Timeline of Chinese Dynasties and Other Key Events

ca. 2100-1600 BCE Xia (Hsia) Dynasty

ca. 1600-1050 BCE Shang DynastyCapitals: near present-day Zhengzhou and Anyang

ca. 1046-256 BCE Zhou (Chou) DynastyCapitals: Hao (near present-day Xi'an) and Luoyang

Western Zhou (ca. 1046-771 BCE)

Eastern Zhou (ca. 771-256 BCE)Spring and Autumn Period(770-ca. 475 BCE)

Confucius (ca. 551-479 BCE)

Warring States Period(ca. 475-221 BCE)

221-206 BCE Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty Capital: Chang'an, present-day Xi'an

Qin Shihuangdi dies, 210 BCE

206 BCE-220 CE Han Dynasty

Western/Former Han (206 BCE-9 CE) Capital: Chang'an

Confucianism officially established as basis for Chinese state by Han Wudi (r. 141-86 BCE)

Eastern/Later Han (25-220 CE) Capital: Luoyang

220-589 CE Six Dynasties PeriodPeriod of disunity and instability following the fall of the Han; Buddhism introduced to China

Three Kingdoms (220-265 CE) Cao Wei, Shu Han, Dong Wu

Jin Dynasty (265-420 CE)

Period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589 CE)

581-618 CE Sui Dynasty Capital: Chang'an

618-906 CE Tang (T'ang) Dynasty Capitals: Chang'an and Luoyang

907-960 CE Five Dynasties Period

960-1279 Song (Sung) Dynasty

Northern Song (960-1127) Capital: Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng)

Southern Song (1127-1279) Capital: Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou)

1279-1368 Yuan DynastyThe reign of the Mongol empire; Capital: Dadu (present-day Beijing)

1368-1644 Ming DynastyRe-establishment of rule by Han ruling house; Capitals: Nanjing and Beijing

1644-1912 Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty Reign of the Manchus; Capital: Beijing

1912-1949 Republic Period Capitals: Beijing, Wuhan, and Nanjing

1949-present People's Republic of China Capital: Beijing

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Annotated Chronological Outline of Chinese History

10,000-2,000 BCE Neolithic Cultures

ca. 2100-1600 BCE Xia (Hsia) Dynasty

ca. 1600-1050 BCE Shang Dynasty

One of the Three Dynasties, or San Dai (Xia, Shang, and Zhou), thought to mark the beginning of Chinese civilization: characterized by its writing system, practice of divination, walled cities, bronze technology, and use of horse-drawn chariots.

ca. 1046-256 BCE Zhou (Chou) Dynasty: Western Zhou (ca. 1046-771 BCE), Eastern Zhou (771-256 BCE)

A hierarchical political and social system with the Zhou royal house at its apex: power was bestowed upon aristocratic families as lords of their domains or principalities. Although often compared to European "feudalism," what actually

gave the system cohesion was a hierarchical order of ancestral cults. The system eventually broke down into a competition for power between rival semi-autonomous states in what became known as the Spring and Autumn period (ca. 770-475 BCE) and the Warring States (ca. 475-221 BCE) period. It was during these tumultuous times that Confucius (551-479 BCE) lived.

221-206 BCE Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty

Created a unitary state by imposing a centralized administration and by standardizing the writing script, weights and measures. Known for its harsh methods of rule, including the suppression of dissenting thought.

206 BCE-220 CE Han Dynasty: Western/Former Han (206 BCE-9 CE) and Eastern/Later Han (25-220 CE)

Modified and consolidated the foundation of the imperial order. Confucianism was established as orthodoxy and open civil service examinations were introduced. Han power reached Korea and Vietnam. Records of the Historian, which became the model for subsequent official histories, was completed.

220-589 CE "Period of Disunity" or Six Dynasties Period

The empire was fragmented. The North was dominated by invaders from the borderland and the steppes. The South was ruled by successive "Chinese" dynasties. Buddhism spread.

581-618 CE Sui Dynasty

China reunified.

618-906 Tang (T'ang) Dynasty

A time of cosmopolitanism and cultural flowering occurred. This period was the height of Buddhist influence in China until its repression around 845. Active territorial expansion until defeated by the Arabs at Talas in 751.

960-1279 Song (Sung) Dynasty: Northern Song (960-1127) and Southern Song (1127-1279)

An era of significant economic and social changes: the monetization of the economy; growth in commerce and maritime trade; urban expansion and technological innovations. The examination system for bureaucratic

recruitment of neo-Confucianism was to provide the intellectual underpinning for the political and social order of the late imperial period.

1279-1368 Yuan Dynasty

Founded by the Mongols as part of their conquest of much of the world. Beijing was made the capital. Dramas, such as the famous Story of the Western Wing, flourished.

1368-1644 Ming Dynasty

The first Ming emperor, Hongwu, laid the basis of an authoritarian political culture. Despite early expansion, it was an inward-looking state with an emphasis on its agrarian base. Gradual burgeoning of the commercial sector; important changes in the economy and social relations in the latter part of the dynasty; also a vibrant literary scene as represented by publication of the novel Journey to the West.

1644-1912 Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty

A Manchu dynasty. Continued the economic developments of the late Ming, leading to prosperity but also complacency and a dramatic increase in population. The acclaimed novel Dream of the Red Chamber was written in this period. Strains on the polity were intensified by a rapid incorporation of substantial new territories. Its authoritarian structure was subsequently unable to meet the military and cultural challenge of an expansive West.

1912-1949 Republic Period

Weak central government following the collapse of the dynastic system in 1911-12; Western influence was shown by the promotion of "science" and "democracy" during the New Culture Movement. The attempt of the Nationalist government (est. 1928) to bring the entire country under its control was thwarted by both domestic revolts and the Japanese occupation (1937-45). The Nationalists fled to Taiwan after defeat by the Communists.

1949-present People's Republic of China

Communist government. The drive for remaking society ended in disasters such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Economic reform and political retrenchment since around 1978.

Prepared by Michael Tsin, previously assistant professor of Chinese history, Columbia University; currently associate professor of Chinese history, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Text ©1995 Columbia University, Asia in Western and World History: A Guide for Teaching,

(Ainslie Embree and Carol Gluck, eds., Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharp Inc. 1995).

Chronology of Historical capitals in use of China

Historical capitals in use prior to the 20th century.

Historical capitals in use from the 20th century onwards.

Government Capital Chinese Period Notes

Xia

Song 崇 GunYangcheng 陽城 Yu[2]

Chu 鉏 YiQiongshi 窮石 Yi, HanzhuoZhen 斟 TaikangDiqiu 帝丘 XiangYuan 原 ZhuLaoqiu 老丘 ZhuXihe 西河 YinjiaZhen 斟 JieHenan 河南 Jie[3]

Shang

Bo 亳 Tang of Shang[3]

Fan 蕃 XieDishi 砥石 ZhaomingShang 商 ZhaomingShangqiu 商邱 XiangtuFoot of Mount Tai "泰山麓" Xiangtu

Shangqiu 商邱 XiangtuYin 殷 ShanghouShangqiu 商邱 YinhouBo "西"亳 TangXiao 囂 ZhongdingXiang 相 HedanjiaXing 邢 ZuyiBi 庇 ZuyiYan 奄 Nan'gengYin 殷 Pan'geng

Zhou

WesternZongzhou 宗周 1046 BC—771 BC Western capitalChengzhou 成周 1046 BC—771 BC Eastern capital

Eastern

Chengzhou 成周 770 BC—367 BC

"Henan" 河南 367 BC—256 BC capital of the Western Zhou State

Gong 鞏 367 BC—249 BC capital of the Eastern Zhou State

Qin

Xiquanqiu 西犬丘Pingyang 平陽 —677 BCYong 雍 677 BC—Jingyang 涇陽 —383 BCYueyang 櫟陽 383 BC—250 BCXianyang 咸陽 350 BC—207 BC

Han WesternLuoyang 雒陽 202 BCYueyang 櫟陽 202 BC—200 BCChang'an 長安 200 BC—8 BC

Xin Chang'an 長安 8 AD—23 AD

Han EasternLuoyang 雒陽 25—190Chang'an 長安 191—195Xu 許 196—220

ThreeKingdoms

Wei Luoyang 洛陽 220—265Shu Chengdu 成都 221—263Wu Jianye 建業 227—279

JinWestern

Luoyang 洛陽 265—313Chang'an 長安 313—316

Eastern Jiankang 建康 317—420

Northerndynasties

Wei

Pingcheng 平城 386—493Luoyang 洛陽 493—534

Ye 鄴 534—550 capital of the Eastern Wei State

Chang'an 長安 535—557 capital of the Western Wei State

Qi Ye 鄴 550—577Zhou Chang'an 長安 557—581

Southerndynasties

Song Jiankang 建康 420—479Qi Jiankang 建康 479—502Liang Jiankang 建康 502—557Chen Jiankang 建康 557—589

SuiDongdu 東都 581—618Daxing 大興 581—618 auxiliary capital

TangChang'an 長安 618—690Luoyang 洛陽 657—690 auxiliary capital

Zhou Luoyang 洛陽 690—705

TangChang'an 長安 705—904Luoyang 洛陽 705—736 auxiliary capitalLuoyang 洛陽 904—907

Fivedynasties

Liang Dongdu 東都 907—923Tang Dongdu 東都 923—936Jin Dongjing 東京 936—947Han Dongjing 東京 947—950

Zhou Dongjing 東京 951—960

Song

Northern Dongjing 東京 960—1127

Southern

Nanjing 南京 1127—1129

After the fall of Dongjing, Zhao Gou declares himself Emperor Gaozong in Henan

Yangzhou 杨州

1129—1130

Flight of Emperor Gaozong during the Jin invasion of the Yangtze Delta in 1129—1130.

Zhenjiang 镇江Lin'an 臨安Yuezhou 越州Mingzhou 明州Dinghai 定海Off the coastTaizhou,Wenzhou

"海上朝廷"

Zhang'an 章安Yuezhou 越州Lin'an 臨安 1130—1276 Song court settles in

Lin'an for 146 yearsFuzhou 福州 1276—1277 Flight of Emperor

Duanzong along the southeast coast following the fall of Lin'an in 1276.

Guangzhou 广州 1277—1278

Guanfuchang 官富场

1278Gangzhou 碙州

Emperor Bingzong succeeds Duanzong onLantau Island in modern Hong Kong

Yashan 厓山 1278—1279Song court makes last stand off the coast ofYashan

Liao,Empire of the Khitan

Shangjing 上京 907—1120Nanjing 南京 1122—1123Tokmok 虎思斡 1134—1218

耳朵

JinShangjing 上京 1115—1153Zhongdu 中都 1153—1214Nanjing 南京 1214—1234

Western Xia Xingqing 興慶 1038—1227

Yuan

Shangdu 上都 May 1264 — 1267

Dadu 大都 1267[4] — August 1368

Shangdu 上都 August 1368 — 1369

Ming

Nanjing 南京23 January 1368 — 2 February 1421

Beijing 北京 2 February 1421 — 25 April 1644

Nanjing 南京 1644 — 1645Fuzhou 福州 1645 — 1646

Zhaoqing 肇慶 1646 — 25 April 1662

Later Jin

Feiala 費阿拉 1587 — 1603

Hetuala 赫圖阿拉 1603 — 1619

Jiefan 界凡 1619 — September 1620

Sarhu 薩爾滸 September 1620 — April 1621

Dongjing 東京 April 1621 — 11 April 1625

Shengjing 盛京 11 April 1625 — 1636

Qing

Shengjing 盛京 1636 — 30 October 1644

Peking 北京30 October 1644[5]— 12 February 1912[6]

Republic of China Nanking 南京 1 January 1912 — 2 April 1912 Provisional Government

Beijing 北京 2 April 1912 — 30 May 1928 Beiyang Government[6]

Shenyang 奉天 30 May 1928 — 29 December 1928 Beiyang Government

Guangzhou 广州 1 July 1925 — 21 February 1927

Guangzhou Nationalist Government

Wuhan 武漢 21 February 1927 — 19 August 1927

Wuhan Nationalist Government[7]

Nanking 南京18 April 1927 — 20 November 1937

the Nanjing decade[6]

Luoyang 洛陽 29 Jan 1932 — 1 December 1932

Beijing 北平9 September 1930 — 23 September 1930

Beiping Nationalist Government

Taiyuan 太原23 September 1930 — 4 November 1930

Beiping Nationalist Government

Guangzhou 廣州 28 May 1931 — 22 December 1931

Guangzhou Nationalist Government

Chongqing 重慶21 November 1937 — 5 May 1946

during the Second Sino-Japanese War[6]

Nanking 南京 30 March 1940 — 10 August 1945 Wang Jingwei Government

Nanking 南京 5 May 1946 — 23 April 1949[6]

Guangzhou 廣州 23 April 1949 — 14 October 1949

during the Chinese Civil War

Chongqing 重慶14 October 1949 — 30 November 1949

during the Chinese Civil War

Chengdu 成都 30 November 1949 — 27 December 1949

during the Chinese Civil War

Sichang 西昌27 December 1949 — 27 March 1950

during the Chinese Civil War

Taipei 臺北 10 December 1949 — Present

People's Republic of China Beijing 北京 1 October 1949 —

Present

History of Provinces of ChinaYuan provincesThe rulers of China first set up provinces—initially 10 in number—during the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) with the addition of the Central Region ruled by the Central Secretariat (中书省) and the Tibetan Plateau ruled by the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs (宣政院). Gansu (甘肃行省) Huguang (湖广行省) Henanjiangbei (河南江北行省) Jiangxi (江西行省) Jiangzhe (江浙行省)

Liaoyang (辽阳行省) Lingbei (岭北行省) Shaanxi (陝西行省) Sichuan (四川行省) Yunnan (云南行省)

Special provinces

Zhengdong (征东行省) Jiaozhi/Annan (交趾行省/安南行省) Jinghuzhancheng (荆湖占城行省) Zhengmian (征緬行省)Ming provincesThe Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) kept the province system setup by theYuan Dynasty however it divide the original 10 provinces into 15 provinces.

Northern Zhili (北直隶省) Southern Zhili (南直隶省) Fujian (福建省) Guangdong (广东省) Guangxi (广西省) Guizhou (贵州省) Henan (河南省) Huguang (湖广省)

Jiangxi (江西省) Shaanxi (陝西省) Shandong (山东省) Shanxi (山西省) Sichuan (四川省) Yunnan (云南省) Zhejiang (浙江省) Annan (安南省) 1407–1428

Qing provincesBy the time of the establishment of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) in 1644 there were 18 provinces, all of them in China proper.

Anhui (安徽省) Fujian (福建省) Gansu (甘肃省) Guangdong (广东省) Guangxi (广西省) Guizhou (贵州省) Henan (河南省) Hubei (湖北省) Hunan (湖南省)

Jiangsu (江苏省) Jiangxi (江西省) Shaanxi ( 陝西省) Shandong (山东省) Shanxi (山西省) Sichuan (四川省) Yunnan (云南省) Zhejiang (浙江省) Zhili (直隶省)

New Provinces

Xinjiang (新疆省) 1884–1912 Fengtian (奉天省) 1907–1912 Jilin (吉林省) 1907–1912 Heilongjiang (黑龙江省) 1907–1912 Taiwan (台湾省) 1885–1895Each province had a xunfu (巡撫; translated as "governor"), a political overseer on behalf of the emperor, and a tidu (提督; translated as "Captain General"), a military governor. In addition, there was a zongdu (總督), a general military inspector orgovernor general, for every two to three provinces.Outer regions of China (those beyond China proper) were not divided into provinces. Military leaders or generals (將軍) oversaw Manchuria (consisting of Fengtian (now Liaoning), Jilin, Heilongjiang), Xinjiang, and Mongolia, while vice-dutong(副都統) and civilian leaders headed the leagues (盟長), a subdivision of Mongolia. The ambans (驻藏大臣) supervised the administration of Tibet.In 1884 Xinjiang became a province; in 1907 Fengtian, Jilin, and Heilongjiang were made provinces as well. Taiwanbecame a province in 1885, but China ceded Taiwan to Japan in 1895. As a result, there were 22 provinces in China (Outer China and China proper) near the end of the Qing Dynasty.ROC provinces (1912–1949)

The Republic of China, established in 1912, set up four more provinces in Inner Mongolia and two provinces in historicTibet, bringing the total to 28. In 1931, Ma Zhongying established Hexi in the northern parts of Gansu but the ROC never acknowledged the province. But China lost four provinces with the establishment of the Japanese puppet state ofManchukuo in Manchuria. After the defeat of Japan in World War II in 1945, China re-incorporated Manchuria as 10 provinces, and assumed control of Taiwan as a province. As a result, the Republic of China in 1946 had 35 provinces. Although the Republic of China now only controls one province (Taiwan), and some islands of a second province (Fujian), it continues to formally claim all 35 provinces.

Andong (安东省) 1947–1949 Anhui (安徽省) Fujian (福建省) Gansu (甘肃省) Guangdong (广东省) Guangxi (广西省) Guizhou (贵州省) Heilongjiang (黑龙江省) Hejiang (合江省) 1947–1949 Zhili (直隶省) → Hebei (河北省) Henan (河南省) Hexi (河西省) 1931–1931 not acknowledged by ROC Hubei (湖北省) Hunan (湖南省) Jiangsu (江苏省) Jiangxi (江西省) Jilin (吉林省) Liaobei (辽北省) 1947–1949

Fengtian (奉天省) → Liaoning (辽宁省) Nenjiang (嫩江省) 1947–1949 Ningxia (宁夏省) 1928–1949 Qahar (察哈尔省) 1928–1949 Qinghai (青海省) 1928–1949 Rehe (热河省) 1928–1949 Shaanxi (陕西省) Shandong (山东省) Shanxi (山西省) Sichuan (四川省) Songjiang (松江省) 1947–1949 Suiyuan (绥远省) 1928–1949 Taiwan (台湾省) 1945–1949 Xing'an (兴安省) 1947–1949 Xikang (西康省) 1928–1949 Xinjiang (新疆省) Yunnan (云南省) Zhejiang (浙江省)

Other province-level divisions

Chuanbian Special Administrative Region (川边特别行政区) 1914–1935 Dongsheng Special Region (东省特别行政区) 1923–1932 Hainan Special Administrative Region (海南特别行政区) 1944–1949 Qahar Special Administrative Region (察哈尔特别行政区) 1914–1928 Rehe Special Administrative Region (热河特别行政区) 1914–1928 Suiyuan Special Administrative Region (绥远特别行政区) 1914–1928 Weihai Special Administrative Region (威海卫特别行政区) 1930–1945 Mongolia Area (蒙古地方) 1928–1946 Tibet Area (西藏地方) 1928–1949 Beiping Yuan-controlled Municipality (北平市) 1928–1949 Chongqing Yuan-controlled Municipality (重庆市) 1939–1949 Dalian Yuan-controlled Municipality (大连市) 1945–1949 Guangzhou Yuan-controlled Municipality (广州市) 1930, 1947–1949 Hankou Yuan-controlled Municipality (汉口市) 1927–1949 Harbin Yuan-controlled Municipality (哈尔滨市) 1946–1949

Nanjing Yuan-controlled Municipality (南京市) 1927–1949 Qingdao Yuan-controlled Municipality (青岛市) 1929–1949 Shanghai Yuan-controlled Municipality (上海市) 1927–1949 Shenyang Yuan-controlled Municipality (沈阳市) 1947–1949 Tianjin Yuan-controlled Municipality (天津市) 1928–1949 Xi'an Yuan-controlled Municipality (西安市) 1948–1949List of PRC province-level divisions[edit]      abolished       claimed

Greater Administrative Areas

Name Hanzi Pinyin Translation Capital Hanz

i Notes

Huabei 华北 Huáběi "North China" Beijing 北京 1949–1954Dongbei 东北 Dōngběi "Northeast" Shenyang 沈阳 1949–1954Huadong 华东 Huádōng "East China" Shanghai 上海 1949–1954Zhongnan 中南 Zhōngnán "South Central" Wuhan 武汉 1949–1954Xibei 西北 Xīběi "Northwest" Xi'an 西安 1949–1954

Xinan 西南 Xīnán "Southwest" Chongqing 重庆 1949–1954

Provinces

Name Hanzi Pinyin Abbreviati

on Capital Hanzi Note

Andong 安东 Āndōng 安 ān Tonghua 通化 1949 abolished → Liaodong, Jilin

Anhui 安徽 Ānhuī 皖 wǎn Hefei 合肥1949 abolished → Wanbei, Wannan; 1952 reverted

Chahar 察哈尔 Cháhā'ěr 察 chá Zhangjiakou 张家口 1952 abolished → Inner

Mongolia, HebeiFujian 福建 Fújiàn 闽 mǐn Fuzhou 福州Gansu 甘肃 Gānsù 甘 gān Lanzhou 兰州

1958 Ningxia split into its own autonomous region

Guangdong 广东 Guǎngdōng 粤 yuè Guangzhou 广州

1952 & 1965 Fangchenggang, Qinzhou, Beihai → Guangxi; 1955 reverted1988 Hainan split into its own province

Guangxi 广西 Guǎngxī 桂 guì Nanning 南宁 1958 province → autonomous region

Guizhou 贵州 Guìzhōu 黔 qián Guiyang 贵阳Hainan 海南 Hǎinán 琼 qióng Haikou 海口

Hebei 河北 Héběi 冀 jì

Baoding (49–54; 67–68)Tianjin (54–67)Shijiazhuang (present)

保定天津石家庄

1967 Tianjin split into its own municipality

Hejiang 合江 Héjiāng 合 hé Jiamusi 佳木斯 1949 abolished → Heilongjiang

Heilongjiang

黑龙江

Hēilóngjiāng 黑 hēi

Qiqihar (49–54)Harbin (present)

齐齐哈尔哈尔滨

1952 part of Xing'an split into Inner Mongolia

Henan 河南 Hénán 豫 yù

Kaifeng (49–54)Zhengzhou (present)

开封郑州

Hubei 湖北 Húběi 鄂 è Wuhan 武汉Hunan 湖南 Húnán 湘 xiāng Changsha 长沙Jiangsu 江苏 Jiāngsū 苏 sū Nanjing 南京 1949 abolished → Subei,

Subnan; 1952 revertedJiangxi 江西 Jiāngxī 赣 gàn Nanchang 南昌Jilin 吉林 Jílín 吉 jí

Jilin (49–54)Changchun (present)

吉林长春

1952 north part split into Inner Mongolia

Liaobei 辽北 Liáoběi 洮 táo Liaoyuan 辽源 1949 abolished → Jilin, Liaoning

Liaodong 辽东 Liáodōng 关 guān Dandong 丹东 1954 abolished → Liaoning

Liaoning 辽宁 Liáoníng 辽 liáo Shenyang 沈阳1949 abolished → Liaodong, Liaoxi; 1954 reverted1952 north part split into Inner Mongolia

Liaoxi 辽西 Liáoxī 辽 liáo Jinzhou 锦州 1954 abolished →

Liaoning

Nenjiang 嫩江 Nènjiāng 嫩 nèn Qiqihar 齐齐哈尔

1949 abolished → Heilongjiang

Ningxia 宁夏 Níngxià 宁 níng Yinchuan 银川 1954 province → Gansu

Mudanjiang 牡丹江 Mǔdānjiāng 丹 dān Mudanjiang 牡丹江 1949 abolished →

Heilongjiang

Pingyuan 平原 Píngyuán 平 píng Xinxiang 新乡 1952 abolished → Henan, Shandong

Qinghai 青海 Qīnghǎi 青 qīng Xining 西宁Rehe 热河 Rèhé 热 rè Chengde 承德 1955 abolished → Inner

Mongolia, & Liaoning

Sichuan 四川 Sìchuān 川 chuān Chengdu 成都

1949 abolished → Chuanbei, Chuandong, Chuannan, Chuanxi; 1952 reverted1997 Chongqing split into its own municipality

Shaanxi 陕西 Shǎnxī 陕 shǎn Xi'an 西安Shandong 山东 Shāndōng 鲁 lǔ Jinan 济南Shanxi 山西 Shānxī 晋 jìn Taiyuan 太原Songjiang 松江 Sōngjiāng 松 sōng Harbin 哈尔滨 1954 abolished →

Heilongjiang

Suiyuan 绥远 Suíyuǎn 绥 suí Hohhot 呼和浩特

1954 abolished → Inner Mongolia

Xikang 西康 Xīkāng 康 kāngKangding (49–50)Ya'an (50–55)

康定雅安

1955 abolished → Sichuan & Qamdo

Xing'an 兴安 Xīkāng 兴 xīng Hulunbuir 呼伦贝尔

1949 abolished → Heilongjiang

Xinjiang 新疆 Xīnjiāng 疆 jiāng Ürümqi 乌鲁木齐

1955 province → autonomous region

Yunnan 云南 Yúnnán 滇 diān Kunming 昆明Zhejiang 浙江 Zhèjiāng 浙 zhè Hangzhou 杭州Autonomous Regions

Name Hanzi Pinyin Abbreviati

on Capital Hanzi Note

Guangxi 广西 Guǎngxī 桂 guì Nanning 南宁 1958 province →

autonomous region

Inner Mongolia

內蒙古

Nèi Měnggǔ 蒙 měng

Ulaanhot (47–50)Hohhot(present)

乌兰浩特呼和浩特

1947 created; 1969 truncated → Liaoning, Heilongjiang,Jilin, Gansu, Ningxia; 1979 reverted

Ningxia 宁夏 Níngxià 宁 níng Yinchuan 银川 1958 special region → autonomous region

Tibet 西藏 Xīzàng 藏 zàng Lhasa 拉萨 1965 region → autonomous region

Xinjiang 新疆 Xīnjiāng 疆 jiāng Ürümqi 乌鲁木齐

1955 province → autonomous region

Municipalities

Name Hanzi Pinyin Abbreviation Capital Hanz

i Note

Anshan 鞍山 Ānshān 鞍 ān Tiedong District

铁东区

1954 abolished → Liaoning

Beijing 北京 Běijīng 京 jīng

Dongcheng DistrictTongzhou District

东城区通州区

Benxi 本溪 Běnxī 本 běn Pingshan District

平山区

1954 abolished → Liaoning

Changchun 长春 Chángchūn 春 chūn Nanguan

District南关区

1953 created; 1954 abolished → Jilin

Chongqing 重庆 Chóngqìng 渝 yú Yuzhong District

渝中区

1954 abolished → Sichuan; 1997 reverted

Dalian → Lüda

大连→旅大 Dàlián 连 lián Xigang

District西岗区

1949 abolished → Luda, 1950 reverted, 1954 abolished → Liaoning

Fushun 抚顺 Fǔshùn 抚 fǔ Shuncheng District

顺城区

1954 abolished → Liaoning

Harbin 哈尔滨 Hāěrbīn 哈 hā Nangang District

南岗区

1953 created, 1954 abolished → Heilongjiang

Guangzhou 广州 Guǎngzhōu 穗 suì Yuexiu

District越秀区

1954 abolished → Guangdong

Nanjing 南京 Nánjīng 宁 níng Xuanwu District

玄武区 1952 abolished → Jiangsu

Shanghai 上海 Shànghǎi 沪 hù Huangpu District

黄浦区

Shenyang 沈阳 Shěnyáng 沈 shěn Shenhe District

沈河区

1954 abolished → Liaoning

Tianjin 天津 Tiānjīn 津 jīn Heping District

和平区

1954 abolished → Hebei, 1967 reverted

Hankou → Wuhan

汉口→武汉 Wǔhàn 汉 hàn Jiang'an

District江岸区 1949 abolished → Hubei

Xi'an 西安 Xī'ān 镐 hào Weiyang District

未央区

1954 abolished → Shaanxi

Special Administrative Regions

Name Hanzi Pinyin Abbreviati

on Capital Hanzi Note

Hong Kong 香港 Xiānggǎn

g 港 gǎng Hong Kong 香港 1997 created (Transfer of

sovereignty over Hong Kong)

Macau 澳门 Àomén 澳 ào Macau 澳门 1999 created (Transfer of sovereignty over Macau)

Administrative Territories

Name Hanzi Pinyin Abbreviati

on Capital Hanzi Note

Chuanbei 川北 Chuānběi 充 chōng Nanchong 南充 1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan

Chuandong 川东 Chuāndōn

g 渝 yú Chongqing 重庆 1950 created; 1952 abolished

→ Sichuan

Chuannan 川南 Chuānnán 泸 lú Luzhou 泸州 1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan

Chuanxi 川西 Chuānxī 蓉 róng Chengdu 成都 1950 created; 1952 abolished → Sichuan

Hainan 海南 Hǎinán 琼 qióng Haikou 海口 1949 abolished → Guangdong

Subei 苏北 Sūběi 扬 yáng Yangzhou 扬州 1949 created; 1952 abolished → Jiangsu

Sunan 苏南 Sūnán 锡 xī Wuxi 无锡 1949 created; 1952 abolished → Jiangsu

Wanbei 皖北 Wǎnběi 合 hé Hefei 合肥 1949 created; 1952 abolished → Anhui

Wannan 皖南 Wǎnnán 芜 wú Wuhu 芜湖 1949 created; 1952 abolished → Anhui

Lüda 旅大 Lǚdà 旅 Lǚ Dalian 大连 1949 created; 1950 abolished → Dalian

RegionsNam

eHanz

iPinyi

nAbbreviati

onCapit

alHanz

i Note

Tibet 西藏 Xīzàng 藏 zàng Lhasa 拉萨 1965 region → autonomous region

Territories

Name Hanzi Pinyin Abbreviati

onCapita

lHanz

i Note

Qamdo 昌都 Chāngdū 昌 chāng Qamdo 昌都 1965 merge into Tibet

The People's Republic of China abolished many of the provinces in the 1950s and converted a number of them intoautonomous regions. Hainan became a separate province in 1988, bringing the total number of provinces under PRC control to 22.

Current and former capitals of subdivisions of China

Province (or equivalent) Capital When Remarks

Anhui During the Yuan Dynasty, modern Anhui was split between the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government, the province of Jianghuai, and (from 1291) the province of Henanjiangbei.

N/A 1366—1644

As part of Zhili up to 1421; as part of Nanzhili after 1421. Administered directly by the central government, instead of a province.

N/A 1645—1661Part of Jiangnan Province, formed out of former Nanzhili in 1645. Split into Jiangsu and Anhui in 1661.

Nanjing 1661—1760 Nanjing is now the capital of neighbouring Jiangsu Province.

Anqing 1760—1853Hefei 1853—1862 During the Taiping Rebellion.Anqing 1862—1946Hefei 1946—1949Hefei (north)

1949—1952 As North Anhui and South Anhui administrative regions.Wuhu(south)

Hefei 1952—present

Fujian

Fuzhou,Quanzhou 1278—1299

Between 1278 and 1299, separate provinces in the Fujian area were repeatedly split out and remerged back into Jiangzhe Province.

N/A 1299—1356 Part of Jiangzhe Province until Fujian Province was split out of it.

Fuzhou 1356—present

GansuZhangye 1286—1368N/A 1368—1667 Part of Shaanxi Province.Lanzhou 1667—present Gansu was called Gongchang 1667—1670.

GuangdongBefore 1369, modern Guangdong was split between the provinces of Jiangxi, Huguang, and (from 1364) Guangxi.Guangzhou 1369—present

Guangxi

Mostly found within Huguang Province before 1364.

Guilin 1364—1912 Included parts of modern Guangdong until 1369.

Nanning 1912—1936Guilin 1936—1950

Nanning 1950—present Guangxi Province became Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 1958.

GuizhouMostly found within the provinces of Huguang, Sichuan, and Yunnan before 1413.Guiyang 1413—present

Hainan

Part of Guangxi before 1369; part of Guangdong after 1369.Haikou 1949—1950 As Hainan Special Administrative Region.N/A 1950—1988 Part of Guangdong Province.Haikou 1988—present

Hebei

Administered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government before 1368. Briefly split between Henan and Shandong provinces, 1368—1369.Beiping 1369—1421 As Beiping Province.

N/A 1421—1669As Beizhili up to 1645; as Zhili after 1645. Administered directly by the central government, instead of a province.

Baoding 1669—1902As Zhili province.

Tianjin 1902—1928Beiping 1928—1930Tianjin 1930—1935Baoding 1935—1958Tianjin 1958—1968Shijiazhuang 1968—present

HeilongjiangN/A 1264—1368

Part of Liaoyang Province. "Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287.

Mongols, Manchus, and Ming China military garrisons in the area during the Ming Dynasty.Aigun 1683—1690 Area of control of the General of

Heilongjiang. Became Heilongjiang Province in 1907.

Nenjiang 1690—1699Qiqihar 1699—1907Qiqihar 1907—1931N/A 1931—1945 Part of Manchukuo.

Bei'an 1945—1949 As Heilongjiang Province (northwestern part of modern Heilongjiang)

Jiamusi As Hejiang Province (northeastern part of modern Heilongjiang)

Qiqihar As Nenjiang Province (southwestern part of

modern Heilongjiang)

Mudanjiang As Songjiang Province (southeastern part of modern Heilongjiang)

Qiqihar1949—1954

As Heilongjiang Province (western part of modern Heilongjiang)

Harbin As Songjiang Province (eastern part of modern Heilongjiang)

Harbin 1954—present New Heilongjiang formed from Songjiang + old Heilongjiang in 1954

Henan

Administered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government for the most part before 1291.

Kaifeng 1291—1954

Initially as Henanjiangbei Province, which included parts of modern Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei provinces. Given approximately modern borders and modern name in 1368.

Zhengzhou 1954—present

Hubei

N/A 1277—1664 Part of Huguang Province.Wuchang 1664—1927

Wuhan 1927—present Wuhan is the amalgamation of Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang.

HunanN/A 1277—1664 Part of Huguang Province.Changsha 1664—present

Inner Mongolia

See the history section of Inner Mongolia for the administrative entities of that region before 1947.Ulaanhot 1947—1950

As Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Hohhot 1950—present

Jiangsu Before 1356, modern Jiangsu was split between the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government, the province of Jianghuai, (from 1291) the province of Henanjiangbei, and (from 1354) the province of Huainanjiangbei.

N/A 1366—1644

As part of Zhili up to 1421; as part of Nanzhili after 1421. Administered directly by the central government, instead of a province.

N/A 1645—1661Part of Jiangnan Province, formed out of former Nanzhili in 1645. Split into Jiangsu and Anhui in 1661.

Suzhou 1661—1912?

Nanjing 1912?—1928Zhenjiang 1928—1949Yangzhou(north) 1949—1952 As North Jiangsu and South Jiangsu

administrative regions.Wuxi (south)Nanjing 1952—present

Jiangxi Nanchang 1277—present Included parts of modern Guangdong until 1369.

Jilin

N/A 1264—1368Part of Liaoyang Province. "Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287.

Mongols, Manchus, and Ming China military garrisons in the area during the Ming Dynasty.Ningguta 1662—1757 Area of control of the General of Ningguta

(up to 1757) or the General of Jilin (from 1757). Became Jilin Province in 1907.Jilin City 1757—1907

Jilin City 1907—1931N/A 1931—1945 Part of Manchukuo.Jilin City 1945—1954Changchun 1954—present

Liaoning

N/A 1264—1368Part of Liaoyang Province. "Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287.

Partially under Shandong province during the Ming Dynasty, until Manchu conquest c. 1618.

Shenyang 1662—1907 Area of control of the General of Shengjing. Became Fengtian Province in 1907.

Shenyang 1907—1931 Fengtian Province from 1907 to 1929; Liaoning Province from 1929 onwards.

N/A 1931—1945 Part of Manchukuo.

Shenyang

1945—1949

As Liaoning Province (central part of modern Liaoning)

Tonghua As Andong Province (eastern part of modern Liaoning; southern part of modern Jilin)

LiaoyuanAs Liaobei Province (northern part of modern Liaoning; western part of modern Jilin)

Jinzhou

1949—1954

As Liaoxi Province (western part of modern Liaoning)

DandongAs Liaodong Province (eastern part of modern Liaoning; southern part of modern Jilin). Dandong was then known as "Andong"

Shenyang 1954—present

Ningxia

Mostly part of Gansu Province (up to c. 1370); part of Shaanxi Province (up to 1667); part of Gansu Province (1667 onwards)Yinchuan 1928—1954 Ningxia Province split out of Gansu in 1928.N/A 1954—1958 Part of Gansu Province.

Yinchuan 1958—present Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region split out of Gansu in 1958.

Qinghai

Historically Oyirad Mongols in the north, Amdo and Kham Tibetans in the south. Overseen by commissioner stationed at Xining (then part of Gansu Province) during Qing Dynasty, early Republic of China (up to 1928).Xining 1928—present

Shaanxi Xi'an 1286—present

From 1260 to 1286, Shaanxi Province (and in some cases, a combined Shaanxi-Sichuan Province) was established and disbanded several times.

Shandong

Administered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government before c. 1357.Qingzhou 1357?—1377?Jinan 1377?—present

ShanxiAdministered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government before 1368.Taiyuan 1369—present

Sichuan

Chengdu 1286—1287

From 1260 to 1286, Sichuan Province (and in some cases, a combined Shaanxi-Sichuan Province) was established and disbanded several times.

Chongqing 1287—1289Chengdu 1289—1949Nanchong(north)

1949—1952 As North Sichuan, South Sichuan, East Sichuan and West Jiangsu administrative regions.Luzho

u(south)

Chongqing(east)Chengdu(west)Chengdu 1952—present

TaiwanN/A 1683—1887 Part of Fujian Province.Tainan 1887—1895

Tibet

Part of Yuan Dynasty up to fourteenth century; struggle between Sakyapa, Kagyüpa, later Gelukpa schools of Tibetan Buddhism up to seventeenth century, when Gelukpa becomes dominant.

Lhasa (1720's)—present

The Dalai Lamas (Gelukpa school) ruled over Ü-Tsang (or more) from Lhasa from 1642 onwards. Qing China began to assert control over Tibet in the 1720s until its fall in 1912; from 1912 to 1951 Tibet was self-ruling but recognized internationally as a part of China. Planning Committee for Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) from 1955 to 1965; TAR established in 1965.

Xinjiang

Ruled by Chagatai Khanate from thirteenth to fifteenth century; fragmented until eighteenth century when Qing China conquered the region. See History section of Xinjiang.

Yining 1762—1888

General of Ili, based in Yining, held administrative powers until 1888; central control lapsed during Yakub Beg's revolt from 1865, until his forces were defeated in 1881.

Urumqi 1884—present Xinjiang Province until 1955; Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from 1955.

Yunnan Kunming 1275—present

ZhejiangN/A 1289—1367 Part of Jiangzhe Province.Hangzhou 1367—present

Chahar

See Inner Mongolia for history before 1914.

Zhangjiakou 1914—1937 Chahar Special Administrative Region until 1928; province from 1928.

N/A 1937—1945 Part of Mengjiang.

Zhangjiakou 1945—1952 Disbanded in 1952, distributed into Hebei Province, Shanxi Province.

Huainanjiangbei Tianchang 1354—1364?

Established out of Henanjiangbei; disappeared with end of Yuan Dynasty (c. 1368). Found mainly in modern Jiangsu province.

HuguangChangsha 1277—1281

Wuchang 1281—1664 Split into Hubei and Hunan provinces in 1664

Jiangnan Nanjing 1645—1661

Converted from the directly administered Nanzhili region in 1645; split into Jiangsu and Anhui provinces in 1661. See also remarks at Jiangsu, Anhui entries.

Jiangzhe Hangzhou 1289—1367?

A province was established in the region in 1276; its seat was moved around and it was renamed several times, until settling upon Jiangzhe Province with seat at Hangzhou in 1289. Split into Zhejiang, Fujian Provinces by Ming Dynasty.

Jiaodong Laiyang 1364—1368?Established in the Shandong Peninsula; does not appear to have outlasted the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

Liaoyang Liaoyang 1264—1368?

"Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287. Lasted until the end of Yuan Dynasty (c. 1368); found today mostly in Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang.

Pingyuan Xinxiang 1949—1952Split out of Hebei, Shandong, Henan provinces in 1949; distributed into Henan, Shandong provinces in 1952.

Rehe

See Inner Mongolia for history before 1914.

Chengde 1914—1933 Rehe Special Administrative Region until 1928; province from 1928.

N/A 1933—1945 Part of Manchukuo.

Chengde 1945—1955Disbanded in 1955, distributed into Hebei Province, Liaoning Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Suiyuan See Inner Mongolia for history before 1914.

Hohhot 1914—1937 Suiyuan Special Administrative Region until 1928; province from 1928.

N/A 1937—1945 Part of Mengjiang.

Hohhot 1945—1954 Merged into Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 1954.

Xikang

Kangding 1914—1950 Chuanbian Special Region created in 1914, from western Sichuan and territory formerly ruled from Lhasa; it is roughly equivalent to southern Kham and southern Amdo. Converted into Xikang Province established in 1939; merged into Sichuan province in 1955. See also remarks at entries for Tibet, Sichuan.

Ya'an 1950—1955

Xing'an Hailar 1945—1947?

After the end of Manchukuo at the end of World War II, Xing'an Province was created from the northwestern part of Manchuria, which was administered by Heilongjiang province before the war. The region was superseded by Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Zhili; Beizhili;Nanzhili

Regions directly administered by the central government, not part of any province. "Zhili" (modern Jiangsu and Anhui) from 1366 to 1421; "Beizhili" (modern Hebei) and "Nanzhili" (modern Jiangsu, Anhui) from 1421 to 1645; "Zhili" (modern Hebei) from 1645 to 1669. Name kept for "Zhili Province" (modern Hebei) from 1669 to 1927. See also remarks at Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui entries.