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)
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)

Provincial Level Prefectural Level Autonomous Counties
Hubei(2) Yichang   Changyang Tujia Autonomous County(长阳土家族自治县)
Wufeng Tujia Autonomous County(五峰土家族自治县)
Hunan(7)   Huaihua   Xinhuang Dong Autonomous County(新晃侗族自治县)
Zhijiang Dong Autonomous County(芷江侗族自治县)
Jingzhou Miao and Dong Autonomous County(靖州苗族侗族自治县)
Mayang Miao Autonomous County(麻阳苗族自治县)
Tongdao Dong Autonomous County(通道侗族自治县)
Shaoyang Chengbu Miao Autonomous County(城步苗族自治县)
Yongzhou Jianghua Yao Autonomous County(江华瑶族自治县)
Guangdong(3)   Qingyuan  Liannan Yao Autonomous County(连南瑶族自治县)
Lianshan Zhuang and Yao Autonomous County(连山壮族瑶族自治县)
Shaoguan  Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County(乳源瑶族自治县)
Guangxi(12)            Hechi     Bama Yao Autonomous County(巴马瑶族自治县)
Du’an Yao Autonomous County(都安瑶族自治县)
Dahua Yao Autonomous County(大化瑶族自治县)
Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County(环江毛南族自治县)
Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County(罗城仫佬族自治县)
Baise Longlin Various Nationalities Autonomous County(隆林各族自治县)
Liuzhou  Rongshui Miao Autonomous County(融水苗族自治县)
Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County(三江侗族自治县)
Guilin  Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County(恭城瑶族自治县)
Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County(龙胜各族自治县)
Hezhou Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County(富川瑶族自治县)
Laibin  Jinxiu Yao Autonomous County(金秀瑶族自治县)
Hainan(6)    Changjiang Li Autonomous County(昌江黎族自治县)
Baisha Li Autonomous County(白沙黎族自治县)
Ledong Li Autonomous County(乐东黎族自治县)
Lingshui Li Autonomous County(陵水黎族自治县)
Baoting Li and Miao Autonomous County(保亭黎族苗族自治县)
Qiongzhong Li and Miao Autonomous County(琼中黎族苗族自治县)

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)

Provincial Level Prefectural Level Autonomous Counties
Gansu(7)       Jiuquan  Aksay Kazakh Autonomous County(阿克塞哈萨克族自治县)
Subei Mongol Autonomous County(肃北蒙古族自治县)
Zhangye Sunan Yugur Autonomous County(肃南裕固族自治县)
Wuwei Bairi Tibetan Autonomous County(天祝藏族自治县)
Tianshui Zhangjiachuan Hui Autonomous County(张家川回族自治县)
Linxia  Dongxiang Autonomous County(东乡族自治县)
Jishishan Bonan, Dongxiang and Salar Autonomous County(积石山保安族东乡族撒拉族自治县)
Qinghai(7)       Xining Datong Hui and Tu Autonomous County(大通回族土族自治县)
Haidong    Huzhu Tu Autonomous County(互助土族自治县)
Hualong Hui Autonomous County(化隆回族自治县)
Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County(民和回族土族自治县)
Xunhua Salar Autonomous County(循化撒拉族自治县)
Haibei Menyuan Hui Autonomous County(门源回族自治县)
Huangnan Henan Mongol Autonomous County(河南蒙古族自治县)
Xinjiang(6)       Kashgar Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County(塔什库尔干塔吉克自治县)
Hami Barkol Kazakh Autonomous County(巴里坤哈萨克自治县)
Changji Mori Kazakh Autonomous County(木垒哈萨克自治县)
Bayingolin Yanqi Hui Autonomous County(焉耆回族自治县)
Ili Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County(察布查尔锡伯自治县)
Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County(和布克赛尔蒙古自治县)

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 YunnanGuizhouGuangxi, 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

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