Administrative Divisions

According to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the administrative division of China is as follows:

1. The country is divided into provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government;

2. Provinces and autonomous regions are divided into autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties and cities; and

3. Counties and autonomous counties are divided into townships, ethnic townships and towns.
Municipalities directly under the Central Government and other large cities are divided into districts and counties. Autonomous prefectures are divided into counties, autonomous counties and cities.

All autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties are ethnic autonomous areas.

The state may establish special administrative regions when necessary.

Currently, there are 34 provincial-level administrative areas in China -- four municipalities directly under the Central Government, 23 provinces, five autonomous regions and two special administrative regions.