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

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