Yangtze Delta

Megalopolis in East China

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Megalopolis

Yangtze Delta

长江三角洲城市群

Megalopolis

Map of Yangtze Delta city belt

Coordinates: 32°10′33″N 119°25′51″E﻿ / ﻿32.1759°N 119.4307°E﻿ / 32.1759; 119.4307
Provincial|

* Shanghai
* Jiangsu
* Zhejiang
* Anhui
* Jiangxi

Major cities| Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Ningbo, Wuxi, Nantong, Shaoxing, Changzhou, Jinhua, Jiaxing, Taizhou, Yangzhou, Yancheng, Taizhou, Zhenjiang, Huzhou, Huai'an, Zhoushan, Quzhou, Jiujiang, Hefei
Government

• Shanghai| Gong Zheng[1]
• Jiangsu| Xu Kunlin
• Zhejiang| Wang Hao
• Anhui| Wang Qingxian
Area

• Total

| 350,000 km2 (140,000 sq mi)
Population

(2020)

• Total

| c. 240,000,000
• Density| 700/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
GDP

• Total| CN¥33.170 trillion
(US$4.657 trillion) (2024)[2]
Time zone| UTC+8 (CST)
Yangtze Delta

Simplified Chinese| 长江三角洲
Traditional Chinese| 長江三角洲
Hanyu Pinyin| Chángjiāng sānjiǎozhōuⓘ
Romanization| Zankaon Saekohtseu
Yangtze River Delta Economic Region[3]

The Yangtze Delta or Yangtze River Delta (YRD[a]), once known as the Shanghai Economic Zone, is a megalopolis generally comprising most parts of Shanghai, southern Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang, and southern Anhui. The area lies in the heart of the Jiangnan region (literally meaning "south of the Yangtze"), where the Yangtze drains into the East China Sea. Historically, the fertile delta fed much of China’s population, allowing cities and commerce to flourish. Today, it is one of China’s most important metropolitan areas and is home to China’s financial center, as well being as a tourist destination and a hub for manufacturing ranging from textile to automaking. In 2024, the Yangtze Delta had a GDP of approximately US$4.7 trillion[2] (about the same size as Germany).

The urban buildup in the area has given rise to what may be the largest concentration of adjacent metropolitan areas in the world. It covers 350,000 km2 (140,000 sq mi) and is home to over 240 million people, about a sixth of China's population. With a fourth of the country's GDP, the YRD is one of the fastest growing and richest regions in East Asia.

## History

[edit]

Further information: Jiangnan

The Neolithic Liangzhu culture was based in this region, and in the Eastern Zhou period it was home to the powerful states of Wu, based in Suzhou, and Yue, based in the Shaoxing area. Nanjing first served as a capital in the Three Kingdoms period as the capital of Eastern Wu (AD 229–280). In the fourth century CE the Eastern Jin dynasty (AD 317–420) moved its capital here after losing control of the north and its capital Jiankang (present-day Nanjing) became a major cultural, economic, and political hub. During the mid to late period of the Tang dynasty (618-907), the region emerged as an economic hub, and by the late Tang the Delta became the Empire's foremost important agricultural, handicraft industrial and economic hub.

Hangzhou served as the Chinese capital during the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Then called Lin'an, it became the biggest city in East Asia with a population more than 1.5 million, and one of the most prosperous cities in the world, which it remained after the Mongol conquest. At the same time, Ningbo became one of the two biggest seaports in East Asia along with Quanzhou (in Fujian province). Nanjing was the early capital of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) and the region remained the most important economic region of the empire even after the Yongle Emperor moved the capital to Beijing in 1421.

During the mid-late Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the first bud of capitalism[4] of East Asia was born and developed in this area, although it was disrupted by the Manchu invasion and controlled strictly and carefully by the Confucian central government in Beijing, it continued its development slowly throughout the rest of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the delta again blossomed into a large socioeconomic hub.[5]

During the Qianlong era (1735-1796) of the Qing dynasty, Shanghai began developing rapidly and became the largest port in the Far East. From late 19th century to early 20th century, Shanghai was the foremost commercial hub in the Far East. The Yangtze Delta became the first industrialized area in China.[6] In the middle and late feudal society of China, the Yangtze River Delta region initially formed a considerable urban agglomeration.

After the Chinese economic reform program which began in 1978, Shanghai again became the most important economic region in Mainland China. In modern times, the Yangtze Delta metropolitan region is anchored by Shanghai, and also flanked by the major metropolitan areas of Hangzhou, Suzhou, Ningbo, and Nanjing, home to nearly 105 million people (of which an estimated 80 million are urban residents). It is the heart of China's economic development, surpassing other concentrations of metropolitan areas (including the Pearl Delta) in China in terms of economic growth, productivity and per capita income.

In 1982, the Chinese government set up the Shanghai Economic Area. Besides Shanghai, four cities in Jiangsu (Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Nantong) and five cities in Zhejiang (Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Huzhou, Ningbo) were included. In 1992, a 14-city cooperative joint meeting was launched. Besides the previous 10 cities, the members included Nanjing, Zhenjiang and Yangzhou in Jiangsu, and Zhoushan in Zhejiang. In 1997, the regular joint meeting resulted in the establishment of the Yangtze Delta Economic Coordination Association, which included a new member Taizhou in Jiangsu in that year. In 1997, Taizhou in Zhejiang also joined the association. In 2003, the association accepted six new members after a six-year observation and review, including Yancheng and Huai'an in Jiangsu, Jinhua and Quzhou in Zhejiang, and Ma'anshan and Hefei in Anhui. In 2019, the area expanded to include the entirety of Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.[7]

## Demographics

[edit]

The delta is one of the most densely populated regions on earth, and includes one of the world's largest cities on its banks — Shanghai, with a density of 2,700 inhabitants per square kilometre (7,000/sq mi). Because of the large population of the delta, and factories, farms, and other cities upriver, the World Wide Fund for Nature says the Yangtze Delta is the biggest cause of marine pollution in the Pacific Ocean.[8]

Most of the people in this region speak Wu Chinese (sometimes called Shanghainese, although Shanghainese is actually one of the dialects within the Wu group of Chinese) as their mother tongue, in addition to Mandarin. Wu is mutually unintelligible with other varieties of Chinese, including Mandarin.

## Geography

[edit]

### Metropolitan areas

[edit]

Metropolitan area | Chinese | Cities | Population

|
|
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Greater Shanghai Metropolitan Area[9] | 上海大都市圈[10] | Shanghai | [7]
Nanjing Metropolitan Area  | 南京都市圈  | Nanjing | [7]
Hangzhou Metropolitan Area  | 杭州都市圈  | Hangzhou | [7]
Suxichang Metropolitan Area  | 苏锡常都市圈  | Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou | [7]
Hefei Metropolitan area  | 合肥都市圈  | Hefei | [7]
Ningbo Metropolitan Area  | 宁波都市圈  | Ningbo | [7]

### Cities

[edit]

See also: List of cities in Yangtze Delta

Central areas include Shanghai, Nanjing, Jiujiang, Wuxi, Changzhou, Suzhou, Nantong, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Yancheng, Taizhou (Jiangsu), Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Jinhua, Zhoushan, Taizhou (Zhejiang), Hefei, Wuhu, Maanshan, Tongling, Anqing, Chuzhou, Chizhou, Xuancheng.[7]

City  | Area km2 | Population (2020) | GDP (CN¥)[11] | GDP (US$)

|
|
|
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Shanghai | 6,341 | 26,875,500 | CN¥ 4,465 billion | US$ 663.9 billion
Suzhou | 8,488 | 12,748,252 | CN¥ 2,396 billion | US$ 356.0 billion
Hangzhou | 16,821 | 11,936,010 | CN¥ 1,875 billion | US$ 279.0 billion
Nanjing | 6,587 | 9,314,685 | CN¥ 1,691 billion | US$ 242.7 billion
Ningbo | 9,816 | 9,618,000 | CN¥ 1,570 billion | US$ 233.5 billion
Wuxi | 4,628 | 7,462,135 | CN¥ 1,485 billion | US$ 221.0 billion
Nantong | 8,544 | 7,726,635 | CN¥ 1,138 billion | US$ 169.2 billion
Changzhou | 4,385 | 5,278,121 | CN¥ 955 billion | US$ 142.0 billion
Shaoxing | 8,279 | 5,270,977 | CN¥ 735 billion | US$ 109.9 billion
Taizhou (Jiangsu) | 5,787 | 4,512,762 | CN¥ 640 billion | US$ 94.7 billion
Yangzhou | 6,626 | 4,559,797 | CN¥ 711 billion | US$ 93.4 billion
Jiaxing | 4,009 | 5,400,868 | CN¥ 551 billion | US$ 73.6 billion
Zhenjiang | 3,837 | 3,210,418 | CN¥ 502 billion | US$ 72.0 billion
Taizhou (Zhejiang) | 9,411 | 6,662,888 | CN¥ 356 billion | US$ 57.1 billion
Huzhou | 5,818 | 3,367,579 | CN¥ 272 billion | US$ 40.7 billion
Zhoushan | 1,378 | 1,157,817 | CN¥ 151 billion | US$ 20.0 billion
Yangtze River Delta
Economic Region | 110,755 | 125,300,444 | CN¥ 19.493 trillion |  US$ 2.869 trillion

## Geology

[edit]

See also: Jianghai Plain

### Coastal erosion

[edit]

The Three Gorge Dam has huge impacts on both upstream and downstream. Since 2003, the Yangtze River delta front has experienced severe erosion and significant sediment coarsening.[12]

### Subaqueous delta

[edit]

The Yangtze River derived sediment has not really dispersed across the East China Sea continental shelf, instead, an elongated (~800 km) distal subaqueous mud wedge (up to 60 m thick) extending from the Yangtze River mouth southward off the Zhejiang and Fujian coasts into the Taiwan Strait.[13][14]

## Culture

[edit]

The Yangtze River Delta is both a geographical and a socio-economic region, characterised by shared or similar cultural traditions and historical experiences. Distinct regional cultures, such as Hui, Huaiyang, Wuyue, Shanghai-style, and Chu-Han, each retain their own identities while also influencing and merging with one another, contributing to the diverse culture of the Delta. The region’s rich cultural heritage has played a role in supporting its economic development, helping it become one of China’s most economically dynamic areas, with high levels of openness and innovation.[15]

## Economy

[edit]

The area of the Yangtze Delta incorporates more than twenty relatively developed cities in three provinces. The term can be generally used to refer to the entire region extending as far north as Lianyungang, Jiangsu and as far south as Wenzhou, Zhejiang.

### Fishing and agriculture

[edit]

The Yangtze Delta contains the most fertile soils in all of China.[16] Rice is the dominant crop of the delta, but further inland fishing rivals it. In Qing Pu, 50 ponds, containing five different species of fish, produce 29,000 tons of fish each year. One of the biggest fears of fish farmers in this region is that toxic water will seep into their man-made lagoons and threaten their livelihood.

## Governance

[edit]

Yangtze Delta regional cooperation requires effort from governments of Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi.[17]

They've gradually established a three-tier model of governance on increased regional cooperation:

* Leadership: Symposium of Governors of YRD Area (长三角地区主要领导座谈会)
* Coordination: Joint Conference on Cooperation and Development of YRD Area (长三角地区合作与发展联席会议)
* Operation:
* Offices of the Joint Conference (联席会议办公室)
* Office of YRD Regional Cooperation[18] (长三角区域合作办公室)
* Specialized Task Forces (专题合作组)

There is also a conference with longer history for economical cooperation:

* Coordinative Conference on Economy for Cities in YRD (长三角城市经济协调会, since 1992)
* Joint Conference of Mayors (市长联席会议)
* Office of the Coordination Society (协调会办公室)

### Plans

[edit]

* Outline of the Regional Integration Development Plan of the Yangtze River Delta[7]

## Transportation

[edit]

The region has a well-developed transport infrastructure, with one of the highest rates of private vehicle ownership in China. Traffic regulations in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang are also comparatively stricter than in other parts of the country.[19] Major shipping and trade hubs, such as the Port of Shanghai and the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, are located here; these ports are the largest in the world for container and cargo handling, respectively. The area is also home to the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, the world’s longest cross-sea bridge at 36 km, and has the densest network of rapid transit railways, spanning 12 lines.

## Climate

[edit]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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Shanghai

Climate chart (explanation)

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102

170

156

158

137

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
| Imperial conversion

J| F| M| A| M| J| J| A| S| O| N| D

2.2

3.9

3.5

6.7

6.2

6.2

5.4

2.5

1.8

1.5

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

The Yangtze Delta has a marine monsoon subtropical climate, with hot and humid summers, cool and dry winters, and warm spring and fall. Winter temperatures can drop as low as -10 °C (a record), however, and even in springtime, large temperature fluctuations can occur.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ zh

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "共享"五五购物节"！上海市委书记和代市长面向全球推介邀约". 澎湃新闻网.
2. ^ a b see China national data "regional - quarterly by province - national accounts - gross regional product" (Press release). China NBS. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
3. ^ "Economic and Technological Development Zones", www.china-briefing.com, July 15, 2014
4. ^ Liu, Rifeng (1996). "CQVIP".
5. ^ Niu, Tingting; Li, Ruibin (April 20, 2022). Chaudhary, Gopal (ed.). "A Study on the Influence of Traditional Architectural Elements on the Urban Context from the Perspective of Perception: Taking the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Bohai Rim as Examples". Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience. 2022: 1–14\. doi:10.1155/2022/1744411. ISSN 1687-5273. PMC 9045971. PMID 35498203.
6. ^ "江南文化：长三角城市群的成长基因". www.qstheory.cn. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "中共中央 国务院印发《长江三角洲区域一体化发展规划纲要》". 中华人民共和国政府.
8. ^ Daoji, Li; Daler, Dag (2004). "Ocean Pollution from Land-Based Sources: East China Sea, China". Ambio. 33 (1/2): 107–113\. Bibcode:2004Ambio..33..107D. doi:10.1579/0044-7447-33.1.107. ISSN 0044-7447. JSTOR 4315461. PMID 15083656. S2CID 12289116.
9. ^ "Rich regions eye Greater Shanghai Metropolitan Area, but is it a bridge too far?". South China Morning Post. June 10, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
10. ^ "从"1+8"到"1+13"，重新认识上海大都市圈". 上海市规划和自然资源局. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
11. ^ The GDP figures are from the statistical bulletin on 2022 national economic and social development published by the statistical agencies of relevant cities, see"2022年GDP100强城市榜：江苏13市均超4000亿，10强有变化". yicai.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
12. ^ Luo, X. X.; Yang, S. L.; Wang, R. S.; Zhang, C. Y.; Li, P. (February 1, 2017). "New evidence of Yangtze delta recession after closing of the Three Gorges Dam". Scientific Reports. 7 (1): 41735. Bibcode:2017NatSR...741735L. doi:10.1038/srep41735. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5286395. PMID 28145520.
13. ^ Liu, J.P.; Li, A.C.; Xu, K.H.; Veiozzi, D.M.; Yang, Z.S.; Milliman, J.D.; DeMaster, D. (2006). "Sedimentary features of the Yangtze River-derived along-shelf clinoform deposit in the East China Sea". Cont. Shelf Res. 26 (17–18): 2141–2156\. Bibcode:2006CSR....26.2141L. doi:10.1016/j.csr.2006.07.013.17–18&rft.pages=2141-2156&rft.date=2006&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/j.csr.2006.07.013&rft_id=info:bibcode/2006CSR....26.2141L&rft.au=Liu,+J.P.&rft.au=Li,+A.C.&rft.au=Xu,+K.H.&rft.au=Veiozzi,+D.M.&rft.au=Yang,+Z.S.&rft.au=Milliman,+J.D.&rft.au=DeMaster,+D.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Yangtze+Delta" class="Z3988">
14. ^ Liu, J.P.; Xu, K.H.; Li, A.C.; Milliman, J.D.; Velozzi, D.M.; Xiao, S.B.; Yang, Z.S. (2007). "Flux and fate of Yangtze river sediment delivered to the East China Sea". Geomorphology. 85 (3–4): 208–224\. Bibcode:2007Geomo..85..208L. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.03.023.3–4&rft.pages=208-224&rft.date=2007&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.03.023&rft_id=info:bibcode/2007Geomo..85..208L&rft.au=Liu,+J.P.&rft.au=Xu,+K.H.&rft.au=Li,+A.C.&rft.au=Milliman,+J.D.&rft.au=Velozzi,+D.M.&rft.au=Xiao,+S.B.&rft.au=Yang,+Z.S.&rft_id=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.03.023.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Yangtze+Delta" class="Z3988">
15. ^ "长三角文化与区域一体化". 中国社会科学院.
16. ^ Zhang, Xiangling; Li, Yan; Wang, Genmei; Zhang, Huanchao; Yu, Ruisi; Li, Ning; Zheng, Jiexiang; Yu, Ye (January 2022). "Soil Quality Assessment in Farmland of a Rapidly Industrializing Area in the Yangtze Delta, China". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 19 (19): 12912. doi:10.3390/ijerph191912912. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 9566700. PMID 36232210.
17. ^ "上海市首提"长三角一体化发展示范区"". www.guancha.cn. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
18. ^ "Joint office to help guide Yangtze River Delta area". english.gov.cn. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
19. ^ Ma, Lin; Wu, Manhua; Tian, Xiujuan; Zheng, Guanheng; Du, Qinchuan; Wu, Tian (July 19, 2019). "China's Provincial Vehicle Ownership Forecast and Analysis of the Causes Influencing the Trend". Sustainability. 11 (14): 3928. doi:10.3390/su11143928. ISSN 2071-1050.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yangtze Delta.

*   * Economic profile for the Yangtze River Delta — at HKTDC—Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
* Asian Times: "Growth cools in Yangtze River region"
* Golden Triangle extending to become a parallelogram? (in Chinese) (Translate to English: Google, Bing, Yandex)
* Constructing the next world megacity: The Yangtze Delta (in Chinese) (Translate to English: Google, Bing, Yandex)

* v
* t
* e

Yangtze Delta metropolitan regions

Economic Zone

Shanghai Metropolitan Area|

* Shanghai
* Suzhou
* Wuxi
* Nantong
* Ningbo
* Jiaxing
* Zhoushan

Yangtze River Delta

Jiangsu Yangtze Metropolitan Belt|

* Nanjing
* Suzhou
* Wuxi
* Nantong
* Zhenjiang
* Changzhou
* Taizhou
* Yangzhou
* Lianyungang

Zhejiang Hangzhou Greater Bay Area|

* Hangzhou
* Ningbo
* Huzhou
* Jiaxing
* Jinhua
* Lishui
* Quzhou
* Shaoxing
* Taizhou
* Wenzhou
* Zhoushan

Anhui|

* Hefei
* Ma'anshan

* v
* t
* e

Metropolitan cities of China

Major metropolitan regions

* Jing-Jin-Ji (BJ-TJ-HE)
* Greater Bay Area
* Yangtze Delta (SH-JS-ZJ)
* Zhongyuan
* Chengyu
* Cross-Strait Western Coast
* Guanzhong
* Mid-Southern Liaoning
* Shandong Peninsula
* Yangtze River Midstream (Yangtze River Valley)

Major cities

| National Central Cities|

* Beijinga
* Chongqinga
* Guangzhoub2
* Shanghaia2
* Tianjina2

|

Special administrative regions|

* Hong Kong
* Macau

Regional Central Cities|

* Chengdub
* Nanjingb
* Shenyangb
* Shenzhenc1
* Wuhanb
* Xi'anb

Sub-provincial cities|

* Changchunb
* Chengdub
* Dalianc2
* Guangzhoub2
* Hangzhoub
* Harbinb
* Jinanb
* Nanjingb
* Ningboc2
* Qingdaoc2
* Shenyangb
* Shenzhenc1
* Wuhanb
* Xiamenc1
* Xi'anb

Provincial capitals
(Prefecture-level)|

* Changsha
* Fuzhou2
* Guiyang
* Haikou
* Hefei
* Kunming
* Lanzhou
* Nanchang
* Shijiazhuang
* Taiyuan
* Xining
* Zhengzhou
* Taibei5

Autonomous regional capitals|

* Hohhot
* Lhasa
* Nanning
* Ürümqi
* Yinchuan

Comparatively large cities|

* Anshan
* Baotou
* Benxi
* Datong
* Fushun
* Jiujiang
* Handan
* Huainan
* Jilin
* Luoyang
* Qiqihar
* Suzhou
* Tangshan
* Wuxi
* Xuzhou
* Zibo

Prefecture-level cities by province

| Hebei|

* Shijiazhuang*
* Tangshan*
* Qinhuangdao2
* Handan*
* Xingtai
* Baoding
* Zhangjiakou
* Chengde
* Cangzhou
* Langfang
* Hengshui

|

Shanxi|

* Taiyuan*
* Datong*
* Yangquan
* Changzhi
* Jincheng
* Shuozhou
* Jinzhong
* Yuncheng
* Xinzhou
* Linfen
* Lüliang

Inner Mongolia|

* Hohhot*
* Baotou*
* Wuhai
* Chifeng
* Tongliao
* Ordos
* Hulunbuir
* Bayannur
* Ulanqab

Liaoning|

* Shenyang*
* Dalian*
* Anshan*
* Fushun*
* Benxi*
* Dandong
* Jinzhou
* Yingkou
* Fuxin
* Liaoyang
* Panjin
* Tieling
* Chaoyang
* Huludao

Jilin|

* Changchun*
* Jilin
* Siping
* Liaoyuan
* Tonghua
* Baishan
* Songyuan
* Baicheng

Heilongjiang|

* Harbin*
* Qiqihar*
* Jixi
* Hegang
* Shuangyashan
* Daqing
* Yīchun
* Jiamusi
* Qitaihe
* Mudanjiang
* Heihe
* Suihua

Jiangsu|

* Nanjing*
* Wuxi*
* Xuzhou*
* Changzhou
* Suzhou*
* Nantong
* Lianyungang2
* Huai'an
* Yancheng
* Yangzhou
* Zhenjiang
* Tàizhou
* Suqian

Zhejiang|

* Hangzhou*
* Ningbo*
* Wenzhou2
* Jiaxing
* Huzhou
* Shaoxing
* Jinhua
* Quzhou
* Zhoushan
* Tāizhou
* Lishui

Anhui|

* Hefei*
* Wuhu
* Bengbu
* Huainan*
* Ma'anshan
* Huaibei
* Tongling
* Anqing
* Huangshan
* Chuzhou
* Fuyang
* Sùzhou
* Lu'an
* Bozhou
* Chizhou
* Xuancheng

Fujian|

* Fuzhou*
* Xiamen*
* Putian
* Sanming
* Quanzhou
* Zhangzhou
* Nanping
* Longyan
* Ningde

Jiangxi|

* Nanchang*
* Jingdezhen
* Pingxiang
* Jiujiang
* Xinyu
* Yingtan
* Ganzhou
* Ji'an
* Yíchun
* Fǔzhou
* Shangrao

Shandong|

* Jinan*
* Qingdao*
* Zibo*
* Zaozhuang
* Dongying
* Yantai2
* Weifang
* Jining
* Tai'an
* Weihai
* Rizhao
* Laiwu
* Linyi
* Dezhou
* Liaocheng
* Binzhou
* Heze

Henan|

* Zhengzhou*
* Kaifeng
* Luoyang*
* Pingdingshan
* Anyang
* Hebi
* Xinxiang
* Jiaozuo
* Puyang
* Xuchang
* Luohe
* Sanmenxia
* Nanyang
* Shangqiu
* Xinyang
* Zhoukou
* Zhumadian

Hubei|

* Wuhan*
* Huangshi
* Shiyan
* Yichang
* Xiangyang
* Ezhou
* Jingmen
* Xiaogan
* Jinzhou
* Huanggang
* Xianning
* Suizhou

Hunan|

* Changsha*
* Zhuzhou
* Xiangtan
* Hengyang
* Shaoyang
* Yueyang
* Changde
* Zhangjiajie
* Yiyang
* Chenzhou
* Yongzhou
* Huaihua
* Loudi

Guangdong|

* Guangzhou*
* Shaoguan
* Shenzhen*
* Zhuhai1
* Shantou1
* Foshan
* Jiangmen
* Zhanjiang2
* Maoming
* Zhaoqing
* Huizhou
* Meizhou
* Shanwei
* Heyuan
* Yangjiang
* Qingyuan
* Dongguan
* Zhongshan
* Chaozhou
* Jieyang
* Yunfu

Guangxi|

* Nanning*
* Liuzhou
* Guilin
* Wuzhou
* Beihai2
* Fangchenggang
* Qinzhou
* Guigang
* Yùlin
* Baise
* Hezhou
* Hechi
* Laibin
* Chongzuo

Hainan1|

* Haikou*
* Sanya
* Sansha4
* Danzhou

Sichuan|

* Chengdu*
* Zigong
* Panzhihua
* Luzhou
* Deyang
* Mianyang
* Guangyuan
* Suining
* Neijiang
* Leshan
* Nanchong
* Meishan
* Yibin
* Guang'an
* Dazhou
* Ya'an
* Bazhong
* Ziyang

Guizhou|

* Guiyang*
* Liupanshui
* Zunyi
* Anshun
* Bijie
* Tongren

Yunnan|

* Kunming*
* Qujing
* Yuxi
* Baoshan
* Zhaotong
* Lijiang
* Pu'er
* Lincang

Tibet|

* Lhasa*
* Shigatse
* Chamdo
* Nyingchi
* Shannan

Shaanxi|

* Xi'an*
* Tongchuan
* Baoji
* Xianyang
* Weinan
* Yan'an
* Hanzhong
* Yúlin
* Ankang
* Shangluo

Gansu|

* Lanzhou*
* Jiayuguan
* Jinchang
* Baiyin
* Tianshui
* Wuwei
* Zhangye
* Pingliang
* Jiuquan
* Qingyang
* Dingxi
* Longnan

Qinghai|

* Xining*
* Haidong

Ningxia|

* Yinchuan*
* Shizuishan
* Wuzhong
* Guyuan
* Zhongwei

Xinjiang|

* Ürümqi*
* Karamay
* Turpan
* Hami

Taiwan5|

* (none)

Other cities (partly shown below)

| Prefecture-level capitals
(County-level)|

* (Inner Mongolia: Ulanhot
* Xilinhot)
* Jiagedaqi3, Heilongjiang
* Enshi, Hubei
* Jishou, Hunan
* (Sichuan：Xichang
* Kangding
* Barkam)
* (Guizhou: Xingyi
* Kaili
* Duyun)
* (Yunnan: Chuxiong
* Mengzi
* Wenshan
* Jinghong
* Dali
* Mangshi
* Shangri-La
* Lushui)
* (Gansu: Linxia
* Hezuo)
* (Qinghai: Yushu
* Delingha)
* (Xinjiang: Changji
* Bole
* Korla
* Yining
* Artush
* Aksu
* Kashgar1
* Hotan
* Tacheng
* Altay)

|

Province-governed cities
(Sub-prefecture-level)|

* Jiyuan, Henan
* (Hubei: Xiantao
* Qiánjiang
* Tianmen
* Shennongjia)
* (Hainan1: Wuzhishan
* Qionghai
* Wenchang
* Wanning
* Dongfang)
* (Xinjiang \- XPCC(Bingtuan) cities: Shihezi
* Aral
* Tumxuk
* Wujiaqu
* Beitun
* Tiemenguan
* Shuanghe
* Kokdala
* Kunyu)

Former Prefecture-level cities|

* Chaohu, Anhui
* Yumen，Gansu
* Dongchuan, Yunnan
* Shashi, Hubei
* (Sichuan: Fuling
* Wanxian)
* (Jilin: Meihekou
* Gongzhuling)

Sub-prefecture-level cities
(Prefecture-governed)|

* Qian'an, Hebei
* Manzhouli, Inner Mongolia
* Erenhot, Inner Mongolia
* Golmud, Qinghai

County-level cities by province

| Hebei|

* Xinji
* Jinzhou
* Xinle
* Zunhua
* Qian'an*
* Wu'an
* Nangong
* Shahe
* Zhuozhou
* Dingzhou
* Anguo
* Gaobeidian
* Botou
* Renqiu
* Huanghua
* Hejian
* Bazhou
* Sanhe
* Shenzhou

|

Shanxi|

* Gujiao
* Lucheng
* Gaoping
* Jiexiu
* Yongji
* Hejin
* Yuanping
* Houma
* Huozhou
* Xiaoyi
* Fenyang

Inner Mongolia|

* Holingol
* Manzhouli*
* Yakeshi
* Zhalantun
* Ergun
* Genhe
* Fengzhen
* Ulanhot*
* Arxan
* Erenhot*
* Xilinhot*

Liaoning|

* Xinmin
* Wafangdian
* Zhuanghe
* Haicheng
* Donggang
* Fengcheng
* Linghai
* Beizhen
* Gaizhou
* Dashiqiao
* Dengta
* Diaobingshan
* Kaiyuan
* Beipiao
* Lingyuan
* Xingcheng

Jilin|

* Yushu
* Dehui
* Jiaohe
* Huadian
* Shulan
* Panshi
* Gongzhuling
* Shuangliao
* Meihekou
* Ji'an
* Linjiang
* Fuyu
* Taonan
* Da'an
* Yanji
* Tumen
* Dunhua
* Hunchun
* Longjing
* Helong

Heilongjiang|

* Shangzhi
* Wuchang
* Nehe
* Hulin
* Mishan
* Tieli
* Tongjiang
* Fujin
* Fuyuan
* Suifenhe
* Hailin
* Ning'an
* Muling
* Dongning
* Bei'an
* Wudalianchi
* Anda
* Zhaodong
* Hailun

Jiangsu|

* Jiangyin
* Yixing
* Xinyi
* Pizhou
* Liyang
* Changshu
* Zhangjiagang
* Kunshan
* Taicang
* Qidong
* Rugao
* Haimen
* Dongtai
* Yizheng
* Gaoyou
* Danyang
* Yangzhong
* Jurong
* Jingjiang
* Taixing
* Xinghua

Zhejiang|

* Jiande
* Lin'an
* Yuyao
* Cixi
* Fenghua
* Rui'an
* Yueqing
* Haining
* Pinghu
* Tongxiang
* Zhuji
* Shengzhou
* Lanxi
* Yiwu
* Dongyang
* Yongkang
* Jiangshan
* Wenling
* Linhai
* Longquan

Anhui|

* Chaohu
* Jieshou
* Tongcheng
* Tianchang
* Mingguang
* Ningguo

Fujian|

* Fuqing
* Changle
* Yong'an
* Shishi
* Jinjiang
* Nan'an
* Longhai
* Shaowu
* Wuyishan
* Jian'ou
* Zhangping
* Fu'an
* Fuding

Jiangxi|

* Leping
* Ruichang
* Gongqingcheng
* Lushan
* Guixi
* Ruijin
* Jinggangshan
* Fengcheng
* Zhangshu
* Gao'an
* Dexing

Shandong|

* Zhangqiu
* Jiaozhou
* Jimo
* Pingdu
* Laixi
* Tengzhou
* Longkou
* Laiyang
* Laizhou
* Penglai
* Zhaoyuan
* Qixia
* Haiyang
* Qingzhou
* Zhucheng
* Shouguang
* Anqiu
* Gaomi
* Changyi
* Qufu
* Zoucheng
* Xintai
* Feicheng
* Rongcheng
* Rushan
* Laoling
* Yucheng
* Linqing

Henan|

* Gongyi
* Xingyang
* Xinmi
* Xinzheng
* Dengfeng
* Yanshi
* Wugang
* Ruzhou
* Linzhou
* Weihui
* Huixian
* Qinyang
* Mengzhou
* Yuzhou
* Changge
* Yima
* Lingbao
* Dengzhou
* Yongcheng
* Xiangcheng
* Jiyuan*

Hubei|

* Daye
* Danjiangkou
* Yidu
* Dangyang
* Zhijiang
* Laohekou
* Zaoyang
* Yicheng
* Zhongxiang
* Yingcheng
* Anlu
* Hanchuan
* Shishou
* Honghu
* Songzi
* Macheng
* Wuxue
* Chibi
* Guangshui
* Enshi*
* Lichuan
* Xiantao*
* Qianjiang*
* Tianmen*

Hunan|

* Liuyang
* Liling
* Xiangxiang
* Shaoshan
* Leiyang
* Changning
* Wugang
* Miluo
* Linxiang
* Jinshi
* Yuanjiang
* Zixing
* Hongjiang
* Lengshuijiang
* Lianyuan
* Jishou*

Guangdong|

* Lechang
* Nanxiong
* Taishan
* Kaiping
* Heshan
* Enping
* Lianjiang
* Leizhou
* Wuchuan
* Gaozhou
* Huazhou
* Xinyi
* Sihui
* Xingning
* Lufeng
* Yangchun
* Yingde
* Lianzhou
* Puning
* Luoding

Guangxi|

* Cenxi
* Dongxing
* Guiping
* Beiliu
* Jingxi
* Yizhou
* Heshan
* Pingxiang

Hainan|

* Wuzhishan*
* Qionghai*
* Wenchang*
* Wanning*
* Dongfang*

Sichuan|

* Dujiangyan
* Pengzhou
* Qionglai
* Chongzhou
* Jianyang
* Guanghan
* Shifang
* Mianzhu
* Jiangyou
* Emeishan
* Langzhong
* Huaying
* Wanyuan
* Barkam*
* Kangding*
* Xichang*

Guizhou|

* Qingzhen
* Chishui
* Renhuai
* Xingyi*
* Kaili*
* Duyun*
* Fuquan

Yunnan|

* Anning
* Xuanwei
* Tengchong
* Chuxiong*
* Mengzi*
* Gejiu
* Kaiyuan
* Mile
* Wenshan*
* Jinghong*
* Dali*
* Ruili
* Mangshi*
* Lushui*
* Shangri-La*

Tibet|

* (none)

Shaanxi|

* Xingping
* Hancheng
* Huayin

Gansu|

* Yumen
* Dunhuang
* Linxia*
* Hezuo*

Qinghai|

* Yushu*
* Golmud*
* Delingha*

Ningxia|

* Lingwu
* Qingtongxia

Xinjiang|

* Changji*
* Fukang
* Bole*
* Alashankou
* Korla*
* Aksu*
* Artush*
* Kashgar*
* Hotan*
* Yining*
* Kuytun
* Korgas
* Tacheng*
* Wusu
* Altay*
* Shihezi*
* Aral*
* Tumxuk*
* Wujiaqu*
* Beitun*
* Tiemenguan*
* Shuanghe*
* Kokdala*
* Kunyu*

Taiwan5|

* (none)

Notes

* Indicates this city has already occurred above.

aDirect-administered municipalities. bSub-provincial cities as provincial capitals. cSeparate state-planning cities. 1Special economic-zone cities. 2Open coastal cities.
3Prefecture capital status established by Heilongjiang Province and not recognized by Ministry of Civil Affairs. Disputed by Oroqen Autonomous Banner, Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia as part of it.
4Only administers islands and waters in South China Sea and have no urban core comparable to typical cities in China.
5The claimed province of Taiwan no longer have any internal division announced by Ministry of Civil Affairs of PRC, due to lack of actual jurisdiction. See Administrative divisions of Taiwan instead.

All provincial capitals are listed first in prefecture-level cities by province.

* v
* t
* e

Major regions and cities of China

National
megalopolises|

| Jing-Jin-Ji
(Inner) Bohai Economic Rim|

| Beijing|

* Beijing
* Changping
* Daxing
* Fangshan
* Mentougou
* Shunyi
* Tongzhou

|

Tianjin|

* Tianjin
* Binhai
* Dongli
* Jinnan
* Wuqing

Hebei|

* Baoding
* Xiong'an
* Cangzhou
* Chengde
* Langfang
* Shijiazhuang
* Tangshan
* Caofeidian
* Qian'an
* Zhangjiakou

Yangtze Delta
(Economic Zone)|

| Jiangsu|

* Changzhou
* Lianyungang
* Nanjing
* Nantong
* Suzhou
* Taizhou
* Wuxi
* Xuzhou
* Yangzhou
* Zhenjiang

|

Shanghai|

* Shanghai
* Baoshan
* Jiading
* Minhang
* Pudong
* Qingpu
* Songjiang

Zhejiang|

* Hangzhou
* Huzhou
* Jiaxing
* Jinhua
* Lishui
* Ningbo
* Quzhou
* Shaoxing
* Taizhou
* Wenzhou
* Zhoushan

Anhui|

* Chuzhou
* Hefei
* Huainan
* Ma'anshan
* Wuhu

Pearl River Delta
a.k.a. Greater Bay Area
(Economic Zone)|

| Guangdong|

* Dongguan
* Foshan
* Guangzhou
* Huadu
* Nansha
* Panyu
* Huizhou
* Jiangmen
* Shenzhen
* Bao'an
* Zhaoqing
* Zhongshan
* Zhuhai
* Hengqin

|

SARs|

* Hong Kong
* Kowloon
* Macau
* Cotai

West Triangle
Economic Zone|

| Chongqing|

* Chongqing
* Fuling
* Liangjiang
* Qianjiang
* Wanzhou
* Xinbei

|

Sichuan|

* Chengdu
* Dazhou
* Deyang
* Guang'an
* Leshan
* Luzhou
* Meishan
* Mianyang
* Nanchong
* Neijiang
* Suining
* Yibin
* Zigong
* Ziyang

Shaanxi|

* Baoji
* Tongchuan
* Weinan
* Xi'an
* Xianyang
* Yangling

Central Plain Megalopolis|

| Henan|

* Jiaozuo
* Jiyuan
* Kaifeng
* Luohe
* Luoyang
* Pingdingshan
* Xinxiang
* Xuchang
* Zhengzhou

|

Harbin-Changchun Megalopolis
(Northeastern Cities)|

| Heilongjiang|

* Harbin
* Daqing
* Mudanjiang
* Qiqihar

|

Jilin|

* Changchun
* Jilin
* Siping
* Yanji

Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River/
Yangtze River Valley
(Central Triangle Economic Zone)|

| Hubei|

* Ezhou
* Huanggang
* Huangshi
* Qianjiang
* Tianmen
* Wuhan
* Xianning
* Xiantao
* Xiaogan

|

Hunan|

* Changde
* Changsha
* Hengyang
* Loudi
* Xiangtan
* Yiyang
* Yueyang
* Zhuzhou

Jiangxi|

* Fuzhou
* Ji'an
* Jingdezhen
* Jiujiang
* Nanchang
* Shangrao
* Xinyu
* Yichun
* Yingtan

Anhui|

* Anqing
* Bengbu
* Chizhou
* Chuzhou
* Hefei
* Huainan
* Lu'an
* Ma'anshan
* Tongling
* Wuhu
* Xuancheng

(North) Bohai Economic Rim|

| Liaoning|

* Anshan
* Dalian
* Lüshun
* Huludao
* Jinzhou
* Panjin
* Shenyang
* Yingkou

|

(South) Bohai Economic Rim|

| Shandong|

* Binzhou
* Dongying
* Jinan
* Qingdao
* Weifang
* Weihai
* Yantai
* Zibo

|

Regions|

* East
* Northeast
* North
* South Central
* Central
* South
* Huizhou
* Western
* Northwestern
* Southwestern

Administrative
divisions|

* By GDP
* By GDP per capita
* By Human Development Index
* Prefecture-level divisions
* County-level divisions

Cities|

* Direct-administered municipality
* Prefecture-level city
* Sub-provincial city
* County-level city
* List of cities in China
* by GDP per capita
* by population

Capitals|

* Historical capitals
* Current and former capitals

* Categories: Subdivisions
* Regions
* Cities

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* Israel

Other|

* IdRef
* Yale LUX

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