Autonomous Prefectures in China

Autonomous prefectures in China have the same administrative status as prefecture-level cities and belong to prefecture-level administrative areas. It is an ethnic autonomous area established in the areas where ethnic minorities live in compact communities in China. In accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the People’s Republic of China, ethnic autonomous areas enjoy a higher right of self-administration and have a people’s congress and a people’s government. As of January 10, 2019, China has a total of 30 autonomous prefectures.

Historical Development of Autonomous Prefectures in China

The administrative division of an autonomous prefecture is a prefecture-level administrative region, which is under the leadership of the province or autonomous region in which it is located. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the law of the People’s Republic of China on regional ethnic autonomy, ethnic autonomous areas enjoy a high right of self-management.

The organs of self-government of autonomous prefectures exercise the functions and powers of local organs of state at the lower level, and exercise the right of autonomy at the same time. The organs of self-government of an autonomous prefecture are the people’s congress of an autonomous prefecture and the people’s government of an autonomous prefecture. The governor assumes overall responsibility for the work of the people’s government of an autonomous prefecture.

The administrative areas under the jurisdiction of prefectures are county-level administrative regions, including counties, autonomous counties and county-level cities. Some are built on the basis of an ethnic minority community, such as Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan province; Some are established by two or more minority communities, such as Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan province.

List of Autonomous Prefectures in China

 Province  Autonomous Prefecture  Prefectural Seat  Ethnic Minority  Time of Establishment
 Jilin  Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture  Yanji  Korean  1952.9.3
 Hubei   Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture  Enshi  Tujia, Miao  1983.8.19
 Hunan   Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture  Jishou  Tujia, Miao  1957.9.20
 Sichuan     Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture  Barkam  Tibetan, Qiang  1953.1.1
 Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Kangding  Tibetan  1950.11.24
 Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture  Xichang  Yi  1952.10.1
 Guizhou  Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture  Kaili  Miao, Dong  1956.7.23
 Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture  Duyun  Buyei, Miao  1956.8.8
 Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture  Xingyi  Buyei, Miao  1982.5.1
 Yunnan  Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture  Chuxiong  Yi  1958.4.15
 Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture  Mengzi  Hani, Yi  1957.11.18
 Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture  Wenshan  Zhuang, Miao  1958.4.1
 Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture  Jinghong  Dai  1953.1.24
 Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture  Lushui  Lisu  1954.8.23
 Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Shangri-La  Tibetan  1957.9.13
 Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture  Mangshi  Dai and Jingpo  1953.7.24
 Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture  Dali  Bai  1956.11.22
 Gansu  Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Hezuo  Tibetan  1953.9.30
 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture  Linxia   Hui  1956.11.19
 Qinghai  Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Gonghe  Tibetan  1953.12.6
 Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Haiyan  Tibetan  1953.12.31
 Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Delingha  Mongol, Tibetan  1954.1.25
 Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Tongren  Tibetan  1953.12.22
 Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Maqen  Tibetan  1954.1.1
 Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture  Yushu  Tibetan  1951.12.25
 Xinjiang  Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture  Yining  Kazakh  1954.11.27
 Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture  Bole  Mongol  1954.7.13
 Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture  Changji  Hui  1954.7.8
 Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture  Korla  Mongol  1954.6.23
 Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture  Artux  Kyrgyz  1954.7.14

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