The Ultimate Chinese Provinces Guide

It's hard to comprehend the sheer size of China. From vast mountain ranges, deserts and canyons, through to bustling metropolitan cities, the country has it all.

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China’s allure isn’t just aesthetics, either.

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The country is absolutely steeped in history, with its culture leaving an indelible mark all around the world.

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It still holds huge influence in the modern world and is on track to be the most visited country in the world by 2030.

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That is in part due to the sheer size of the country.

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The combined number of provinces, municipalities, autonomous regions and special administrative regions is well over 30, and they all have a unique personality.

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From the bright lights and frenetic energy of Macau, to the incredible spectacle of ice festivals in Heilongjiang, China, quite literally, has something for every visitor.

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If, like us, you want to discover more about these ancient lands, you’re not alone.

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Through Adventure China, loads of applicants every year fly out to begin their own adventures in the country, where working at summer camp allows them to make an incredible impact with Chinese children.

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From here, their exploration is boundless, with staff travelling far and wide to explore what makes this country so special.

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Whatever takes your fancy, China will have it.

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Match your personality to a province and find a new favourite place on the planet.

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‍China has enough railroads that combined they can loop around the Earth twice and with many being bullet trains, you’ll get to wherever you want to go far quicker.

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China is broken down into not only provinces, but other types of areas as well.

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It may sound a little confusing, but we've broken down each below:

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- Provinces

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China's provinces create areas within the country, in a similar geographical sense to countries in the UK, or States in the U.S.

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These then adhere to the laws and rules set out by the central government.

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- Autonomous Regions

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These regions have some level of autonomy, but as a whole they act in a similar way to a province.

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For those travelling around the country, it's easier to consider them as another area to tick off, similar to provinces.

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- Special Administrative Regions

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These regions are considered to be administrative divisions of China, however they have complete autonomy over their legal and judicial systems.

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So the best way to describe this is that they're part of China and separate, both at the same time.

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- Municipalities

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Municipalities are the highest level of classifications that areas can get in China and are in the direct governance of the Chinese government.

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They're ranked the same as provinces, which are also considered 'first tier' of administrative divisions in China.

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If you’ve placed at a summer camp in China, or you want to discover more about somewhere you’ve heard about, check our navigation out below, find your chosen Chinese province and learn even more.

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Anhui Province

Location: South East China

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Major Cities in Anhui Province: Hefei, Wuhu, Huangshan City

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Things to Do in Anhui Province: Xihai Grand Canyon, Hefei Wetland

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Interesting Facts:

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• There are cave markings in Anhui and drawings which date back to over 2.5million years ago
• Anhui is completely landlocked
• Some of the mountain ranges in Anhui go up to over 6000ft.

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Beijing (Municipality)

Location: North East China

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Things to Do in Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square

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Interesting Facts About Beijing:

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• Beijing is the Capital city of China and is one of the oldest areas in the world, with places indicating that there was life there form approximately 750,000 years ago.
• It has an incredible 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Beijing was also the capital of 6 notable dynasties which crossed over 21 centuries

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Chongqing (Municipality)

Location: South West China

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Things to Do in Chongqing: Dazu Rock Carvings, Fengdu Ghost City, Three Natural Bridges

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Interesting Facts About Chongqing:

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• It’s become a major economic force, as it’s located on two huge rivers, the Yangtze and Jialing.
• As it’s located near the Yangtze river, foggy conditions has led to it being called the ‘Fog Capital’ of China.
• The massive Three Gorges Dam is here, which is the world’s largest hydroelectric dam.

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Fujian Province

Location: Southeastern Coast of China

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Major Cities in Fujian Province: Fuzhou, Xiamen

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Things to Do in Fujian Province: Gulangyu Island, South Putuo Temple

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Interesting Facts About Fujian Province:

• China’s current leader, Xi Jinping, had work in Fujian for over 15 years.
• Fujian actually translates out to “Happy Establishment”, and it’s the largest city, Fuzhou, translates to “Happy City”
• It’s a key trading area for goods like tea

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Gansu Province

Location: Northwest China

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Major Cities in Gansu Province: Lanzhou

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Things to Do in Gansu Province: Mogao Caves, Crescent Lake

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Interesting Facts on Gansu Province:

• The highest point of the province is the Tuanjie Peak of Qilian Mountain, which has an elevation of 5808m.
• Gansu was on the old Silk Road trading route, meaning it was an incredibly important trading province
• There are over 450 different rivers in Gansu

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Guangdong Province

Location: Southern Coast of China

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Major Cities in Guangdong Province: Guangzhou, Shenzhen

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Things to Do in Guangdong Province:

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Interesting Facts About Guangdong Province:

• Guangdong has one of the longest coastlines out of any of the Chinese provinces
• It is home to the Pearl River Delta, which spans an incredible 2900 square miles
• It has the highest population and GDP out of any province in China.

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Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Location: Southern China

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Major Cities in Guangxi: Nanning, Guilin

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Things to Do in Guangxi: Li River, Moon Hill

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Interesting Facts About Guangxi:

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• Guangxi also borders the country of Vietnam
• The word Guang translates to “expanse”, referring to its land, which is considered to be open and wild.
• The highest point is Kitten Mountain, which peaks at 7024ft.

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Guizhou Province

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Location: Southwest China

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‍Major Cities in Guizhou Province: Guiyang, Anshun

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Things to Do in Guizhou Province: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Fanjingshan

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Interesting Facts About Guizhou Province:

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• It is considered one of the first main homes of civilisation, with remains dating back nearly 250,000 years ago
• It’s certainly very hilly, with over 90% of the land being covered in mountains or hills
• In 2016, the world’s biggest single-aperture radio telescope was built, which put the province on the map as a major player in high-spec technology. Since then, the likes of Google, Oracle, Apple and Microsoft have set up there.

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Hainan Province

Location: Island off South China

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Major Cities in Hainan Province: Haikou, Sanya

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Things to Do in Hainan Province: Wuzhizhou Island, Sanya Bay

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Interesting Facts About Hainan Province:

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• It is the most southerly point of China, and the name literally translates to the 'South of the Sea'.
• It is the smallest province of China by land size.
• It has a tropical monsoon climate, and the coldest it will drop is never any less than 16degrees Celcius.

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Hebei Province

Location: Northern China

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Major Cities in Hebei Province: Handan, Shijiazhuang

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Things to Do in Hebei Province: Jinshanling, Eastern Qing Tombs

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Interesting Facts About Hebei Province:

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The name translates to 'North of the River', which is referring to the Yellow River below it. Geographically, the province rings itself around the municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin. The Great Wall of China winds itself through a portion of Northern Hebei province.

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Heliongjiang Province

Location: Northern China

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Major Cities in Heilonjiang Province: Harbin, Mudanjiang

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Things to Do in Heilonjiang Province: Saint Sophia Cathedral, Bingxue Big World

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Interesting Facts About Heilonjiang Province:

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• It’s China’s most northern province, which actually borders Russia.
• The name translates to Black Dragon
• It is home to one of the largest and most impressive Ice festivals in the world, at Harbin.

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Henan Province

Location: Central China

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Major Cities in Henan Province: Zhengzhou, Luoyang

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Things to Do in Henan Province: Shaolin Temple, Longmen Grottoes

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Interesting Facts About Henan Province:

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• Henan is a landlocked province, and the name translates to “South of the Yellow River”, which is China’s second-longest river, and the 6th longest in the world.
• Henan has one of the largest populations in China, with 98 million people
• Across over 20 different dynasties or Chinese kingdoms, nearly 200 Kings settled their capital cities in Henan and is widely considered to be where Chinese culture began.

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Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region)

Location: Southern China

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Things to Do in Hong Kong: Victoria Peak, Lantau Island, Tian Tan Buddha

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Interesting Facts About Hong Kong:

• Hong Kong translates to 'Fragrant Harbour'
• Hong Kong currently has the most skyscrapers in the world and is also one of the most densely populated areas in the world
• 40% of the land is actually country park

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Hubei Province

Location: Central China

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Major Cities in Hubei Province: Wuhan, Yichang

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Things to Do in Hubei Province: Wudang Mountains, Yellow Crane Tower

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Interesting Facts About Hubei Province:

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• Large cave systems have been found in Hubei province, with Tenglong Caves being one of the largest Karst cave systems in the country
• There are 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hubei province
• The name translates to North of the Lake, referring to Dongting Lake, which lies in the Yangtze River basin.

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Hunan Province

Location: Southern China

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Major Cities in Hunan Province: Changsha, Zhangjiajie

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Things to Do in Hunan Province: Zhangjiajie National Forest, Tianmen Mountain

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Interesting Facts About Hunan Province:

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• Whilst Hubei is “North of the Lake”, referring to Dongting Lake, Hunan is “South of the Lake”.
• It is also the birthplace of Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China.
• It is known to be an incredibly artistic place, with skilled craftspeople creating embroidery, stone carvings and more.

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Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Location: Northern China

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Major Cities in Inner Mongolia: Hohhot, Hulunbuir

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Things to Do in Inner Mongolia: Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, Hulan Lake

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Interesting Facts About Inner Mongolia:

• It is bordered in the North by the countries of Mongolia and Russia
• It covers an absolutely huge area, at about 12% of China’s total land area.
• Inner Mongolia has a huge range of environments, from luscious grasslands to arid deserts.

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Jiangsu Province

Location: Eastern China

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Major Cities in Jiangsu Province: Nanjing, Suzhou

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Things to Do in Jiangsu Province: Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, Lake Tai

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Interesting Facts About Jiangsu Province:

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• Jiangsu is known for its fertile lands, and has the nicknames of ‘the land of rivers and lakes” and 'the country of fish and rice'.
• It has the highest density of of academics, which includes universities, colleges and more. It is also home to a lot of the world’s biggest exporters, who have used the province as their Chinese base.
• Suzhou, one of the major cities, is in TripAdivsors top 20 cities in China to visit.

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Jiangxi Province

Location: South East China

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Major Cities in Jiangxi Province: Nanchang, Jiujiang

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Things to Do in Jiangxi Province: Mouny Sanqing, Mount Longhu

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Interesting Facts:

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• The name translates to 'West of the River', referring to the massive Yangtze River.
• It’s known for its porcelain and pottery making, with it dating back over 1000 years.
• It’s been an important area in Chinese history, as it lay on a major route that trade, armies and the population would travel on.

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Jilin Province

Location: North East China

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Major Cities in Jilin Province: Jilin City, Changchun

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Things to Do in Jilin Province: Beidahu Ski Area, Changbai Waterfall

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Interesting Facts About Jilin Province:

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• Jilin actually borders both North Korea and Russia.
• It’s known as a winter destination, with the well known ski resort Beidahu being here.
• You can find Jingyuetan National Forest Park here, which translates to “Clear Moon Pool”, and includes ski slopes, a man made beach, temples, tombs and much more.

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Liaoning Province

Location: Northeast China

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Major Cities in Liaoning Province: Dalian, Shenyang

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Things to Do in Liaoning Province: Red Beach, Mukden

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Interesting Facts About Liaoning Province:

• Liaoning is another province which borders North Korea, and also the Yellow Sea.
• Dalian is a major port city for China.
• The Mukden Palace has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Macau (Special Administrative Region)

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‍Location: South Coast of China

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Things to Do in Macau: Ruin's of St Paul's, Macau Tower, Resorts & Casinos

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Interesting Facts About Macau:

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• It is widely considered to be the second richest territory in the world and it brings in over 3x the amount Vegas does in profits
• It has the world's highest bungee jump, off the Macau tower
• The Historic Centre of Macau is also recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

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Ningxia Province

Location: North Central China

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Major Cities in Ningxia Province: Yinchuan, Zhongwei

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Things to Do in Ningxia Province: Shuidonggou Site, Shahu Lake

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Interesting Facts About Ningxia Province:

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• Most of Ningxia is desert and is one of the smallest provinces in China.
• It is home to the “108 Stupas”, which are buddhist dagobas organised in formation next to the yellow river.
• It was also situated along the Silk Road, meaning it was heavily influenced by those travelling and trading along its route.

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Qinghai Province

Location: North West China

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Major Cities in Qinghai Province: Xining, Golmud

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Things to Do in Qinghai Province: Qinghai Lake, Kumbum Monastery

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Interesting Facts About Qinghai Province:

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• It is the 4th largest province in China by area, yet it has the 3rd smallest population.
• The Yangtze and Mekong Rivers have their sources in the province, whilst the Yellow river also originates here.
• It has a number of incredible spots, including Qinghai Lake (the biggest lake in China), which is also known as ‘the roof of the world” due to it being high up on the Tibetan plateau (3600m high up, in fact).

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Shaanxi Province

Locations: North West China

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Major Cities in Shaanxi Province: Xi'an, Xianyang

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Things to Do in Shaanxi Province: Terracotta Army, Mount Hua, Muslim Quarter

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Interesting Facts About Shaanxi Province:

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• The capital, Xi’an, is one of the oldest Cities in China and is actually the oldest of the great ancient capitals.
• The name “Shaanxi” translates to Land West of the Shan Pass”.
• The UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mausoleum and Terracotta Army Museum can be found here in Xi’an.

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Shandong Province

Location: East Coast of China

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Major Cities in Shandong Province: Qingdao, Jinan

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Things to Do in Shandong Province: Mount Lao, May Fourth Square

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Interesting Facts About Shandong Province:

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The name translates to “East of the Mountains”. It is the second most populous province in China. It formed an important part of ancient and modern trade routes, meaning it’s now become an economic hub.

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Shanghai (Municipality)

Location: Central Coast of China

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Things to Do in Shanghai: The Bund, Yu Garden, Oriental Pearl TV Tower

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‍Interesting Facts About Shanghai:

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• The Chinese government set out to make Shanghai ‘the New York of Asia’, and the city now boasts nearly 30million people.
• It has the longest and most completely metro system in the world, with over 400 miles of track.
• The name translates to ‘On the Sea’, referring to the fact it is based on the East China Sea.

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Shanxi Province

Location: North China

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Major Cities in Shanxi Province: Datong, Pingyao, Taiyuan

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Things to Do in Shanxi Province: Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple

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Interesting Facts About Shanxi Province:

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• It’s very well known for its various temples and artifacts.
• Pingyao is one of China’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• It is also home to Mount Wutai, which is one of Buddhism's most holy places.

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Sichuan Province

Location: South West China

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Major Cities in Sichuan Province: Chengdu, Leshan

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Things to Do in Sichuan Province: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Leshan Giant Buddha

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Interesting Facts About Sichuan Province:

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• A large stretch of Asia’s longest river, the Yangtze, runs through the province.
• The province itself is larger in area in Germany, and has a similar population.
• Two famous high altitude national parks, Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, can be found here, with the former being on average over 6,600ft and the latter being over 10,500ft.

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Taiwan Province

Location: Island off East China

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Major Cities in Taiwan Province: Taipei, New Taipei City

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Things to Do in Taiwan Province: Taipei 101, Sun Moon Lake

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Interesting Facts About Taiwan Province:

• It’s the origin of a lot of popular Asian snacks, such as Bubble tea and stinky Tofu which both originate here
• The Taipei 101 is 508m tall and was the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010.
• It has a lot of interesting traditions, such as people wearing white to funerals

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Tianjin (Municipality)

Location: North East China

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Things to Do in Tianjin: Tianjin Eye, Huangya Pass, Tianjin Radio and TV Tower

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Interesting Facts About Tianjin:

• It’s only about 130km away from Beijing, so it will take you about half an hour by train to get between the two
• It’s the 5th largest city in China
• It’s a well educated area, with China’s first university starting here and now, more than 100 of the Fortune 500 companies have invested in the area.

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Tibet Autonomous Region

Location: North China

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Major Cities in Tibet: Lhasa, Nagqu

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Things to Do in Tibet: Kangchenjunga, Makalu

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Interesting Facts About Tibet:

• It is at an incredibly high average altitude, consisting of the Himalayas, whilst it also shares Mt Everest with Nepal.
• It is the least populated province in China due to its mountainous terrain and it’s average mountain size is over 20,000ft.
• You need a permit and a tour guide to even enter Tibet.

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Xinjiang Province

Location: North West China

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Major Cities in Xinjiang Province: Kashgar, Urumqi

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Things to Do in Xinjiang Province:Heavenly Lake of Tianshan, Flaming Mountains

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Interesting Facts About Xinjiang Province:

• It is absolutely huge, and is the largest province in China, which is made up of deserts and mountains.
• It’s that big that it borders Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia.
• It’s believed in Kanas lake, a big fabled creature lives there, although it has never been seen.

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Yunnan Province

Location: South West China

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Major Cities in Yunnan Province: Kunming, Lijiang

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Things to Do in Yunnan Province: Tiger Leaping Gorge, Dynamic Yunnan Show

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Interesting Facts About Yunnan Province:

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• Yunnan is considered the ‘2nd trip to China’ location. So once you’ve done the famous tourist hotspots of Beijing and Shanghai, Yunnan tends to be the next big places to go.
• It also borders a lot of South-East Asia, including Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar.
• It has 5 different UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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Zhejiang Province

Location: East China

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Major Cities in Zhejiang Province: Hangzhou, Ningo

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Things to Do in Zhejiang Province: West Lake, Lingyin Temple

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Interesting Facts About Zhejiang Province:

• Hangzhou is known as the ‘tea capital’ of China.
• Hangzhou has two world heritage sights, including West Lake and the Grand Canal.
• Zhejiang translates to ‘bent river’, as it’s named by the Qiantang river.

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