1949 created; 1952 abolished → Anhui
Lüda 旅大旅大Lǚdà旅 Lǚ Dalian 大连大連Dongbei1949 created; 1950 abolished → Dalian
Regions
Tibet 西藏西藏Xīzàng藏 zàng Lhasa 拉萨拉薩Xinan1965 region → autonomous region
Territories
Qamdo 昌都昌都Chāngdū昌 chāng Qamdo 昌都昌都Xinan1965 merge into Tibet

See also

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References

  1. Shue, Vivienne (1984). "The Fate of the Commune". Modern China. 10 (3): 259–283. ISSN   0097-7004 . Retrieved 15 April 2023.