So far, the Chinese government has listed 99 cities as famous Chinese historical and cultural cities under key protection, including the capital cities chosen by the emperors of various dynasties, politically and economically important cities during ancient times, places where important historical events took place, cities enjoying great reputations for their rare cultural relics and historical remains, and those famous for exquisite art works. These preserved cities are a window for people today to review Chinese history. The 99 cities are:
Municipalities directly under the Central Government: Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing
Hebei Province: Baoding, Chengde, Zhengding and Handan cities
Shanxi Province: Datong City, and Pingyao, Xinjiang, Daixian and Qixian counties
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region: Hohhot City
Heilongjiang Province: Harbin City
Jilin Province: Jinlin and Ji’an cities
Liaoning Province: Shenyang City
Jiangsu Province: Nanjing, Xuzhou, Huai’an, Zhenjiang, Changshu, Suzhou and Yangzhou cities
Zhejiang Province: Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Quzhou and Linhai cities
Fujian Province: Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Zhangzhou cities, and Changting County
Jiangxi Province: Nanchang, Ganzhou and Jingdezhen cities
Anhui Province: Bozhou City, and Shexian and Shouxian counties
Shandong Province: Jinan, Qufu, Qingdao, Liaocheng, Zoucheng and Zibo cities
Henan Province: Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Anyang, Nanyang and Shangqiu cities, and Junxian County
Hubei Province: Wuhan, Jingzhou, Xiangfan, Suizhou and Zhongxiang cities
Hunan Province: Changsha and Yueyang cities
Guangdong Province: Guangzhou, Chaozhou, Zhaoqing, Foshan, Meizhou and Leizhou cities
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Guilin and Liuzhou cities
Hainan Province: Qiongshan City
Sichuan Province: Chengdu, Zigong, Yibin, Langzhong, Leshan, Dujiangyan and Luzhou cities
Yunnan Province: Kunming and Dali cities, and Lijiang, Jianshui and Weishan counties
Guizhou Province: Zunyi City and Zhenyuan County
Tibet Autonomous Region: Lhasa and Xigaze cities, and Gyangze County
Shaanxi Province: Xi’an, Yan’an, Hancheng, Yulin, Xianyang and Hanzhong cities
Gansu Province: Zhangye, Wuwei, Dunhuang and Tianshui cities
Qinghai Province: Tongren County
Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region: Yinchuan City
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: Kashi City