In a similar fashion to the former Soviet Union's titular nations, a number of areas associated with one or more ethnic minorities are designated as autonomous within the People's Republic of China (PRC). These areas are recognized in the PRC's constitution and are given a number of rights not accorded to other administrative divisions. Debate continues as to whether too much or too little autonomy has been granted or implemented. Due to Chinas large population and area, the political divisions of China have always consisted of several levels since ancient times. ... A province, in the context of China, is a translation of Sheng (Chinese: 省 ShÄ›ng), which is an administrative division of China. ... The Peoples Republic of China has created, following Soviet nationality policy, a number of administrative divisions designated as autonomous, although many disagree of their actual autonomy. ... Direct-controlled municipalities are the highest-level cities in China, with status equal to that of the provinces. ... This article talks about the special administrative regions set up by the Peoples Republic of China. ... Prefecture, in the context of China, is used to refer to several unrelated political divisions in both ancient and modern China. ... The Peoples Republic of China has created, following Soviet nationality policy, a number of administrative divisions designated as autonomous, although many disagree of their actual autonomy. ... A prefecture-level city (地级市 Pinyin: dìjí shì, literally region-level city) or prefecture-level municipality is an administrative division of the Peoples Republic of China, ranking below a province and above a county in Chinas administrative structure. ... A sub-provincial city (副省级城市), or vice-provincial city, in the Peoples Republic of China, is a prefecture-level city that is ruled by a province, but is administered independently in regard to economy and law. ... A league (Mongolian: chuulghan, Chinese: 盟, pinyin: méng) is an administrative unit in Inner Mongolia, Peoples Republic of China. ... In the context of Political divisions of China, county is the standard English translation of 县 (xiàn). ... The Peoples Republic of China has created, following Soviet nationality policy, a number of administrative divisions designated as autonomous, although many disagree of their actual autonomy. ... A county-level city (县级市 Pinyin: xiànjí shì) is a county-level administrative division of mainland China. ... A sub-prefecture-level city (副地級市), or vice-prefecture-level city, is an administrative division of China. ... District, in the context of China, is used to refer to several unrelated political divisions in both ancient and modern China. ... A banner (Mongolian: khoshuu, Chinese: 旗, pinyin: qí) is an administrative division of Inner Mongolia. ... The Peoples Republic of China has created, following Soviet nationality policy, a number of administrative divisions designated as autonomous, although many disagree of their actual autonomy. ... When referring to Political Divisions of China, township is the standard English translation of the Chinese 乡 (xiāng). ... When referring to Political Divisions of China, town is the standard English translation of the Chinese 鎮 (Simplified 镇) (zhèn; Wade-Giles chen4). ... The Subdistrict is one of the smallest Political_divisions_of_China. ... Sum in government refers to an administrative unit. ... The Peoples Republic of China has created, following Soviet nationality policy, a number of administrative divisions designated as autonomous, although many disagree of their actual autonomy. ... District, in the context of China, is used to refer to several unrelated political divisions in both ancient and modern China. ... Titular nation (титульная нация) was a term introduced in the Soviet Union to denote nations that give rise to titles of autonomous entities within the union: Soviet republics, autonomous republics, autonomous regions, etc. ... The Peoples Republic of China is a multi-ethnic unitary state and, as such, officially recognizes 55 ethnic minority groups within China together with the Han majority. ... An autonomous area is an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy. ... The Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China (中华人民共和国宪法; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó XiànfÇŽ) is the highest law within the Peoples Republic of China. ...

The PRC's autonomous areas may be found in the first (or top) to third levels of its national administrative divisions thus:

Although not named as autonomous areas, some third-level settlements and areas that are identified as county-level cities and county-level districts enjoy the same autonomy as autonomous areas. At the fourth ("township") level, 1 ethnic sumu and over 270 ethnic townships also exist, but are not considered to be autonomous and do not enjoy the laws pertaining to the larger ethnic autonomous areas. Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell and yin means sound. The most common variant of pinyin in use is called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... An autonomous region, used in the context of China, translates for zizhiqu (自治区 zìzhìqū), which are province_level divisions with a designated ethnic minority, and are guaranteed more rights under the constitution than provinces. ... A banner (Mongolian: khoshuu, Chinese: 旗, pinyin: qí) is an administrative division of Inner Mongolia. ... A county-level city (县级市 Pinyin: xiànjí shì) is a county-level administrative division of mainland China. ... The Peoples Republic of China has created, following Soviet nationality policy, a number of administrative divisions designated as autonomous, although many disagree of their actual autonomy. ...

As these autonomous areas were created by the PRC, they are not recognised by the Republic of China on Taiwan which ruled Mainland China before the PRC's creation. Motto: None Anthem(s): National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei City (de facto) Nanjing (de jure)1 Largest city Taipei City Official language(s) Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  - President Chen Shui-bian  - Vice President Annette Lu  - Premier Su Tseng-chang Establishment Xinhai Revolution   - Declared... The highlighted area in the map is what is commonly known as mainland China. Mainland China (Simplified Chinese: 中国大陆; Traditional Chinese: 中國大陸; pinyin: Zhōnggúo Dàlù; literally The Chinese Massive Landmass or Continental China) is an informal (disputed — see talk page) geographical term which is usually synonymous with the area...

Nomenclature

The names of most of the PRC's autonomous areas are made from linking together:

• the name of a geographical area;
• the name or names of the predominant ethnic minority or minorities;
• the word "Autonomous";
• a type of administrative division.

For instance:

In the Chinese name of the administrative area, the nationality name is always suffixed with -族 ("nationality"), unless both of the following conditions apply: the division is found in Xinjiang (or is Xinjiang); the nationality name consists of more than one syllable. This distinction is not reflected in translation into English. Guangxi (Zhuang: Gvangjsih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西; Traditional Chinese: 廣西; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ«; Wade-Giles: Kuang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangsi), full name Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Zhuang: Gvangjsih Bouxcuengh Swcigih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西壮族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 廣西壯族自治區; Pinyin: GuÇŽngxÄ« Zhuàngzú ZìzhìqÅ«) is a Zhuang autonomous region of... The Zhuang (Simplified Chinese: 壮族; Traditional Chinese: 壯族; Hanyu Pinyin: ; own name: BouчcueÅ‹ÑŒ/Bouxcuengh) are an ethnic group of people who mostly live in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. ... Guangxi (Simplified Chinese: 广西; Traditional Chinese: 廣西; pinyin: Guǎngxī; Wade-Giles: Kuang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangsi) is an autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture (Chinese: Déhóng DÇŽizú Jǐngpōzú zìzhìzhōu 德宏傣族景颇族自治州) is located in the west of Yunnan province in southwest China. ... The Dai (or the Thai peoples of China) is the officially recognized name of an ethnic group living in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture (both in southern Yunnan Province of China), and also in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar. ... The Jingpo or Kachin people (Chinese: 景颇族 Jǐngpōzú; own names: Jingpo, Tsaiva, Lechi) are an ethnic group who largely inhabit northern Myanmar (Kachin State). ... The Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture (Chinese: Déhóng DÇŽizú Jǐngpōzú zìzhìzhōu 德宏傣族景颇族自治州) is located in the west of Yunnan province in southwest China. ... Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, or Shizhu County for short(石柱土家族自治县 Pinyin: Shizhu Tujiazu Zizhixian) is located in southeastern Chongqing, China. ... The Tujia (土家族) are an ethnic group numbering about 8 million, living in the Wuling Mountains of Chinas Hunan and Hubei provinces. ... Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, or Shizhu County for short(石柱土家族自治县 Pinyin: Shízhù TÇ”jiāzú Zìzhìxiàn) is located in southeastern Chongqing, China. ... The Daur people are an ethnic group. ... For the county in Shanxi province, see Xinjiang County. ...

Some autonomous areas have more than one specified minority, which tend to be listed in the name of the prefecture, creating rather long names. Two autonomous counties simply use "Various Nationalities" in their names as placeholders, rather than listing out all of their designated ethnicities:

A few autonomous areas break the regular nomenclature pattern, because the name of the nationality is already contained within the geographical name, or because there is no geographical name: Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (simplified Chinese: 恩施土家族苗族自治州; pinyin: Ä’nshÄ« TÇ”jiāzú Miáozú Zìzhìzhōu) List of Hubei County-level divisions Categories: | ... The Tujia (土家族) are an ethnic group numbering about 8 million, living in the Wuling Mountains of Chinas Hunan and Hubei provinces. ... The Hmong, also known as Miao (Chinese: 苗: Miáo; Vietnamese: Mẹo or Hmông; Thai: ม้ง (mong) or แม้ว (maew)), are an Asian ethnic group whose homeland is in the mountainous regions of southern China (especially Guizhou) that cross into northern Southeast... The Lahu people (Chinese: 拉祜族 Lāhùzú; own names: Ladhulsi or Kawzhawd) are an ethnic group. ... The Va nationality (also spelled Wa; Chinese: 佤族 WÇŽzú; own names: Va, Ava, Parauk, i. ... The Blang (布朗族 : BùlÇŽng Zú) (also spelled Bulong) people are an ethnic group. ... The Dai (or the Thai peoples of China) is the officially recognized name of an ethnic group living in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture (both in southern Yunnan Province of China), and also in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar. ... The Hmong, also known as Miao (Chinese: 苗: Miáo; Vietnamese: Mẹo or Hmông; Thai: ม้ง (mong) or แม้ว (maew)), are an Asian ethnic group whose homeland is in the mountainous regions of southern China (especially Guizhou) that cross into northern Southeast... See Yi royal family for the royal family of Korea. ... The Gelao people (own name: Klau, Chinese: 仡佬族 Gēlǎozú) are an ethnic group. ... Dong Minority Bridge, Chenyang, Guangxi, China. ... The Yao nationality (瑶族, Pinyin: Yáo zú; Vietnamese: người Dao) are an ethnic group. ... The Hmong, also known as Miao (Chinese: 苗: Miáo; Vietnamese: Mẹo or Hmông; Thai: ม้ง (mong) or แม้ว (maew)), are an Asian ethnic group whose homeland is in the mountainous regions of southern China (especially Guizhou) that cross into northern Southeast...

The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) (Tibetan: བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས་; Wylie: Bod-rang-skyong-ljongs; Simplified Chinese: 西藏自治区; Traditional Chinese: 西藏自治區; Pinyin: XÄ«zàng ZìzhìqÅ«), is a province-level autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... Ethnolinguistic Groups of Tibet, 1967 ( See entire map, which includes a key) Ethnic Tibetan autonomous entities set up by the Peoples Republic of China. ... Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: ᠥᠪᠦᠷ ᠮᠣᠨᠺᠤᠯᠤᠨ ᠥᠪᠡᠷᠲᠡᠺᠡᠨ ᠵᠠᠰᠠᠬᠤ ᠣᠷᠤᠨ r Mongghul-un bertegen Jasaqu Orun; Chinese: 内蒙古自治区; Hanyu Pinyin: N... Ethnic Mongols in China (Chinese: 蒙古族) are citizens of the Peoples Republic of China who are ethnic Mongols. ... The Dongxiang people (autonym: Sarta or Santa (撒尔塔); Simplified Chinese: 东乡族 Traditional Chinese︰東鄉族; Pinyin: Dōngxiāngzú) are one of 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Evenks (obsolete: Tungus, autonym: Эвэнки) are a nomadic Tungusic people, one of the Northern Indigenous Peoples (pop. ... The Oroqin people(鄂伦春族) are an ethnic group in northern China. ...

Legal basis

Autonomous regions, prefectures, counties, and banners are covered under Section 6 of Chapter 3 (Articles 111-122) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, and with more detail under the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy (《中华人民共和国民族区域自治法》). The constitution states that the head of government of each autonomous areas must be of the ethnic group as specified by the autonomous area (Tibetan, Uyghur, etc). The constitution also guarantees a range of rights including: independence of finance, independence of economic planning, independence of arts, science and culture, organization of local police, and use of local language. In addition, the head of government of each autonomous region is known as a "chairman", unlike provinces, where they are known as "governors". The Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China (中华人民共和国宪法; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó XiànfÇŽ) is the highest law within the Peoples Republic of China. ... Ethnolinguistic Groups of Tibet, 1967 ( See entire map, which includes a key) Ethnic Tibetan autonomous entities set up by the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Uyghur (Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر; Uighur Simplified Chinese: 维吾尔; Traditional Chinese: 維吾爾; Pinyin: Wéiwúěr; Turkish: Uygur) are a Turkic people, forming one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the Peoples Republic of China. ...

Demographics

Of the five autonomous regions, only Tibet has an absolute majority (>50%) of the designated majority, namely, the Tibetans. Xinjiang has a relative majority (<50%) of the designated majority, the Uyghurs, though this is disputed by Uyghur independence advocates, who claim that the Han Chinese population in Xinjiang has been severely understated. The remaining 3 autonomous regions have absolute majorities of Han Chinese, the majority ethnicity of China. The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) (Tibetan: བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས་; Wylie: Bod-rang-skyong-ljongs; Simplified Chinese: 西藏自治区; Traditional Chinese: 西藏自治區; Pinyin: Xīzàng Zìzhìqū), is a province-level autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... Ethnolinguistic Groups of Tibet, 1967 ( See entire map, which includes a key) Ethnic Tibetan autonomous entities set up by the Peoples Republic of China. ... For the county in Shanxi province, see Xinjiang County. ... The Uyghur (Uyghur: ئۇيغۇر; Uighur Simplified Chinese: 维吾尔; Traditional Chinese: 維吾爾; Pinyin: Wéiwúěr; Turkish: Uygur) are a Turkic people, forming one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the Peoples Republic of China. ... Han Chinese (Simplified Chinese: 汉族; Traditional Chinese: 漢族; Pinyin: hànzú) is a term which refers to the majority ethnic group within China and the largest single human ethnic group in the world. ...

History

Autonomous regions, prefectures, counties, and banners were established after communist takeover, following Soviet practice. At first, the nomenclature of these autonomous areas were somewhat confused, with autonomous regions appearing at the province, prefecture, county, and township levels. Eventually the nomenclature was standardized to the conventions used today.

The first autonomous region to be established was Inner Mongolia, created within communist-held territory in 1947, two years before the establishment of the People's Republic. Xinjiang was converted from a province to an autonomous region in 1955. Guangxi and Ningxia followed in 1957, and Tibet Autonomous Region was formally established in 1965. Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: &#6181;&#6186;&#6182;&#6199; &#6190;&#6179;&#6184;&#6202;&#6180;&#6191;&#6180;&#6184; &#6181;&#6186;&#6177;&#6199;&#6194;&#6177;&#6202;&#6177;&#6184; &#6197;&#6176;&#6192;&#6176;&#6188;&#6180; &#6179;&#6199;&#6180;&#6184; r Mongghul-un bertegen Jasaqu Orun; Chinese: &#20869;&#33945;&#21476;&#33258;&#27835;&#21306;; Hanyu Pinyin: N... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... For the county in Shanxi province, see Xinjiang County. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Guangxi (Zhuang: Gvangjsih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西; Traditional Chinese: 廣西; Pinyin: Guǎngxī; Wade-Giles: Kuang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangsi), full name Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Zhuang: Gvangjsih Bouxcuengh Swcigih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西壮族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 廣西壯族自治區; Pinyin: Guǎngxī Zhuàngzú Zìzhìqū) is a Zhuang autonomous region of... Ningxia (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏; Pinyin: Níngxià; Wade-Giles: Ning-hsia; Postal Pinyin: Ningsia), full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏回族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏回族自治區; Pinyin: Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū), is a Hui autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China, located on the northwest Loess... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) (Tibetan: བོད་རང་སྐྱོང་ལྗོངས་; Wylie: Bod-rang-skyong-ljongs; Simplified Chinese: 西藏自治区; Traditional Chinese: 西藏自治區; Pinyin: Xīzàng Zìzhìqū), is a province-level autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ...

Opinions

Autonomous administrative areas, as well as the various rights granted to them, are affirmed by the government as a positive example of local self-rule in ethnic areas, and an acknowledgement of minority self-determination unprecedented in Chinese history. It is argued that these autonomous areas have facilitated the preservation and development of non-Han Chinese cultures while maintaining the territorial integrity of China.

However, they have also drawn criticism from various groups. Some have questioned the necessity of setting up autonomous areas in areas where the designated ethnicity is actually a minority (true for 3 out of the 5 autonomous regions: Inner Mongolia, Guangxi, and Ningxia). They also point out that autonomous regions pursue affirmative action policies which are viewed as discriminatory, such as less preferential treatment in school admissions and government employment opportunities for Han Chinese; this is viewed as unfair reverse discrimination, especially in areas where Han Chinese are actually the majority. Finally, some contend that the existence of these autonomous areas, and the extra privileges they enjoy, are a danger to national unity. Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: &#6181;&#6186;&#6182;&#6199; &#6190;&#6179;&#6184;&#6202;&#6180;&#6191;&#6180;&#6184; &#6181;&#6186;&#6177;&#6199;&#6194;&#6177;&#6202;&#6177;&#6184; &#6197;&#6176;&#6192;&#6176;&#6188;&#6180; &#6179;&#6199;&#6180;&#6184; r Mongghul-un bertegen Jasaqu Orun; Chinese: &#20869;&#33945;&#21476;&#33258;&#27835;&#21306;; Hanyu Pinyin: N... Guangxi (Zhuang: Gvangjsih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西; Traditional Chinese: 廣西; Pinyin: Guǎngxī; Wade-Giles: Kuang-hsi; Postal System Pinyin: Kwangsi), full name Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Zhuang: Gvangjsih Bouxcuengh Swcigih; old orthography: ; Simplified Chinese: 广西壮族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 廣西壯族自治區; Pinyin: Guǎngxī Zhuàngzú Zìzhìqū) is a Zhuang autonomous region of... Ningxia (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏; Pinyin: Níngxià; Wade-Giles: Ning-hsia; Postal Pinyin: Ningsia), full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Simplified Chinese: 宁夏回族自治区; Traditional Chinese: 寧夏回族自治區; Pinyin: Níngxià Huízú Zìzhìqū), is a Hui autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China, located on the northwest Loess... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Han Chinese (Simplified Chinese: 汉族; Traditional Chinese: 漢族; Pinyin: hànzú) is a term which refers to the majority ethnic group within China and the largest single human ethnic group in the world. ... Reverse discrimination is a term used to describe discriminatory policies or acts that benefit a historically sociopolitically nondominant group (typically women and minorities), at the expense of a historically sociopolitically dominant group (typically men and majority races). ...

Conversely, some have said that autonomous areas offer little or no actual autonomy, as officials (minority or not) are appointed from above rather than elected democratically by the people. In particular, advocates for Tibetan, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolian independence would view the autonomous regions as facades of so-called autonomy that belie actual policies of repression and assimilation. In addition, real power within the autonomous area lies with the local Communist Party committee secretary (who is usually Han Chinese) rather than the head of government who is required to be of the designated minority. Also, the ranks of government may become filled with Han Chinese, since only the head of government needs to be of the designated minority. This article is becoming very long. ... For the county in Shanxi province, see Xinjiang County. ... Inner Mongolia (Mongolian: &#6181;&#6186;&#6182;&#6199; &#6190;&#6179;&#6184;&#6202;&#6180;&#6191;&#6180;&#6184; &#6181;&#6186;&#6177;&#6199;&#6194;&#6177;&#6202;&#6177;&#6184; &#6197;&#6176;&#6192;&#6176;&#6188;&#6180; &#6179;&#6199;&#6180;&#6184; r Mongghul-un bertegen Jasaqu Orun; Chinese: &#20869;&#33945;&#21476;&#33258;&#27835;&#21306;; Hanyu Pinyin: N... In the social sciences, assimilation is the process of integration whereby immigrants, or other minority groups, are absorbed into a generally larger community. ... Han Chinese (Simplified Chinese: 汉族; Traditional Chinese: 漢族; Pinyin: hànzú) is a term which refers to the majority ethnic group within China and the largest single human ethnic group in the world. ...