<<<Major Cities>>>
Major Cities
China now has 668 cities, of which 13 have populations of more than two million each; 24, between one and two million; 48, between 500,000 and one million; 205, between 200,000 and 500,000; and 378, less than 200,000.
Beijing Beijing is a municipality directly under the Central Government and the capital of the PRC, with an urban population of 7.34 million. It is not only the nation's political center, but also its cultural, scientific and educational center, and a key transportation hub. Situated on the north edge of the North China Plain, it is sheltered by chain upon chain of mountains to the west, north and east. Its southeastern part is a plain. Beijing's temperate continental climate produces four clearly contrasted seasons: a short spring, rainy and humid summer, long and cold winter, and a very pleasant autumn.
Beijing emerged as a city as far back as the Western Zhou Dynasty (11th century-770 B.C.), then known as Ji. During the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) it was the capital of the State of Yan. Ji had ever since remained a city of strategic importance and a trade center for the north for well over a thousand years. Then, in the early 10th century, it became the secondary capital of the Liao Dynasty under the name of Yanjing. Between 1115 and 1911, it served in succession as the capital of the Kin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, thus becoming a storehouse of Chinese culture, and leaving many superb historical legacies, such as the Tiananmen Gatetower, the symbol of Beijing as well as of China; Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world; the former Imperial Palace (the "Forbidden City"), the largest and best-preserved ancient architectural complex of the world; the Great Wall at Badaling, one of the "wonders of the world"; the Temple of Heaven, the largest of all existing temples in the world, where the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties worshiped Heaven and prayed for good harvests; the Summer Palace, the largest imperial garden in the world; the Ming Tombs, the largest imperial tomb group in the world; and Prince Gong's Residence. Of these, the former Imperial Palace, the Great Wall and the site of the discovery of Peking Man at Zhoukoudian have been listed as world cultural heritages by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The city of Beijing has preserved the imperial architecture of the Ming Dynasty well. In the city's center is the oblong Imperial Palace, which is surrounded by a 10-odd-meter-tall wall topped with a turret on each of the four corners and skirted by a moat. Outside of the Imperial Palace is the original Imperial City's vermilion walls, nine km in circumference and having many symmetrical city gates. In addition, there is also a square "inner city" 20 km in circumference, and an oblong "outer city" in the south of the "inner city." Hence the city of Beijing is in the shape of a Chinese character "凸" With the Forbidden City at the center, there is a central axis running through it from north to south, on either side of which are streets, shops and residential houses laid out in a symmetrical chequerboard pattern. Winding rivers, beautiful gardens, and ancient and solemn sacrificial altars and temples are scattered all over the city, adding beauty to its symmetrical pattern.
As an ancient city, Beijing is also attractive for its new look. Since 1949, when Beijing was designated as the capital of the PRC, tremendous changes have taken place in the city's appearance. In the past, Tiananmen Square was an imperial square forbidden to ordinary people, with vermilion walls on the eastern and western sides. In the 1950s, the walls were pulled down, and the square was expanded from 11 ha to 40 ha, where citizens go sightseeing, hold rallies, have recreational activities and relax. The square is now flanked by massive modern buildings, including the Great Hall of the People, where the NPC is held annually, the Museum of Chinese History, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Monument to the People's Heroes and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall. North of the square, Chang'an Avenue has been widened and extended. Today it is the city's major west-east artery, lined on either side with towering new buildings. Since the 1980s, the urban construction of Beijing has developed at a high speed. Now more than 200 star-rated hotels and several dozen high-class shopping centers are distributed all over the city. The National Library of China, the Central TV Center, the World Trade Center, the International Exhibition Center, the China Theater, the Beijing West Railway Station and other modern buildings now tower on the Beijing skyline. The construction of the ring roads, expressways to the airport and the Great Wall at Badaling, about 200 flyovers, the new sports city at the Asian Games Village, and so on, have added a modern flavor to the old city. If you take a view of the city from the Wanchun Pavilion at the peak of Jingshan (Prospect Hill), you will find the "inner city" of Beijing has been surrounded by towering buildings. The ancient architectural complexes and the new buildings, which add radiance and beauty to each other, seem to form a huge new painting scroll of Beijing.
Shanghai, a city directly under the Central Government, is China's largest city, with an urban population of 9.54 million. Advantageously located, Shanghai is located halfway down China's mainland coastline, where the Yangtze River empties into the sea. An important comprehensive industrial base and harbor, Shanghai plays an essential role in the national economy. Major industries include metallurgy, machine-building, shipbuilding, chemicals, electronics, instruments and meters, textiles and other light industries, in addition to its highly developed commerce, banking and ocean-going shipping industry. The Pudong New Zone, separated from the old city by the Huangpu River, is now undergoing vigorous development and construction. Its look changes with each passing day. The opening and development of the Pudong New Zone is intended to build it into a modern, multi-functional, export-oriented district, on a par with the world's best. This will lay the foundation for the transformation of Shanghai into an international economic, banking and trade center, and a modern international city.
Tianjin, another city directly under the Central Government, is a major industrial and commercial city in north China, with an urban population of 5.21 million. About 120 km from Beijing, Tianjin is an important port for ocean-going and offshore shipping, and foreign trade. Tianjin's traditional industries include iron and steel, machine-building, chemicals, power, textiles, construction materials, paper-making and foodstuffs, plus some rising industries such as shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, petroleum exploitation and processing, and the production of tractors, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, watches, TVs and cameras.
Chongqing, also a city directly under the Central Government, is the largest industrial and commercial center in southwest China and a hub of land and water transportation in the upper Yangtze valley, with an urban population of 6.14 million. Located at the juncture of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, its city proper is surrounded by these rivers on three sides and stands on a mountain, like a peninsula. Hence the name "Mountain City." Chongqing is a comprehensive industrial city, with advanced iron and steel, chemicals, power, automobile manufacturing, machine-building, shipbuilding, construction materials, textiles, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals industries. As a new centrally administered city established in 1997, Chongqing is facing new chances for development. For instance, it is becoming more and more important in China's strategy for the great development of western China, and it is playing a more and more important role in the development and opening of the areas along the Yangtze River. Besides, huge market demands have been formed during the construction of the Three-Gorge Water Conservancy Pivot Project on the Yangtze River and migration from the Three-Gorge Reservoir Area.
Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, spans the Pearl River. It is the largest and most important gateway in south China, with an urban population of 4.17 million. As the oldest trading port in China, Guangzhou was a foreign trade hub as early as in 200 B.C. The Huangpu Port, where ocean-going ships can anchor, has navigation lines reaching all continents in the world. Since 1957, a bi-annual Chinese export commodities fair has been held here, one in spring and the other in autumn. As an important entry/exit port for overseas tourists, Guangzhou boasts a great number of modern hotels.
Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, is the largest city in northwest China, with an urban population of 2.72 million. Originally known as Chang'an, Xi'an is a famous ancient city in China and was the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. From the 11th century B.C. on, it served as the capital of a dozen dynasties. Hence Xi'an boasts a large number of historical sites, such as the site of the pre-historic Banpo Village, which was a matrilineal commune, the life-size terracotta horses and armored warriors excavated from sites near the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the Greater and Lesser Wild Goose pagodas of the Tang Dynasty, and the Stele Forest of the Song Dynasty, all of which are well known both at home and abroad. Xi'an now is both a tourist city and one of the rising industrial bases in China, known for its advanced machine-building and textiles industries.
Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, consists of the cities of Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang, with a total urban population of 4.28 million. As the largest city in central China and the hub of land and water transportation on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Wuhan has advanced iron and steel, machine-building, ship-building, textiles, chemicals and foodstuffs industries.
Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, is the largest city in northeast China, with a total urban population of 4.24 million. As a heavy-industrial city, Shenyang takes pride in its machinery, electrical equipment and heavy-duty machines industries.
<<<Macao Special Administrative Region>>>
Macao Special Administrative Region
Located west of the Pearl River estuary in Guangdong Province, 40 nautical miles west of Hong Kong, Macao's 23.5 sq km of territory comprises the Macao Peninsula, Taipa Island and Coloane Island and is inhabited by about 450,000 people. Macao has been a part of Chinese territory since ancient times. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China in the third century B.C., Macao was formally included in China's territory and became a part of Fanyu County, Nanhai Prefecture; later it was included in Xiangshan County (today's Zhongshan City). In 1553, the Portuguese bribed local government officials in Guangdong to gain permission to drop anchor in Macao's harbor and engage in trade. In 1557, the Portuguese began to settle nearby. In the period following the Opium War of 1840, taking advantage of the weakness of the Qing government, the Portuguese successively seized Taipa and Coloane islands to the south of the Macao Peninsula. In 1887, the Portuguese government forced the Qing government to sign the "Draft Agreement of the Sino-Portuguese Meeting" and subsequently the "Sino-Portuguese Treaty of Peking," providing that "Portugal will administer Macao and subordinate areas in perpetuity, as any other region governed by Portugal." Since then, Portugal has occupied Macao.
The Chinese people have never recognized those unequal treaties. The government of the PRC has repeatedly stated the facts that Macao has always been a part of Chinese territory, and that the Macao issue is a question left over by history. China has consistently maintained that at the appropriate time a peaceful, negotiated solution to this problem inherited from the past should be found. When diplomatic relations were established between China and Portugal in 1979, the Portuguese government recognized Macao as Chinese territory, and the two sides agreed that the question of Macao should be solved through bilateral negotiations in due time. Between June 1986 and March 1987, delegations from the two governments held four rounds of talks. Finally, on April 13, 1987, the "Joint Declaration on the Question of Macao by the
Governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Portugal" was formally signed in Beijing. The Joint Declaration includes the formulation: "The Government of the People's Republic of China will resume sovereignty over Macao effective December 20, 1999." On December 20, 1999, the Chinese and Portuguese governments held a hand-over ceremony as scheduled, marking the resumption of sovereignty by China over Macao. At the same time, the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) was formally established, and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, adopted in March 1993 at the First Session of the Eighth National People's Congress, came into effect.
When the MSAR is officially founded, the Chinese government will carry out the basic policies of "one country, two systems," "administration of Macao by the Macao people" and "a high degree of autonomy" in Macao. The MSAR shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy, and its political, economic, cultural and educational systems shall be similar to those of the HKSAR. The Chief Excutive of the MSAR is HO Hau-Wah.
<<<Taiwan Province>>>
Taiwan Province
Located to the southeast of the Chinese mainland opposite Fujian Province, the island province of Taiwan is flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Taiwan Straits to the west. Covering an area of 36,000 sq km, Taiwan includes Taiwan Island, the Penghu Islands and 80 other smaller neighboring islands and islets. Taiwan was called Yizhou or Liuqiu in ancient times. Records of Chinese people developing Taiwan in earliest times are found in many historical documents. Chinese governments ruled Taiwan for centuries. The social development of Taiwan continued according to Chinese cultural traditions even during its 50-year occupation by Japan. The Chinese government restored its administrative organs in Taiwan Province after victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan in 1945. On the eve of the founding of the PRC in 1949, the Kuomintang authorities retreated from the mainland to Taiwan. In 1950, the Korean War broke out, and the United States dispatched its Seventh Fleet to invade Taiwan and occupy the Taiwan Straits. In 1954, the government of the United States and the Taiwan authorities signed a "Mutual Defense Treaty," bringing about the separation of Taiwan from the mainland.
<<<The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region>>>
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
The area constituting Hong Kong is located on the southeast coast of China, east of the mouth of the Pearl River and bordering Shenzhen City in Guangdong Province. It consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories, with a total area of 1,092 sq km. Hong Kong has been Chinese territory since ancient times.
Hong Kong was occupied by Britain after the Opium War in 1840. In accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong signed on December 19, 1984, the two governments held a hand-over ceremony on July 1, 1997, announcing the resumption of sovereignty by China over Hong Kong. Thus the common, long-cherished wish of the Chinese people to recover Hong Kong was fulfilled. Meanwhile the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the PRC was formally established. The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, adopted in April 1990 at the Third Session of the Seventh National People's Congress, came into effect. The Basic Law makes clear and definite specifications on a high degree of autonomy, and the political, economic, cultural and educational systems of the HKSAR.
A High Degree of Autonomy The Chinese government carries out the basic policies of "one country, two systems," "administration of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong people" and "a high degree of autonomy." "One country, two systems" refers to the fact that in China, a unified country, the mainland practices the socialist system, and Hong Kong's previous capitalist system and way of life shall remain unchanged for 50 years; "administration of Hong Kong by the Hong Kong people" means that the HKSAR is administered by the Hong Kong people on their own, and the central authorities shall not send officials to the HKSAR to fill local official posts; and "a high degree of autonomy* means that apart from foreign and national defense affairs that should be administered by the central authorities, the HKSAR shall fully enjoy the power of decision over matters within its autonomous jurisdiction, including executive, legislative, independent judicial and final adjudication powers.
The high degree of autonomy of the HKSAR has the following features: First, the central authorities shall not interfere in affairs within the scope of autonomy of the HKSAR. Second, the HKSAR government shall have the final say on matters within its autonomous jurisdiction as prescribed in the Basic Law, calling for no approval by the central authorities. And third, the government of the HKSAR may, within the limits prescribed by the Basic Law, choose its own means of exercising its functions and powers.
Political System A democratic political system is practiced in the HKSAR. Its major organs of power are the Chief Executive, the Government, the Legislative Council and the Court of Final Appeal. In addition, there is the Executive Council, a body which assists the Chief Executive in decision-making, and the Commission Against Corruption and the Audit Commission, which function independently and are accountable to the Chief Executive. Under the Government, the executive power organ of the HKSAR, there are the Department of Administration, the Department of Finance, the Department of Justice, and various bureaus, divisions and commissions. In the conditions and following the procedures prescribed by law, the Chief Executive shall have the power to dismiss the legislative organs; the legislative organs shall have the power to impeach the Chief Executive; the administrative organs shall be accountable to the legislative organs; the Chief Executive, administrative and legislative organs shall supervise and cooperate with each other.
The Chief Executive of the HKSAR shall be the head of the HKSAR, as well as the head of the HKSAR government. His or her dual status gives him or her extensive functions and powers. The Chief Executive shall be selected from among residents of the HKSAR by election or through consultations held locally, and be appointed by the Central Government. The term of office of the Chief Executive shall be five years. He or she may serve for not more than two consecutive terms. Tung Chee Hwa was elected the first Chief Executive of the HKSAR.
Economic System A free economic system is practiced in the HKSAR. The operation mechanisms of this economic system are mainly manifested in the fields of finance, banking, trade, industry and commerce, real estate, shipping and civil aviation. For instance, in accordance with the law, the HKSAR shall protect the property rights of individuals, and shall have independent finances, using its financial revenues exclusively for its own purposes. The financial revenues shall not be handed over to the Central Government. The Central Government shall not levy taxes in the HKSAR; the HKSAR shall practice an independent taxation system and a low-tax policy, and shall enact laws on its own concerning types of taxes, tax rates, tax reductions, allowances and exemptions, and other matters of taxation. The HKSAR shall maintain its status as an international financial center, work out its monetary and financial policies on its own, and safeguard the free operation of financial business and the financial market. No foreign exchange control shall be applied in the HKSAR. The Hong Kong dollar shall continue to be freely convertible. Markets for foreign exchange, gold, securities, futures and the like shall continue to operate. The HKSAR government shall safeguard the free flow of capital within, into and out of the Region. The HKSAR shall maintain its status as a free port, adopt the policy of free trade, and safeguard the free movement of goods, intangible assets and capital. The HKSAR shall maintain its status as an international shipping center and may, on its own, stipulate the concrete functions and responsibilities in this field. The HKSAR shall maintain its status as an international and regional aviation center, and shall be responsible for the daily work and technological management of civil aviation.
As a separate customs territory, the HKSAR may, using the name "Hong Kong, China," join the WTO and other relevant international organizations and international trade agreements.
Cultural and Educational Systems The HKSAR shall, on its own, work out policies on education, culture, science and technology. Educational institutions of all kinds shall retain their autonomy and enjoy academic freedom. They may continue to recruit staff, and use teaching materials from outside the HKSAR. Students shall enjoy freedom of choice of educational institutions and freedom to pursue their education outside the HKSAR. The HKSAR government shall neither restrict the freedom of religious belief, nor interfere in the internal affairs of religious organizations. Religious organizations and believers in the HKSAR may maintain and develop their relations with their counterparts elsewhere; religious organizations may, according to their previous practice, continue to run seminaries and other schools, hospitals, welfare institutions, etc. Non-governmental organizations in various fields, including education, science, technology, culture, art, sports, and medicine and health in the HKSAR, may maintain and develop their relationships with relevant organizations of other countries and regions, and with international organizations. They also may participate in relevant activities in the name of "Kong Kong, China."
In addition to the Chinese language, English may also be used as an official language by the executive, legislative and judiciary authorities of the HKSAR.
<<<Administrative Division System>>>
Administrative Division System
China's administrative units are currently based on a three-level system dividing the nation into provinces, counties, and townships:
-The country is divided into provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government;
-A province or an autonomous region is subdivided into autonomous prefectures, counties, autonomous counties, and/or cities;
-A county or an autonomous county is subdivided into townships, national minority townships, and/or towns.
Municipalities directly under the Central Government and large cities are subdivided into districts and counties; autonomous prefectures are subdivided into counties, autonomous counties, and cities. Autonomous regions, autonomous prefectures, and autonomous counties are all autonomous national minority areas.
The Constitution specifically empowers the state to establish special administrative regions when necessary. A special administrative region is a local administrative area directly under the Central Government.
At present, China was divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government, and 2 special administrative region (see the following table).
China's Provinces, Autonomous Regions, Centrally Administered
Municipalities and Special Administrative Regions
Name
Seat of Government
Area (100,000sqkm)
Population (100,000)
Beijing Municipality
Beijing
0.168
125.7
Tianjin Municipality
Tianjin
0.113
95.9
Hebei Province
Shijiazhuang
1.900
661.4
Shanxi Province
Taiyuan
1.560
320.4
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Hohhot
11.830
236.2
Liaoning Province
Shenyang
1.457
417.1
Jilin Province
Changchun
1.870
265.8
Heilongjiang Province
Harbin
4.690
379.2
Shanghai Municipality
Shanghai
0.062
147.4
Jiangsu Province
Nanjing
1.026
721.3
Zhejiang Province
Hangzhou
1.018
447.5
Anhui Province
Hefei
1.390
623.7
Fujian Province
Fuzhou
1.200
331.6
Jiangxi Province
Nanchang
1.666
423.1
Shandong Province
Jinan
1.530
888.3
Henan Province
Zhengzhou
1.670
938.7
Hubei Province
Wuhan
1.874
593.8
Hunan Province
Changsha
2.100
653.2
Guangdong Province
Guangzhou
1.860
727.0
Guangxi Autonomous Region
Nanning
2.363
471.3
Hainan Province
Haikou
0.340
76.2
Chongqing Municipality
Chongqing
0.820
307.5
Sichuan Province
Chengdu
4.880
855.0
Guizhou Province
Guiyang
1.700
371.0
Yunnan Province
Kunming
3.940
419.2
Tibet Autonomous Region
Lhasa
12.200
25.6
Shaanxi Province
Xi'an
2.050
361.8
Gansu Province
Lanzhou
4.500
254.3
Qinghai Province
Xining
7.200
51.0
Ningxia Autonomous Region
Yinchuan
0.664
54.3
Xinjiang Autonomous Region
Urumqi
16.000
177.4
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Hong Kong
0.01092
68.4 (in mid 1999)
Macao Special Administrative Region
Macao
0.00024
4.3
Taiwan Province
0.360
217.4 (at the end of 1997)