Autonomous administrative divisions of China
An autonomous region, used in the context of China, translates for zizhiqu (自治区 zìzhìqū), which are province- (first-) level divisions with a designated ethnic minority. The equivalent of autonomous regions at the prefecture- (second-) and county- (third-) levels of local government are autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties, respectively. Autonomous regions, prefectures, and counties are covered under Section 6 of Chapter 3 (Articles 111-112) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.
Unlike provinces, the government of each autonomous region, prefecture, or county is headed by a chairman rather than a governor, who must be of the ethnic group as specified by the autonomous region (Tibetan, Uighur, etc). The constitution also guarantees a range of rights including: independence of finance, independence of economic planning, independence of arts, science and culture, organization of local police, and use of local language.
Autonomous regions, prefectures, and counties were established after communist takeover, following Soviet nationality policy. There are five autonomous regions in total. The first to be established was Inner Mongolia, created within communist-held territory in 1947, two years before the establishment of the People's Republic. Xinjiang was converted from a province to an autonomous region in 1955. Guangxi and Ningxia followed in 1957, and Tibet Autonomous Region was formally established in 1965.
| Name | Chinese (S) | pinyin | Designated minority | Local name | Abbreviation | Capital | List of county-level divisions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region | 广西壮族自治区 | Guǎngxī Zhuàngzú Zìzhìqū | Zhuang | Zhuang - Gvaŋзsiь Bouчcueŋь Sɯcigi |
桂 guì | Nanning | List of county-level divisions |
| Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region | 内蒙古自治区 | Nèiměnggǔ Zìzhìqū | Mongol | Mongolian - Öbür Mongghul-un Öbertegen Jasaqu Orun |
内蒙古 nèiměnggǔ | Hohhot | List of county-level divisions |
| Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region | 宁夏回族自治区 | Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū | Hui | (The Hui speak Chinese) | 宁 níng | Yinchuan | List of county-level divisions |
| Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region | 新疆维吾尔自治区 | Xīnjiāng Wéiwú'ěr Zìzhìqū | Uighur | Uighur - ?injaŋ Uyġur Aptonom Rayoni |
新 xīn | Urumqi | List of county-level divisions |
| Tibet Autonomous Region | 西藏自治区 | Xīzàng Zìzhìqū | Tibetan | Tibetan - བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས / Bod.raṅ.skyoṅ.ljoṅs |
藏 zàng | Lhasa | List of county-level divisions |