Prefectures of China

Prefectures are one of four types of prefecture-level divisions in China, the second-level administrative division in the country. While at one time prefectures were the most common prefecture-level division, they are in the process of being abolished and only seven formally-designated prefectures remain.

Prefecture 地区 Dìqū

Category	Second level administrative division of a unitary state
Location	China
Number	7 prefectures
Populations	95,465 (Ngari) – 3,979,362 (Kaxgar)
Areas	46,755 km² (18,052 sq mi) (Daxing'anling) – 304,683 km² (117,639 sq mi) (Ngari)
Government	Various, Central Government
Subdivisions	Counties

Administrative divisions of China
Province-level (1st) Municipalities Provinces Autonomous regions Special administrative regions
Sub-provincial level Sub-provincial cities Sub-provincial autonomous prefectures Sub-provincial city districts
Prefecture-level (2nd) Prefectural cities Autonomous prefectures Leagues (Aimag) (abolishing) Prefectures (abolishing)
Sub-prefectural-level Sub-prefectural cities Provincial-controlled cities Provincial-controlled counties Provincial-controlled districts
County level (3rd) Counties Autonomous counties County-level cities Districts Ethnic districts Banners (Hoxu) Autonomous banners Shennongjia Forestry District Liuzhi Special District Wolong Special Administrative Region Workers and peasants districts (obsolete)
Analogous county level units Management areas Management committee
Township level (4th) Townships Ethnic townships Towns Subdistricts Subdistrict bureaux Sum Ethnic sum County-controlled districts County-controlled district bureaux (obsolete) Management committees Town-level city (pilot)
Analogous township level units Management areas Management committee Areas Farms area (Overseas Chinese Farm Region), Prison area, University towns, etc.
Village level (5th) (Grassroots Autonomous Organizations) Villages · Gaqa · Ranches Village Committees Communities Residential Committees
Others Regions Capital cities New areas Autonomous administrative divisions National Central Cities Special Economic Zones
History: before 1912, 1912–49, 1949–present Administrative division codes

The term "prefecture" is also used as a translation of three unrelated types of administrative divisions that were historically in use in China: the xian, the zhou, and the fu.

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