Map China Cities

A City Guide to China

 

 

The concept "city" in China may be different from what you've been used to. Think BIG is necessary here.

The Concept of China City

There are three levels of cities in China according to China's administrative divisions:

1. Municipalities
2. Prefecture-level cities
3. County-level cities

Over 160 cities in China have over one million population.

Municipalities and prefecture-level cities are not really a "city" in the strictest sense of the term. They are actually administrative units that typically comprise both an urban core, which is the word city we normally mean, and surrounding less-urbanized and rural areas, which can be many times of the core city.

To better understand this, we may try to find their equivalent in US terms. However, the municipality is a political designation defining regions under control of a municipal government. We could not find a comparable division in US term.

Prefecture-level cities contain multiple counties, county-level cities, and other such sub-divisions. It actually consist two layers of areas, the urban core (city in strict sense) and the urban area. The "urban core" would be roughly comparable to the US term "city limit", and the "urban area" would be roughly comparable to "metropolitan area".

Below on this page are:

• The Top Ten Cities By the Biggest Population
• The National Central Cities of China
• Other Major Cities of China

 

Top Ten China Cities By the Biggest Population:

These cities are also the major cities of China with economical /political /cultural importance and tourist attractions. Click each city name to see details.

Shanghai: One of the four China Municipalities and the "Paris of the Orient."

Weather in Shanghai

 

 

 

Hongkong: One of the two special administrative regions of China and the "Pearl of the Orient."
- Hong Kong Currency
- Hong Kong Visa
- Hong Kong Travel FAQ
- Hong Kong Tourism and Hong Kong Travel Pictures

 

 

Nanjing: The capital city of Jiangsu Province and a city that once was the capital of 10 dynasties and regimes.

- Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum
- Presidential Palace
- Nanjing Pictures

 

Beijing Guangzhou Shenzhen Tianjing

Chongqing Dongguan Wuhan

 

China Cities: the biggest top ten by population

Back to Top of Map China Cities

The National Central Cities of China

The concept of national central city was first in use in 2005 as a first step in reforming urbanization in China. National central cities are a group of cities in charge of developing, leading and performing tasks in political, economic, and cultural aspects.

They have great impact on their surrounding cities on modernizing and integrating services in fields such as infrastructure, urban planning, finance, social welfare, sanitation, public education, and business licensing, etc.

The five national central cities are among the top ten China cities by the biggest population, they are:

1. Bejing
2. Tianjing
3. Shanghai
4. Chongqing
5. Guangzhou

China National Central Cities

Back to Top

Other Major Cities of China with Map

The city information will be added one by one soon.

Kunming: The capital city of Yunnan Province and the "Spring City in China."

- Kunming Flights

 

Sanya: The southernmost city in China. It's also one of the most popular tourist destinations of China.

 

 

 

Guilin: a place where "the scenery is peerless under the heavens."

 

Lanzhou: "the Capital of the Yellow River" and "the City of Mountains and Water".

 

Map China Cities

Back to Top

China Travel: What You Need to Know

• How to Find Cheap Flights to China
• Chinese Currency Exchange Online Calculator
• Current Currency Exchange Rate
• Get Your China Visa
• Currency in China
• Time in China

Back to Top of Map China Cities

Home China Facts Map China Cities