Autonomous Counties in China
The administrative status of autonomous counties in China is the same as that of ordinary counties. However, according to the provisions of the constitution of the People’s Republic of China, an autonomous county has more powers of self-government than an ordinary county. As of October 8, 2018, China has 117 ethnic autonomous counties.
Historical Development of Autonomous Counties in China
China is a large country with 56 ethnic groups, a population of over 1.3 billion and a land area of 9.6 million square kilometers.Over the past 60 years since the founding of new China, the practice has proved that the system of regional ethnic autonomy is suitable for China’s national conditions.
In August 1952, the central people’s government committee approved the outline for the implementation of regional ethnic autonomy adopted by the state council. According to the provisions of this outline for implementation, at that time, several levels of ethnic autonomous areas with administrative were established.
Autonomous counties are counties under the unified leadership of the state that exercise regional autonomy at the county level, establish organs of self-government and exercise the right of autonomy in areas where ethnic minorities live in compact communities.
Distribution of Autonomous Counties in China
North China(华北)
| Provincial Level | Prefectural Level | Autonomous Counties |
| Hebei(6) | Chengde | Weichang Manchu and Mongol Autonomous County(围场满族蒙古族自治县) |
| Fengning Manchu Autonomous County(丰宁满族自治县) | ||
| Kuancheng Manchu Autonomous County(宽城满族自治县) | ||
| Langfang | Dachang Hui Autonomous County(大厂回族自治县) | |
| Qinhuangdao | Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County(青龙满族自治县) | |
| Cangzhou | Mengcun Hui Autonomous County(孟村回族自治县) |
Northeast China(东北)
| Provincial Level | Prefectural Level | Autonomous Counties |
| Liaoning(9) | Chaoyang | Harqin Zuoyi Mongol Autonomous County(喀喇沁左翼蒙古族自治县) |
| Fuxin | Fuxin Mongol Autonomous County(阜新蒙古族自治县) | |
| Benxi | Benxi Manchu Autonomous County(本溪满族自治县) | |
| Huanren Manchu Autonomous County(桓仁满族自治县) | ||
| Dandong | Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County(宽甸满族自治县) | |
| Fushun | Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County(清原满族自治县) | |
| Xinbin Manchu Autonomous County(新宾满族自治县) | ||
| Anshan | Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County(岫岩满族自治县) | |
| Jilin(3) | Baishan | Changbai Korean Autonomous County(长白朝鲜族自治县) |
| Siping | Yitong Manchu Autonomous County(伊通满族自治县) | |
| Songyuan |
Qian Gorlos Mongol Autonomous County(前郭尔罗斯蒙古族自治县)
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| Heilongjiang(1) | Daqing | Dorbod Mongol Autonomous County(杜尔伯特蒙古族自治县) |
East China(华东)
| Provincial Level | Prefectural Level | Autonomous Counties |
| Zhejiang(1) | Lishui | Jingning She Autonomous County(景宁畲族自治县) |
Central and South China(中南地区)
Southwest China(西南地区)
| Provincial Level | Prefectural Level | Autonomous Counties |
| Chongqing(4) | Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County(石柱土家族自治县) | |
| Pengshui Miao and Tujia Autonomous County(彭水苗族土家族自治县) | ||
| Youyang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County(酉阳土家族苗族自治县) | ||
| Xiushan Tujia and Miao Autonomous County(秀山土家族苗族自治县) | ||
| Sichuan(4) | Leshan | Mabian Yi Autonomous County(马边彝族自治县) |
| Ebian Yi Autonomous County(峨边彝族自治县) | ||
| Mianyang | Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County(北川羌族自治县) | |
| Liangshan | Muli Tibetan Autonomous County(木里藏族自治县) | |
| Guizhou(11) | Bijie | Weining Yi, Hui, and Miao Autonomous County(威宁彝族回族苗族自治县) |
| Anshun | Guanling Buyei and Miao Autonomous County(关岭布依族苗族自治县) | |
| Zhenning Buyei and Miao Autonomous County(镇宁布依族苗族自治县) | ||
| Ziyun Miao and Buyei Autonomous County(紫云苗族布依族自治县) | ||
| Zunyi | Daozhen Gelao and Miao Autonomous County(道真仡佬族苗族自治县) | |
| Wuchuan Gelao and Miao Autonomous County(务川仡佬族苗族自治县) | ||
| Tongren | Yinjiang Tujia and Miao Autonomous County(印江土家族苗族自治县) | |
| Songtao Miao Autonomous County(松桃苗族自治县) | ||
| Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County(沿河土家族自治县) | ||
| Yuping Dong Autonomous County(玉屏侗族自治县) | ||
| Qiannan | Sandu Shui Autonomous County(三都水族自治县) | |
| Yunnan(29) | Kunming | Shilin Yi Autonomous County(石林彝族自治县) |
| Luquan Yi and Miao Autonomous County(禄劝彝族苗族自治县) | ||
| Xundian Hui and Yi Autonomous County(寻甸回族彝族自治县) | ||
| Yuxi | Yuanjiang Hani, Yi and Dai Autonomous County(元江哈尼族彝族傣族自治县) | |
| Xinping Yi and Dai Autonomous County(新平彝族傣族自治县) | ||
| Eshan Yi Autonomous County(峨山彝族自治县) | ||
| Lincang | Gengma Dai and Va Autonomous County(耿马傣族佤族自治县) | |
| Shuangjiang Lahu, Va, Blang and Dai Autonomous County(双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县) | ||
| Cangyuan Va Autonomous County(沧源佤族自治县) | ||
| Lijiang | Ninglang Yi Autonomous County(宁蒗彝族自治县) | |
| Yulong Naxi Autonomous County(玉龙纳西族自治县) | ||
| Puer | Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县) | |
| Ximeng Va Autonomous County(西盟佤族自治县) | ||
| Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County(孟连傣族拉祜族佤族自治县) | ||
| Ning’er Hani and Yi Autonomous County(宁洱哈尼族彝族自治县) | ||
| Jinggu Dai and Yi Autonomous County(景谷傣族彝族自治县) | ||
| Zhenyuan Yi, Hani and Lahu Autonomous County(镇沅彝族哈尼族拉祜族自治县) | ||
| Jiangcheng Hani and Yi Autonomous County(江城哈尼族彝族自治县) | ||
| Mojiang Hani Autonomous County(墨江哈尼族自治县) | ||
| Jingdong Yi Autonomous County(景东彝族自治县) | ||
| Honghe | Jinping Miao, Yao, and Dai Autonomous County(金平苗族瑶族傣族自治县) | |
| Pingbian Miao Autonomous County(屏边苗族自治县) | ||
| Hekou Yao Autonomous County(河口瑶族自治县) | ||
| Dali | Weishan Yi and Hui Autonomous County(巍山彝族回族自治县) | |
| Nanjian Yi Autonomous County(南涧彝族自治县) | ||
| Yangbi Yi Autonomous County(漾濞彝族自治县) | ||
| Nujiang | Lanping Bai and Pumi Autonomous County(兰坪白族普米族自治县) | |
| Gongshan Derung and Nu Autonomous County(贡山独龙族怒族自治县) | ||
| Diqing | Weixi Lisu Autonomous County(维西傈僳族自治县) |
Northwest China(西北地区)
Minority Discovery with China Dragon Tours
On this vast land, there are 55 ethnic minority groups who have colorful costumes, different flavors of food, unique etiquette, and a variety of festivals. They are mainly distributed in the southwest, northwest and northeast areas. The most popular destinations for minority discovery are Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Xinjiang and Tibet, which also boasts amazing natural scenery at the same time. Yunnan province has the largest number of ethnic population in China with 25 ethnic minorities. Join our minority discovery tours, and you definitely will have great fun by discovering the ethnic villages, enjoying the local performance and taking parting in the local big event.
Recommended Tours:
4 Days XishuangBanna Water Splashing Festival Celebration Tour
5 Days Guizhou Miao & Dong Minority Tour
6 Days Xilingol Grassland and Chengde Culture Tour from Beijing
9 Days Best Yunnan Minorities Discovery
16 Days Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi Minorities Discovery by Speed Train
Keep Reading
- Ethnic Culture in China
- Ethnic Minorities in China
- Distribution of Ethnic Minorities
- Ethnic Minority Food
- Ethnic Minority Festivals
- Autonomous Banner in China
- Autonomous Prefectures in China
- Autonomous Regions in China
- Ethnic Towns in China
- Ethnic Villages in China
- Policy and Regulation of Ethnic Minorities
