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County-level city
县级市
Xiànjíshì
CategoryThird level administrative division of a unitary state
LocationPeople's Republic of China
Found inPrefectures, Provinces
Number411 (408 controlled, 3 claimed) (as of 3 April 2023)
Populations15,124 (Tsona) – 2,054,703 (Puning)
Areas89 km2 (34 sq mi) (Linxia) – 119,165 km2 (46,010 sq mi) (Golmud)
Government
Subdivisions
County-level city
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese县级市
Traditional Chinese縣級市
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXiànjíshì
Wade–GilesHsien-chi-shih
Tibetan name
Tibetanརྫོང་རིམ་པ་གྲོང་ཁྱེར།
Transcriptions
Wyliedzong rim pa drong khyer
Tibetan PinyinZong Rimba Chongkyêr
Mongolian name
Mongolian scriptᠬᠣᠰᠢᠭᠤᠨ ᠤ ᠡᠩ ᠲᠡᠢ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ
Transcriptions
SASM/GNCHûshûûn û entei hôt
Uyghur name
Uyghurناھىيىسى دەرىجىلىك شەھەر‎
Transcriptions
Latin YëziqiNahiyisi Derijilik Sheher

A county-level city (Chinese: 县级市) is a county-level administrative division of the People's Republic of China. County-level cities have judicial but no legislative rights over their own local law and are usually governed by prefecture-level divisions, but a few are governed directly by province-level divisions.

A county-level city is a "city" (市; shì) and "county" (县; xiàn) that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction. As such, it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal entity, and a county, which is an administrative division of a prefecture. Most county-level cities were created in the 1980s and 1990s by replacing denser populated counties.

County-level cities are not "cities" in the strictest sense of the word, since they usually contain rural areas many times the size of their urban, built-up area. This is because the counties that county-level cities have replaced are themselves large administrative units containing towns, villages and farmland. To distinguish a "county-level city" from its actual urban area (the traditional meaning of the word "city"), the term "市区" (shìqū) or "urban area", is used.

Comparable territorial divisions in other countries

[edit]

While the idea of a "city" being a unit consisting of several "towns" is not a common one in English-speaking world, a somewhat similar naming convention is used for local government areas in some parts of Australia. For example, in New South Wales such a unit may often be called a "city" (rather than a traditional "shire"), and consist of "towns". E.g. City of Blue Mountains is made of a number of towns (Katoomba, Springwood, etc.).

List

[edit]
Administrative divisions
of China
Province-level (1st)
Municipalities

Provinces

Autonomous regions

Special administrative regions
Sub-provincial cities

Sub-provincial autonomous prefectures

Sub-provincial city districts
Prefecture-level (2nd)
Prefectural cities

Leagues (Aimag) (abolishing)

Prefectures (abolishing)

Autonomous prefectures
Sub-prefectural cities

Provincial-controlled cities

Provincial-controlled counties

Provincial-controlled districts
County level (3rd)
Counties

Autonomous counties

County-level cities

Districts
Ethnic districts

Banners (Hoxu)
Autonomous banners

Shennongjia Forestry District

Liuzhi Special District

Wolong Special Administrative Region

Workers and peasants districts

(obsolete)
Analogous county level units
Management areas
Management committee
Township level (4th)
Townships

Ethnic townships

Towns
Ethnic towns

Subdistricts

Sum
Ethnic sum

County-controlled districts
County-controlled district bureaux
(obsolete)

Management committees

Town-level city

(pilot)
Analogous township level units
Management areas
Management committee

Areas

Farms area (Overseas Chinese Farm Region [zh]), Prison area, University towns, etc.
(Grassroots Autonomous Organizations)

Villages · Gaqa · Ranches
Village Committees

Communities

Residential Committees
Others
Regions

Capital cities

New areas

Autonomous administrative divisions

National central cities

Special Economic Zones

History: before 1912, 1912–49, 1949–present

Administrative division codes
In the main urban area of Daye, a county-level city within the prefecture-level city of Huangshi, Hubei. Daye also includes some separate towns, such as Dajipu (大箕铺)

As of 3 April 2023, there are 408 county-level cities in total:

City Chinese Province Prefecture Area
(km²)		 Founded
(PRC)
Chaohu 巢湖市 Anhui Hefei 2,082 2011-07-14
Guangde 广德市 Anhui Xuancheng 2,165 2019-07-12
Jieshou 界首市 Anhui Fuyang 666 1989-09-27
Mingguang 明光市 Anhui Chuzhou 2,335 1994-05-31
Ningguo 宁国市 Anhui Xuancheng 2,447 1997-03-11
Qianshan 潜山市 Anhui Anqing 1,692 2018-07-02
Tianchang 天长市 Anhui Chuzhou 1,770 1993-09-18
Tongcheng 桐城市 Anhui Anqing 1,572 1996-08-20
Wuwei 无为市 Anhui Wuhu 2,042 2019-11-20
Fu'an 福安市 Fujian Ningde 1,880 1989-11-13
Fuding 福鼎市 Fujian Ningde 1,526 1995-10-13
Fuqing 福清市 Fujian Fuzhou 1,518 1990-12-26
Jian'ou 建瓯市 Fujian Nanping 4,200 1992-10-20
Jinjiang 晋江市 Fujian Quanzhou 642 1992-03-06
Longhai 龙海市 Fujian Zhangzhou 1,115 1993-05-12
Nan'an 南安市 Fujian Quanzhou 1,985 1993-05-12
Shaowu 邵武市 Fujian Nanping 2,851 1983-08-17
Shishi 石狮市 Fujian Quanzhou 160 1987-12-17
Wuyishan 武夷山市 Fujian Nanping 2,814 1989-08-21
Yong'an 永安市 Fujian Sanming 2,942 1984-09-12
Zhangping 漳平市 Fujian Longyan 2,976 1990-08-15
Dunhuang 敦煌市 Gansu Jiuquan 31,200 1987-08-21
Hezuo 合作市 Gansu Gannan 2,670 1996-05-28
Huating 华亭市 Gansu Pingliang 1,183 2018-07-02
Linxia 临夏市 Gansu Linxia 89 1983-08-31
Yumen 玉门市 Gansu Jiuquan 13,389 1961-11-15
Enping 恩平市 Guangdong Jiangmen 1,698 1994-02-28
Gaozhou 高州市 Guangdong Maoming 3,389 1993-06-08
Heshan 鹤山市 Guangdong Jiangmen 1,083 1993-11-08
Huazhou 化州市 Guangdong Maoming 2,404 1994-07-04
Kaiping 开平市 Guangdong Jiangmen 1,659 1993-01-05
Lechang 乐昌市 Guangdong Shaoguan 2,384 1994-04-28
Leizhou 雷州市 Guangdong Zhanjiang 3,025 1994-04-26
Lianjiang 廉江市 Guangdong Zhanjiang 2,543 1993-12-10
Lianzhou 连州市 Guangdong Qingyuan 2,665 1994-04-22
Lufeng 陆丰市 Guangdong Shanwei 1,777 1995-01-19
Luoding 罗定市 Guangdong Yunfu 2,328 1993-04-08
Nanxiong 南雄市 Guangdong Shaoguan 2,402 1996-06-17
Puning 普宁市 Guangdong Jieyang 1,620 1993-04-06
Sihui 四会市 Guangdong Zhaoqing 1,258 1993-11-25
Taishan 台山市 Guangdong Jiangmen 3,296 1992-04-17
Wuchuan 吴川市 Guangdong Zhanjiang 848 1994-05-26
Xingning 兴宁市 Guangdong Meizhou 2,107 1994-06-06
Xinyi 信宜市 Guangdong Maoming 3,081 1995-09-11
Yangchun 阳春市 Guangdong Yangjiang 4,055 1994-05-05
Yingde 英德市 Guangdong Qingyuan 5,671 1994-01-12
Beiliu 北流市 Guangxi Yulin 2,457 1994-04-18
Cenxi 岑溪市 Guangxi Wuzhou 2,783 1995-09-11
Dongxing 东兴市 Guangxi Fangchenggang 590 1996-04-29
Guiping 桂平市 Guangxi Guigang 4,074 1994-05-18
Hengzhou 横州市 Guangxi Nanning 3,464 2021-01-20
Heshan 合山市 Guangxi Laibin 365 1981-06-29
Jingxi 靖西市 Guangxi Baise 3,232 2015-08-01
Lipu 荔浦市 Guangxi Guilin 1,759 2018-07-02
Pingguo 平果市 Guangxi Baise 2,485 2019-11-20
Pingxiang 凭祥市 Guangxi Chongzuo 645 1961-05-27
Chishui 赤水市 Guizhou Zunyi 1,801 1990-09-30
Duyun 都匀市 Guizhou Qiannan 2,278 1966-03-09
Fuquan 福泉市 Guizhou Qiannan 1,691 1996-12-02
Kaili 凯里市 Guizhou Qiandongnan 1,570 1983-08-19
Panzhou 盘州市 Guizhou Liupanshui 4,057 2017-04-09
Qianxi 黔西市 Guizhou Bijie 2,380 2021-01-20
Qingzhen 清镇市 Guizhou Guiyang 1,302 1992-11-06
Renhuai 仁怀市 Guizhou Zunyi 1,788 1995-11-30
Xingren 兴仁市 Guizhou Qianxinan 1,785 2018-07-02
Xingyi 兴义市 Guizhou Qianxinan 2,911 1987-11-06
Dongfang 东方市 Hainan ZZZZ-nonenone 2,272 1997-03-12
Qionghai 琼海市 Hainan ZZZZ-nonenone 1,692 1992-11-06
Wanning 万宁市 Hainan ZZZZ-nonenone 1,883 1996-08-05
Wenchang 文昌市 Hainan ZZZZ-nonenone 2,486 1995-11-07
Wuzhishan 五指山市 Hainan ZZZZ-nonenone 1,130 1986-06-12
Anguo 安国市 Hebei Baoding 486 1991-05-06
Bazhou 霸州市 Hebei Langfang 802 1990-01-04
Botou 泊头市 Hebei Cangzhou 1,009 1982-12-13
Dingzhou 定州市 Hebei Baoding 1,283 1986-03-05
Gaobeidian 高碑店市 Hebei Baoding 618 1993-04-09
Hejian 河间市 Hebei Cangzhou 1,333 1990-10-18
Huanghua 黄骅市 Hebei Cangzhou 1,545 1989-07-27
Jinzhou 晋州市 Hebei Shijiazhuang 619 1991-11-30
Luanzhou 滦州市 Hebei Tangshan 1,027 2018-07-02
Nangong 南宫市 Hebei Xingtai 861 1986-03-05
Pingquan 平泉市 Hebei Chengde 3,294 2017-04-09
Qian'an 迁安市 Hebei Tangshan 1,227 1996-10-10
Renqiu 任丘市 Hebei Cangzhou 1,012 1986-03-05
Sanhe 三河市 Hebei Langfang 634 1993-03-03
Shahe 沙河市 Hebei Xingtai 859 1987-02-20
Shenzhou 深州市 Hebei Hengshui 1,245 1994-07-04
Wu'an 武安市 Hebei Handan 1,806 1988-09-01
Xinji 辛集市 Hebei Shijiazhuang 951 1986-03-05
Xinle 新乐市 Hebei Shijiazhuang 525 1992-10-08
Zhuozhou 涿州市 Hebei Baoding 751 1986-09-24
Zunhua 遵化市 Hebei Tangshan 1,509 1992-02-17
Anda 安达市 Heilongjiang Suihua 3,586 1984-11-17
Bei'an 北安市 Heilongjiang Heihe 7,194 1982-12-18
Dongning 东宁市 Heilongjiang Mudanjiang 7,117 2015-12-15
Fujin 富锦市 Heilongjiang Jiamusi 8,224 1988-08-30
Fuyuan 抚远市 Heilongjiang Jiamusi 6,047 2016-01-13
Hailin 海林市 Heilongjiang Mudanjiang 8,816 1992-07-28
Hailun 海伦市 Heilongjiang Suihua 4,667 1989-12-23
Hulin 虎林市 Heilongjiang Jixi 9,334 1996-10-11
Mishan 密山市 Heilongjiang Jixi 7,731 1988-11-17
Mohe 漠河市 Heilongjiang Daxing'anling 18,367 2018-02-22
Muling 穆棱市 Heilongjiang Mudanjiang 6,247 1995-03-07
Nehe 讷河市 Heilongjiang Qiqihar 6,664 1992-09-02
Nenjiang 嫩江市 Heilongjiang Heihe 15,109 2019-07-12
Ning'an 宁安市 Heilongjiang Mudanjiang 7,227 1993-02-12
Shangzhi 尚志市 Heilongjiang Harbin 8,891 1988-09-14
Suifenhe 绥芬河市 Heilongjiang Mudanjiang 422 1975-08-15
Tieli 铁力市 Heilongjiang Yichun 6,443 1988-09-13
Tongjiang 同江市 Heilongjiang Jiamusi 6,229 1987-02-24
Wuchang 五常市 Heilongjiang Harbin 7,512 1993-06-01
Wudalianchi 五大连池市 Heilongjiang Heihe 9,874 1983-10-08
Zhaodong 肇东市 Heilongjiang Suihua 4,330 1986-09-08
Changge 长葛市 Henan Xuchang 650 1993-12-14
Changyuan 长垣市 Henan Xinxiang 1,051 2019-07-12
Dengfeng 登封市 Henan Zhengzhou 1,220 1994-05-30
Dengzhou 邓州市 Henan Nanyang 2,294 1988-11-17
Gongyi 巩义市 Henan Zhengzhou 1,041 1991-06-12
Huixian 辉县市 Henan Xinxiang 2,007 1988-10-11
Jiyuan 济源市 Henan ZZZZ-nonenone 1,965 1988-06-25
Lingbao 灵宝市 Henan Sanmenxia 3,011 1993-05-12
Linzhou 林州市 Henan Anyang 2,046 1994-01-24
Mengzhou 孟州市 Henan Jiaozuo 542 1996-04-29
Qinyang 沁阳市 Henan Jiaozuo 623 1989-09-27
Ruzhou 汝州市 Henan Pingdingshan 1,573 1988-06-25
Weihui 卫辉市 Henan Xinxiang 882 1988-10-08
Wugang 舞钢市 Henan Pingdingshan 640 1990-09-04
Xiangcheng 项城市 Henan Zhoukou 1,083 1993-12-16
Xingyang 荥阳市 Henan Zhengzhou 955 1994-04-05
Xinmi 新密市 Henan Zhengzhou 1,001 1994-04-05
Xinzheng 新郑市 Henan Zhengzhou 873 1994-05-16
Yanshi 偃师市 Henan Luoyang 888 1993-12-15
Yima 义马市 Henan Sanmenxia 112 1981-04-04
Yongcheng 永城市 Henan Shangqiu 2,068 1996-10-11
Yuzhou 禹州市 Henan Xuchang 1,472 1988-06-25
Anlu 安陆市 Hubei Xiaogan 1,355 1987-09-04
Chibi 赤壁市 Hubei Xianning 1,723 1986-05-27
Dangyang 当阳市 Hubei Yichang 2,159 1988-10-22
Danjiangkou 丹江口市 Hubei Shiyan 3,121 1983-08-19
Daye 大冶市 Hubei Huangshi 1,566 1994-02-18
Enshi 恩施市 Hubei Enshi 3,972 1981-11-07
Guangshui 广水市 Hubei Suizhou 2,647 1988-10-11
Hanchuan 汉川市 Hubei Xiaogan 1,663 1997-03-12
Honghu 洪湖市 Hubei Jingzhou 2,519 1987-07-31
Jianli 监利市 Hubei Jingzhou 3,118 2020-06-12
Jingshan 京山市 Hubei Jingmen 3,284 2018-02-22
Laohekou 老河口市 Hubei Xiangyang 1,032 1979-11-16
Lichuan 利川市 Hubei Enshi 4,603 1986-05-27
Macheng 麻城市 Hubei Huanggang 3,599 1986-05-27
Qianjiang 潜江市 Hubei ZZZZ-nonenone 2,004 1988-05-25
Shishou 石首市 Hubei Jingzhou 1,427 1986-05-27
Songzi 松滋市 Hubei Jingzhou 2,235 1995-12-29
Tianmen 天门市 Hubei ZZZZ-nonenone 2,622 1987-08-03
Wuxue 武穴市 Hubei Huanggang 1,246 1987-10-23
Xiantao 仙桃市 Hubei ZZZZ-nonenone 2,538 1986-05-27
Yicheng 宜城市 Hubei Xiangyang 2,115 1994-06-10
Yidu 宜都市 Hubei Yichang 1,357 1987-11-30
Yingcheng 应城市 Hubei Xiaogan 1,103 1986-05-27
Zaoyang 枣阳市 Hubei Xiangyang 3,277 1988-01-08
Zhijiang 枝江市 Hubei Yichang 1,310 1996-07-30
Zhongxiang 钟祥市 Hubei Jingmen 4,488 1992-05-20
Changning 常宁市 Hunan Hengyang 2,048 1996-11-26
Hongjiang 洪江市 Hunan Huaihua 2,283 1979-09-01
Jinshi 津市市 Hunan Changde 556 1979-12-19
Jishou 吉首市 Hunan Xiangxi 1,078 1982-08-03
Leiyang 耒阳市 Hunan Hengyang 2,648 1986-11-11
Lengshuijiang 冷水江市 Hunan Loudi 438 1983-07-13
Lianyuan 涟源市 Hunan Loudi 1,912 1987-06-10
Liling 醴陵市 Hunan Zhuzhou 2,156 1985-05-24
Linxiang 临湘市 Hunan Yueyang 1,719 1992-09-01
Liuyang 浏阳市 Hunan Changsha 4,997 1993-01-16
Miluo 汨罗市 Hunan Yueyang 1,670 1987-09-23
Ningxiang 宁乡市 Hunan Changsha 2,912 2017-04-09
Qiyang 祁阳市 Hunan Yongzhou 2,538 2021-01-20
Shaodong 邵东市 Hunan Shaoyang 1,778 2019-07-12
Shaoshan 韶山市 Hunan Xiangtan 247 1990-12-26
Wugang 武冈市 Hunan Shaoyang 1,539 1994-02-18
Xiangxiang 湘乡市 Hunan Xiangtan 1,966 1986-09-12
Yuanjiang 沅江市 Hunan Yiyang 2,129 1988-10-11
Zixing 资兴市 Hunan Chenzhou 2,730 1984-12-20
Arxan 阿尔山市 Inner Mongolia Hinggan 7,409 1996-06-10
Erenhot 二连浩特市 Inner Mongolia Xilingol 4,013 1966-01-18
Ergun 额尔古纳市 Inner Mongolia Hulunbuir 28,958 1994-07-13
Fengzhen 丰镇市 Inner Mongolia Ulanqab 2,704 1990-11-15
Genhe 根河市 Inner Mongolia Hulunbuir 19,659 1994-04-28
Holingol 霍林郭勒市 Inner Mongolia Tongliao 585 1985-11-09
Manzhouli 满洲里市 Inner Mongolia Hulunbuir 453 1954-05-21
Ulanhot 乌兰浩特市 Inner Mongolia Hinggan 2,728 1980-07-26
Xilinhot 锡林浩特市 Inner Mongolia Xilingol 14,780 1983-10-10
Yakeshi 牙克石市 Inner Mongolia Hulunbuir 27,590 1983-10-10
Zhalantun 扎兰屯市 Inner Mongolia Hulunbuir 16,800 1983-10-10
Changshu 常熟市 Jiangsu Suzhou 1,276 1983-01-18
Danyang 丹阳市 Jiangsu Zhenjiang 1,047 1987-12-15
Dongtai 东台市 Jiangsu Yancheng 3,221 1987-12-17
Gaoyou 高邮市 Jiangsu Yangzhou 1,922 1991-02-06
Hai'an 海安市 Jiangsu Nantong 1,108 2018-02-22
Jiangyin 江阴市 Jiangsu Wuxi 987 1987-04-23
Jingjiang 靖江市 Jiangsu Taizhou 656 1993-07-14
Jurong 句容市 Jiangsu Zhenjiang 1,387 1995-04-06
Liyang 溧阳市 Jiangsu Changzhou 1,535 1990-08-15
Kunshan 昆山市 Jiangsu Suzhou 932 1989-07-27
Pizhou 邳州市 Jiangsu Xuzhou 2,088 1992-07-07
Qidong 启东市 Jiangsu Nantong 1,208 1989-11-13
Rugao 如皋市 Jiangsu Nantong 1,492 1991-02-06
Taicang 太仓市 Jiangsu Suzhou 823 1993-01-08
Taixing 泰兴市 Jiangsu Taizhou 1,170 1992-09-21
Xinghua 兴化市 Jiangsu Taizhou 2,395 1987-12-22
Xinyi 新沂市 Jiangsu Xuzhou 1,571 1990-02-05
Yangzhong 扬中市 Jiangsu Zhenjiang 331 1994-05-18
Yixing 宜兴市 Jiangsu Wuxi 1,997 1988-01-09
Yizheng 仪征市 Jiangsu Yangzhou 902 1986-04-21
Zhangjiagang 张家港市 Jiangsu Suzhou 990 1986-09-16
Dexing 德兴市 Jiangxi Shangrao 2,082 1990-12-26
Fengcheng 丰城市 Jiangxi Yichun 2,845 1988-10-04
Gao'an 高安市 Jiangxi Yichun 2,439 1993-12-08
Gongqingcheng 共青城市 Jiangxi Jiujiang 307 2010-09-10
Guixi 贵溪市 Jiangxi Yingtan 2,480 1996-05-28
Jinggangshan 井冈山市 Jiangxi Ji'an 1,297 1984-12-13
Leping 乐平市 Jiangxi Jingdezhen 1,973 1992-07-27
Longnan 龙南市 Jiangxi Ganzhou 1,641 2020-06-12
Lushan 庐山市 Jiangxi Jiujiang 596 2016-03-20
Ruichang 瑞昌市 Jiangxi Jiujiang 1,423 1989-12-20
Ruijin 瑞金市 Jiangxi Ganzhou 2,448 1994-05-18
Zhangshu 樟树市 Jiangxi Yichun 1,219 1988-10-13
Da'an 大安市 Jilin Baicheng 4,879 1988-08-30
Dehui 德惠市 Jilin Changchun 3,096 1994-07-06
Dunhua 敦化市 Jilin Yanbian 11,963 1985-02-28
Fuyu 扶余市 Jilin Songyuan 4,189 2013-01-24
Gongzhuling 公主岭市 Jilin Changchun 4,027 1985-12-19
Helong 和龙市 Jilin Yanbian 5,069 1993-07-05
Huadian 桦甸市 Jilin Jilin 6,624 1988-05-25
Hunchun 珲春市 Jilin Yanbian 4,938 1988-05-25
Ji'an 集安市 Jilin Tonghua 3,408 1988-03-16
Jiaohe 蛟河市 Jilin Jilin 6,235 1989-08-15
Linjiang 临江市 Jilin Baishan 3,009 1993-11-28
Longjing 龙井市 Jilin Yanbian 2,193 1988-05-25
Meihekou 梅河口市 Jilin Tonghua 2,175 1985-12-19
Panshi 磐石市 Jilin Jilin 3,867 1995-08-30
Shuangliao 双辽市 Jilin Siping 3,121 1996-04-29
Shulan 舒兰市 Jilin Jilin 4,554 1992-10-08
Taonan 洮南市 Jilin Baicheng 5,108 1987-05-21
Tumen 图们市 Jilin Yanbian 1,142 1965-03-27
Yanji 延吉市 Jilin Yanbian 1,731 1953-05-04
Yushu 榆树市 Jilin Changchun 4,691 1990-12-26
Beipiao 北票市 Liaoning Chaoyang 4,469 1985-01-17
Beizhen 北镇市 Liaoning Jinzhou 1,693 1995-03-21
Dashiqiao 大石桥市 Liaoning Yingkou 1,379 1992-11-03
Dengta 灯塔市 Liaoning Liaoyang 1,313 1996-08-27
Diaobingshan 调兵山市 Liaoning Tieling 262 1986-09-12
Donggang 东港市 Liaoning Dandong 2,496 1993-06-18
Fengcheng 凤城市 Liaoning Dandong 5,518 1994-03-08
Gaizhou 盖州市 Liaoning Yingkou 2,953 1992-11-03
Haicheng 海城市 Liaoning Anshan 2,566 1985-01-17
Kaiyuan 开原市 Liaoning Tieling 2,813 1988-12-27
Linghai 凌海市 Liaoning Jinzhou 2,417 1993-11-16
Lingyuan 凌源市 Liaoning Chaoyang 3,264 1991-12-21
Wafangdian 瓦房店市 Liaoning Dalian 3,791 1985-01-17
Xingcheng 兴城市 Liaoning Huludao 2,103 1986-12-13
Xinmin 新民市 Liaoning Shenyang 3,315 1993-06-14
Zhuanghe 庄河市 Liaoning Dalian 3,900 1992-09-21
Lingwu 灵武市 Ningxia Yinchuan 3,846 1996-04-29
Qingtongxia 青铜峡市 Ningxia Wuzhong 2,438 1984-12-17
Delingha 德令哈市 Qinghai Haixi 27,766 1988-04-19
Golmud 格尔木市 Qinghai Haixi 119,167 1980-06-14
Mangnai 茫崖市 Qinghai Haixi 49,800 2018-02-22
Tongren 同仁市 Qinghai Huangnan 3,465 2020-06-12
Yushu 玉树市 Qinghai Yushu 15,413 2013-07-04
Binzhou 彬州市 Shaanxi Xianyang 1,181 2018-02-22
Hancheng 韩城市 Shaanxi Weinan 1,596 1983-09-09
Huayin 华阴市 Shaanxi Weinan 675 1990-12-27
Shenmu 神木市 Shaanxi Yulin 7,481 2017-04-09
Xingping 兴平市 Shaanxi Xianyang 509 1993-06-18
Xunyang 旬阳市 Shaanxi Ankang 3,540 2021-01-20
Zichang 子长市 Shaanxi Yan'an 2,393 2019-07-12
Anqiu 安丘市 Shandong Weifang 1,712 1994-01-18
Changyi 昌邑市 Shandong Weifang 1,628 1994-06-10
Feicheng 肥城市 Shandong Tai'an 1,277 1992-08-01
Gaomi 高密市 Shandong Weifang 1,527 1994-05-18
Haiyang 海阳市 Shandong Yantai 1,909 1996-04-29
Jiaozhou 胶州市 Shandong Qingdao 1,324 1987-02-12
Laixi 莱西市 Shandong Qingdao 1,568 1990-12-18
Laiyang 莱阳市 Shandong Yantai 1,732 1987-02-20
Laizhou 莱州市 Shandong Yantai 1,928 1988-02-24
Leling 乐陵市 Shandong Dezhou 1,173 1988-09-01
Linqing 临清市 Shandong Liaocheng 950 1983-08-30
Longkou 龙口市 Shandong Yantai 901 1986-09-23
Pingdu 平度市 Shandong Qingdao 3,176 1989-07-27
Qingzhou 青州市 Shandong Weifang 1,569 1986-03-01
Qixia 栖霞市 Shandong Yantai 2,016 1995-11-30
Qufu 曲阜市 Shandong Jining 815 1986-06-02
Rongcheng 荣成市 Shandong Weihai 1,526 1988-11-01
Rushan 乳山市 Shandong Weihai 1,665 1993-07-17
Shouguang 寿光市 Shandong Weifang 1,990 1993-06-01
Tengzhou 滕州市 Shandong Zaozhuang 1,495 1988-03-07
Xintai 新泰市 Shandong Tai'an 1,934 1983-08-30
Yucheng 禹城市 Shandong Dezhou 992 1993-09-09
Zhaoyuan 招远市 Shandong Yantai 1,432 1991-12-21
Zhucheng 诸城市 Shandong Weifang 2,151 1987-04-20
Zoucheng 邹城市 Shandong Jining 1,616 1992-10-04
Zouping 邹平市 Shandong Binzhou 1,250 2018-07-02
Fenyang 汾阳市 Shanxi Lüliang 1,170 1996-08-20
Gaoping 高平市 Shanxi Jincheng 980 1993-05-12
Gujiao 古交市 Shanxi Taiyuan 1,512 1988-02-24
Hejin 河津市 Shanxi Yuncheng 593 1994-01-12
Houma 侯马市 Shanxi Linfen 220 1971-06-05
Huairen 怀仁市 Shanxi Shuozhou 1,234 2018-02-22
Huozhou 霍州市 Shanxi Linfen 765 1989-12-23
Jiexiu 介休市 Shanxi Jinzhong 741 1992-02-10
Xiaoyi 孝义市 Shanxi Lüliang 938 1992-02-10
Yongji 永济市 Shanxi Yuncheng 1,208 1994-01-12
Yuanping 原平市 Shanxi Xinzhou 2,550 1993-06-17
Barkam 马尔康市 Sichuan Ngawa 6,633 2015-11-02
Chongzhou 崇州市 Sichuan Chengdu 1,090 1994-06-20
Dujiangyan 都江堰市 Sichuan Chengdu 1,208 1988-03-03
Emeishan 峨眉山市 Sichuan Leshan 1,181 1988-09-01
Guanghan 广汉市 Sichuan Deyang 549 1988-02-24
Huaying 华蓥市 Sichuan Guang'an 466 1985-02-04
Huili 会理市 Sichuan Liangshan 4,527 2021-01-20
Jiangyou 江油市 Sichuan Mianyang 2,721 1988-02-24
Jianyang 简阳市 Sichuan Chengdu 2,214 1994-04-05
Kangding 康定市 Sichuan Garzê 11,486 2015-02-17
Langzhong 阆中市 Sichuan Nanchong 1,878 1991-01-12
Longchang 隆昌市 Sichuan Neijiang 794 2017-04-09
Mianzhu 绵竹市 Sichuan Deyang 1,246 1996-10-15
Pengzhou 彭州市 Sichuan Chengdu 1,420 1993-12-01
Qionglai 邛崃市 Sichuan Chengdu 1,384 1994-06-19
Shehong 射洪市 Sichuan Suining 1,496 2019-07-12
Shifang 什邡市 Sichuan Deyang 820 1995-11-08
Wanyuan 万源市 Sichuan Dazhou 4,065 1993-07-14
Xichang 西昌市 Sichuan Liangshan 2,655 1979-07-19
Jiayi 嘉义市 Taiwan ZZZZ-nonenone 60 —
Jilong 基隆市 Taiwan ZZZZ-nonenone 132 —
Xinzhu 新竹市 Taiwan ZZZZ-nonenone 104 —
Aksu 阿克苏市 Xinjiang Aksu 13,647 1983-08-19
Alashankou 阿拉山口市 Xinjiang Bortala 1,204 2012-12-17
Altay 阿勒泰市 Xinjiang Altay 10,819 1984-11-17
Aral 阿拉尔市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 5,266 2002-09-17
Artux 阿图什市 Xinjiang Kizilsu 15,698 1986-06-07
Baiyang 白杨市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 4,928 2023-01-20
Beitun 北屯市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 911 2011-12-27
Bole 博乐市 Xinjiang Bortala 7,802 1985-06-24
Changji 昌吉市 Xinjiang Changji 7,981 1983-07-21
Fukang 阜康市 Xinjiang Changji 8,545 1992-11-03
Hotan 和田市 Xinjiang Hotan 466 1983-09-09
Huyanghe 胡杨河市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 677.94 2019-11-06
Kashgar 喀什市 Xinjiang Kashgar 791 1952-05-22
Khorgas 霍尔果斯市 Xinjiang Ili 1,909 2014-06-26
Kokdala 可克达拉市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 979.71 2015-03-16
Korla 库尔勒市 Xinjiang Bayingolin 6,038 1979-09-02
Kuytun 奎屯市 Xinjiang Ili 1,171 1975-08-29
Kunyu 昆玉市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 687.13 2016-01-07
Kuqa 库车市 Xinjiang Aksu 14,529 2019-11-20
Shawan 沙湾市 Xinjiang Tacheng 12,460 2021-01-20
Shihezi 石河子市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 457 1976-01-02
Shuanghe 双河市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 742 2014-01-25
Tacheng 塔城市 Xinjiang Tacheng 4,007 1984-11-17
Tiemenguan 铁门关市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 590 2012-12-17
Tumxuk 图木舒克市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 2,003 2002-09-17
Wujiaqu 五家渠市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 742 2002-09-17
Wusu 乌苏市 Xinjiang Tacheng 14,394 1996-07-10
Xinxing 新星市 Xinjiang ZZZZ-nonenone 539.76 2021-02-04
Yining 伊宁市 Xinjiang Ili 730 1952-05-22
Anning 安宁市 Yunnan Kunming 1,313 1995-10-13
Chengjiang 澄江市 Yunnan Yuxi 773 2019-11-20
Chuxiong 楚雄市 Yunnan Chuxiong 4,482 1983-09-09
Dali 大理市 Yunnan Dali 1,468 1983-09-09
Gejiu 个旧市 Yunnan Honghe 1,597 1958-09-16
Jinghong 景洪市 Yunnan Xishuangbanna 7,133 1993-12-22
Kaiyuan 开远市 Yunnan Honghe 2,009 1981-01-18
Lufeng 禄丰市 Yunnan Chuxiong 3,536 2021-01-20
Lushui 泸水市 Yunnan Nujiang 2,938 2016-06-16
Mang/Mangshi 芒市 Yunnan Dehong 2,987 1996-10-28
Mainling 米林市 Tibet Nyingchi 9,507 2023-04-03
Mengzi 蒙自市 Yunnan Honghe 2,228 2010-09-10
Mile 弥勒市 Yunnan Honghe 4,004 2013-01-24
Ruili 瑞丽市 Yunnan Dehong 1,020 1992-06-26
Shangri-La 香格里拉市 Yunnan Dêqên 11,613 2014-12-16
Shuifu 水富市 Yunnan Zhaotong 319 2018-07-02
Tengchong 腾冲市 Yunnan Baoshan 5,845 2015-08-01
Tsona 错那市 Tibet Shannan 6,703 2023-04-03
Wenshan 文山市 Yunnan Wenshan 3,064 2010-12-02
Xuanwei 宣威市 Yunnan Qujing 6,257 1994-02-18
Cixi 慈溪市 Zhejiang Ningbo 1,154 1988-10-13
Dongyang 东阳市 Zhejiang Jinhua 1,739 1988-05-25
Haining 海宁市 Zhejiang Jiaxing 681 1986-11-22
Jiande 建德市 Zhejiang Hangzhou 2,364 1992-04-01
Jiangshan 江山市 Zhejiang Quzhou 2,018 1987-11-27
Lanxi 兰溪市 Zhejiang Jinhua 1,310 1985-05-15
Linhai 临海市 Zhejiang Taizhou 2,171 1986-03-01
Longgang 龙港市 Zhejiang Wenzhou 121.92 2019-08-16
Longquan 龙泉市 Zhejiang Lishui 3,059 1990-12-26
Pinghu 平湖市 Zhejiang Jiaxing 536 1991-06-15
Rui'an 瑞安市 Zhejiang Wenzhou 1,278 1987-04-15
Shengzhou 嵊州市 Zhejiang Shaoxing 1,790 1995-08-30
Tongxiang 桐乡市 Zhejiang Jiaxing 723 1993-03-26
Wenling 温岭市 Zhejiang Taizhou 836 1994-02-18
Yiwu 义乌市 Zhejiang Jinhua 1,103 1988-05-25
Yongkang 永康市 Zhejiang Jinhua 1,049 1992-08-24
Yueqing 乐清市 Zhejiang Wenzhou 1,174 1993-09-18
Yuhuan 玉环市 Zhejiang Taizhou 378 2017-04-09
Yuyao 余姚市 Zhejiang Ningbo 1,346 1985-07-16
Zhuji 诸暨市 Zhejiang Shaoxing 2,311 1989-09-27

Sub-prefectural cities

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Main article: Sub-prefectural city

A sub-prefectural city is a county-level city with powers approaching those of prefecture-level cities. Examples include, Xiantao (Hubei), Qianjiang (Hubei), Tianmen (Hubei) and Jiyuan (Henan).

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

County-level city

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A county-level city (Chinese: 县级市; pinyin: xiànjí shì) is a county-level in the , designated for areas with significant urban characteristics and economic development that exceed those of standard rural counties but fall short of justifying status. These entities function equivalently to counties in the national hierarchy—subordinate usually to prefecture-level administrations or occasionally directly to provinces—but emphasize urban governance, infrastructure, and industrialization over agrarian focus. As of the latest , maintains 397 county-level cities, forming a key tier in its multi-level administrative structure that bridges provincial oversight with local . This designation, formalized since the reforms, incentivizes by granting such cities preferential access to funding and policy support, often resulting in higher GDP per capita and built-up urban cores compared to adjacent counties. Unlike municipal districts, which integrate into larger core cities, county-level cities retain independent county-equivalent authority, including over and fiscal revenues, fostering localized economic engines in peri-urban regions. They are subdivided into subdistricts for dense urban zones, towns for semi-urban areas, and townships for residual rural pockets, mirroring the subdivision patterns of other county-level units. The proliferation of county-level cities reflects China's strategic , enabling rapid adaptation to regional growth disparities without overhauling the rigid provincial-prefecture framework; however, this has occasionally led to administrative overlaps or "city-county" tensions where urban expansion strains rural administrative legacies. Notable examples, such as Daye in Province, illustrate their role as industrial hubs with modern streetscapes and manufacturing bases, underscoring the model's emphasis on scalable urbanism.

Definition and Characteristics

County-level cities in the are classified as county-level administrative divisions, equivalent in rank and hierarchy to counties, autonomous counties, and municipal s, situated beneath prefecture-level entities such as prefecture-level cities or regions. This status embeds them within the national administrative framework outlined in the , where they serve as basic units of local state power, exercising executive authority over designated territories that typically encompass both urban cores and surrounding rural areas without intermediate subdivisions. Their adheres to the principle of , with local people's congresses electing corresponding people's governments responsible for implementing national policies, managing public services, and maintaining social order within jurisdictional bounds. The Organic Law of Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments of the governs their structure and operations, stipulating that the people's government of a county-level —treated akin to a "city not divided into "—comprises a head (), deputy heads, and functional departments analogous to those in counties. These entities lack independent legislative powers, which are reserved for provincial and higher levels, and instead formulate administrative rules subordinate to national laws and provincial regulations. Judicial functions are handled through local courts and procuratorates at the county level, subject to oversight by prefecture-level superiors, ensuring alignment with central directives. Establishment or adjustment of county-level cities requires approval from the State Council, typically following proposals from provincial people's governments based on criteria including , economic viability, and urban-rural integration needs. This process reflects centralized control over territorial divisions to prevent fragmentation, with the State Council retaining final authority to balance local development against national administrative efficiency. As of 2023, this mechanism has resulted in approximately 390 such cities nationwide, though numbers fluctuate with reforms aimed at streamlining divisions. In practice, county-level cities often exhibit fiscal and planning flexibilities comparable to counties but may leverage urban designation for enhanced and enterprise attraction, though without elevating their hierarchical position.

Distinction from Counties and Districts

County-level cities occupy the same hierarchical tier as counties and within China's administrative , all functioning as third-level divisions subordinate to prefecture-level units. However, they exhibit hybrid characteristics that blend urban and rural , distinguishing them from the predominantly rural focus of counties. Counties primarily administer agricultural and primary industries, with management centered on townships and rural town economies, whereas county-level cities prioritize secondary industries, urban infrastructure development, and construction, enabling them to establish sub-district offices (jiedao banshichu) for urban street-level administration—a capability counties lack. This urban emphasis grants county-level cities enhanced land management quotas; for instance, Puning City in saw its annual construction land indicators rise from 0.51 km² before 1993 to 1.05 km² after attaining county-level city status, facilitating greater economic expansion. In terms of autonomy and fiscal independence, county-level cities surpass counties, maintaining separate financial accounts and enjoying higher project approval thresholds. Upon upgrading from county to county-level city status, entities like Wenshan in experienced approval limits for fixed-asset investments increase from approximately $1 million to $30 million, reflecting elevated political treatment equivalent to vice-prefecture level in some cases. Counties, by contrast, operate with more constrained rural-oriented policies and subordinate project approvals, limiting their capacity for industrial diversification. Both types require central or provincial approval for major administrative changes, but county-level cities' city designation affords preferential access to urban development funds and policies, promoting faster industrialization while still overseeing surrounding rural townships. Relative to municipal districts, which serve as urban subdivisions directly integrated into prefecture-level or higher cities, county-level cities retain greater operational despite sharing the division-level status. exhibit limited , relying on their parent city's unified , , and land allocation, with focused on tertiary services and lacking standalone fiscal mechanisms. For example, Yongnian County's 2016 conversion to a district under City yielded urban policy benefits like streamlined land rezoning but resulted in fiscal consolidation and subsidy reductions, as observed in Kaifeng County's transition to Xiangfu , where central transfers dropped by 82.8 million yuan from 2014 to 2017. County-level cities, administered often with direct provincial oversight or as distinct entities under prefectures, avoid such absorption, preserving in finance, taxation, and local —affording them the highest among the three in these domains. This structure incentivizes rural counties to seek elevation to county-level city status for developmental advantages, though benefit from embedded urban infrastructure support.

Historical Development

Origins in the Reform Era

The policy of establishing county-level cities emerged as part of China's economic reforms launched at the Third Plenum of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in December 1978, which shifted focus from central planning to market-oriented incentives and local initiative to stimulate growth in rural and semi-urban areas. This reform era emphasized decentralizing administrative authority to counties with emerging non-agricultural economies, allowing them to upgrade to urban status without altering the overarching prefecture-level hierarchy, thereby facilitating industrialization and in smaller locales rather than concentrating development solely in large metropolises. The upgrade mechanism recognized counties where urban population and industrial output exceeded defined thresholds—typically non-agricultural residents comprising over 20% of the total and secondary/tertiary sectors dominating GDP—granting them "city" designation to access enhanced fiscal retention and investment privileges. By the early 1980s, this county-to-city upgrading became a core strategy, prioritizing small and medium-sized cities to avoid the infrastructure strains observed in oversized urban centers during the pre-reform period. In 1983, the process reached its initial peak, with 39 counties converted to county-level cities, marking the first large-scale implementation amid rapid rural enterprise growth under the . These upgrades were formula-driven, based on economic metrics rather than political favoritism alone, though local officials often pursued them aggressively for promotional incentives tied to GDP performance. Empirical analyses indicate that such conversions correlated with accelerated local GDP growth, averaging 1-2 percentage points higher post-upgrade due to improved flexibility and tax rebates, though they also introduced fiscal distortions by blurring rural-urban divides. This foundational approach laid the groundwork for over county-level cities by the mid-1990s, reflecting causal links between administrative status elevation and inflows, as upgraded entities could issue bonds and retain 75% of value-added taxes initially. However, early implementations revealed tensions, such as over-reliance on land sales for revenue amid incomplete market reforms, setting patterns of accumulation observed in later decades. The policy's origins thus embodied pragmatic experimentation, prioritizing empirical economic outcomes over ideological purity, in line with Deng's dictum of "seeking truth from facts."

Expansion and Key Reforms

The expansion of -level accelerated markedly after China's economic reforms commenced in , transitioning from a pre-reform count of 92 such entities to a peak of 445 by 1996. This growth was predominantly achieved through the "withdrawal of and establishment of " (撤县设市) mechanism, whereby counties with predominant urban functions—typically featuring non-agricultural populations exceeding 50-60% and established town centers—were reclassified to facilitate industrial agglomeration and rural-urban integration. Over 400 such conversions occurred nationwide from 1979 onward, with the majority concentrated in the and early , reflecting a strategic push to decentralize authority and harness local entrepreneurialism amid and village enterprise booms. A pivotal reform enabling this proliferation was the 1983 nationwide adoption of the "city administering counties" system, which formalized the upgrading pathway for economically dynamic counties while embedding them under prefecture-level oversight to balance central control with local initiative. This policy diverged from earlier fragmented urban designations, prioritizing holistic county transformations over piecemeal "carving out" of urban blocks, thereby aligning administrative boundaries with emerging economic realities and reducing rural-urban administrative silos. Complementing this, fiscal and power decentralization pilots launched in 1992—such as "strengthening counties and expanding powers" (扩权强县) in provinces including Zhejiang—devolved select planning, investment, and revenue retention rights from prefectures to county-level cities, fostering GDP growth but also intensifying fiscal competition. By the mid-1990s, concerns over administrative fragmentation and resource strain prompted corrective reforms, including a 1997 State Council moratorium on new county-level city approvals to curb indiscriminate expansions and redirect efforts toward integrations in larger metropolises. These measures, while tempering numerical growth—reducing the count to around 397 by —solidified the county-level city's role in equilibrating urban-rural development, with empirical analyses indicating sustained economic uplift from the upgrades relative to unaltered counties.

Administrative Hierarchy and Governance

Position Within China's System

County-level cities (县级市) form part of the third tier in China's hierarchical administrative structure, positioned below provincial-level divisions (provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and special administrative regions) and prefecture-level divisions (prefecture-level cities, prefectures, autonomous prefectures, and leagues), but above township-level and village-level units. This places them at the county level, where they exercise equivalent administrative authority to ordinary counties, autonomous counties, and urban districts. Under the standard framework, county-level cities are subordinate to a prefecture-level administrative entity, which coordinates policy implementation, resource allocation, and oversight from the provincial level downward. The local governance apparatus includes a people's congress as the legislative body, its standing committee for routine operations, a people's government led by a (typically at the county-level cadre rank), and a committee that holds leadership. This structure ensures alignment with national directives while allowing localized decision-making on , public services, and . In certain reforms, such as direct provincial management of counties (省直管县), some county-level cities bypass prefecture-level intermediaries to receive direct fiscal transfers, planning approvals, and administrative guidance from the province, enhancing efficiency but retaining their county-level status. As of recent data, China maintains approximately 370 county-level cities, reflecting their role in bridging rural-urban divides within the broader system. Officials in these cities operate at the county (处级) rank in the civil service hierarchy, below prefecture-level (地级) but above township-level (科级).

Local Governance Mechanisms

County-level cities in China are governed through a tripartite structure comprising the local people's congress, the people's government, and the leading role of the Communist Party of China (CPC) committee, as established under the Organic Law of Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments of the . The people's congress serves as the organ of state power at the local level, with deputies elected for five-year terms by citizens in the administrative area, responsible for deliberating and approving local economic plans, budgets, and reports on government work. Its standing committee, elected by the congress itself, handles legislative and supervisory functions between sessions, including the power to interpret local regulations, supervise the enforcement of laws, and elect or remove key officials such as the when the full congress is not in session. The people's government functions as the executive body, headed by a and deputy mayors elected by the people's congress for five-year terms, alongside directors of functional departments covering areas such as , , , and . This government administers local affairs, issues decisions and orders within the scope of authority delegated by higher levels, manages subordinate township-level governments and neighborhood offices, and reports annually to the people's congress on its work while remaining accountable to the or provincial government above it. For instance, it directs , public services, and in both urban cores and surrounding areas, with powers to lead township governments and implement national policies adapted to local conditions. The CPC committee at the county-level city exercises overarching leadership, with its secretary typically serving as the highest-ranking official and often holding concurrent positions to ensure alignment between party directives and government execution; this structure positions county-level committees as the "front line" for implementing central policies, as emphasized by CPC General Secretary in 2023. The committee enforces , mobilizes resources for major initiatives, and integrates party oversight into , including through mechanisms like party groups in government departments to guide . This party-led model ensures unified command, with local mechanisms emphasizing responsiveness to higher directives while addressing regional needs, though flows upward through reporting to prefectural or provincial party committees.

Functions and Powers

Judicial and Executive Roles

The executive functions in county-level cities are carried out by the city people's government, which acts as the executive organ responsible for implementing state policies, managing local administrative affairs, and providing public services such as , healthcare, and urban maintenance. Headed by a appointed by the local people's congress and approved by higher authorities, this government holds executive meetings to deliberate on major decisions, including allocation and development plans, while operating under the guidance of the prefecture-level people's government and the local committee. Judicial authority at this level resides with the basic people's court, a grassroots-level that adjudicates first-instance cases in civil, criminal, economic, and administrative disputes within the city's , comprising tribunals specialized by case type. These courts exercise judicial power in accordance with the law, with presidents and judges elected by the local people's congress for terms typically aligned with national standards, though their decisions remain subject to review by intermediate-level courts and supervision by people's procuratorates to ensure legal uniformity. The corresponding people's procuratorate handles public prosecutions, investigates duty-related crimes by local officials, and oversees judicial activities for compliance, forming an integrated prosecutorial-judicial framework at the county level.

Fiscal and Planning Authorities

County-level cities in operate as independent fiscal units within the multilevel budget system, retaining revenues from local sources such as business taxes, urban construction and maintenance taxes, and fees from land-use rights auctions, while sharing portions of and with higher administrative levels. They compile and execute annual budgets covering expenditures on , healthcare, , and social welfare, with approval required from the local people's congress and supervision by standing committees at or above the level. Fiscal transfers from central and provincial governments constitute a significant portion of their revenue, often allocated for equalization and specific projects, though local governments bear primary responsibility for and debt management. Reforms like the "Province-Managing-County" (PMC) model, implemented progressively since the early , have devolved greater fiscal authority to county-level cities by enabling direct provincial oversight of budgets and transfers, reducing prefectural intermediaries and enhancing efficiency in for public services. As of 2022, these reforms aimed to standardize fiscal powers for county-level basic services, including and poverty alleviation, amid efforts to address sub-provincial disparities. In urban and rural planning, county-level city governments exercise authority through dedicated planning bureaus to formulate overall land-use master plans, detailed regulatory plans, and village-township layouts, integrating economic, social, and environmental objectives within their jurisdictions. These entities approve construction permits, enforce regulations, and coordinate rural , subject to statutory requirements under the Urban and Rural Planning Law enacted in 2008 and amended in 2019. Higher-level approval is mandatory for plans affecting cross-boundary areas or exceeding local scale thresholds, ensuring alignment with national priorities like ecological protection and targets. This decentralized yet hierarchical structure allows county-level cities to drive local development, such as industrial and projects, while mitigating risks of uncoordinated sprawl.

Economic and Social Role

Contributions to Urbanization

County-level cities in facilitate decentralized by granting administrative to economically viable towns and rural seats, enabling them to manage urban expansion, conversion, and development independently of larger prefectural oversight. This mechanism, introduced during the post-1978 reforms, has allowed over 380 such entities to emerge by the early 2020s, with 388 recorded in 2020, promoting the integration of rural economies into urban systems without necessitating mass migration to megacities. Their establishment correlates with accelerated non-agricultural employment and built-up area growth in peri-urban zones, contributing to the national rate's rise from 17.92% in 1978 to 63.89% by 2020. Empirical analyses reveal that county-level cities exhibit higher levels than standard counties, with comprehensive rates in many exceeding 30% by the , driven by industrial clustering and service sector expansion. For example, between 2000 and 2010, county-level advanced from 21.89% to 34.90%, as these cities absorbed rural labor through township enterprises and special economic zones, fostering transformation where local populations shift to urban occupations without relocating. This process has mitigated uneven development by distributing urban functions across regions, with county-level cities accounting for substantial portions of secondary and tertiary industry output in their provinces. Upgrading counties to has empirically boosted economic performance, including GDP growth and fiscal capacity, which in turn support further urban infrastructure like roads and housing, as evidenced by regression studies on reform-era conversions. In resource-dependent areas, such as Wuan City in Province, county-level cities drive "new-type " by restructuring industries toward , elevating indices through coordinated land, population, and economic shifts, though challenges like persist. Overall, these cities have been instrumental in expanding China's urban footprint, with their proliferation enabling a bottom-up approach that complements top-down development.

Development Achievements and Metrics

County-level cities have driven substantial economic expansion through industrialization and trade specialization, often achieving GDP growth rates surpassing national averages in high-performing cases. Yiwu, a prominent example, attained a GDP of 205.56 billion RMB in 2023, reflecting an 8% year-on-year increase and crossing the 200 billion RMB threshold for the first time, fueled by its global small commodities market that handles over 60% of China's related exports. Similarly, Kunshan pioneered industrial milestones as the first county-level city to record a gross industrial output exceeding 1 trillion RMB in 2020, supported by over 6,000 foreign-invested enterprises in and machinery sectors. These outcomes stem from localized fiscal incentives and proximity to coastal economic zones, enabling causal linkages between administrative flexibility and capital inflows. Key metrics highlight disparities and successes: Yiwu's GDP reached 108,447 RMB in 2023, placing it among the higher tiers for county-level units, while its permanent grew to 1.9 million, underscoring pull from migrant workers in trade logistics. Kunshan's economic density, with GDP surpassing 500 billion RMB by 2021, reflects sustained exceeding projects from 80 countries, contributing to regional clusters. Empirical analyses of over 2,000 counties, including county-level cities, show average GDP growth varying by province but with top performers in eastern regions averaging 7-10% annually from 2015-2019, driven by export-oriented policies rather than resource dependency.
County-Level CityGDP (billion RMB, latest available)Key MetricSource
205.56 (2023)8% YoY growth; trade hub
>500 (2021)Industrial output >1T RMB (2020)
These cities account for roughly 30% of China's urban population base when combined with counties, accelerating national from 17.92% in 1978 to 67% by 2024 through like integration and industrial parks. Conversions or sustained status have empirically boosted local GDP by enhancing executive powers, though outcomes depend on pre-existing industrial foundations rather than status alone.

Challenges and Criticisms

Economic Shrinkage and Failures

County-level cities in have increasingly faced economic shrinkage, defined by stagnant or declining GDP, population outflows, and reduced industrial output, particularly since the early amid broader structural shifts. Studies indicate that a significant portion of these entities, often located in inland or resource-dependent regions, exhibit multidimensional shrinkage across , , , and space metrics. For instance, analyses of county-level cities in China's inland river economic belts reveal predominant patterns of slight to moderate shrinkage, driven by and failure to diversify beyond low-value or agriculture-linked activities. Between and 2022, approximately 11.44% of examined urban entities nationwide, including many county-level cities, qualified as shrinking based on nighttime light data proxies for economic activity, with concentrations in the River Economic Belt's midstream and peripheral clusters. Contributing factors include heavy reliance on financing vehicles (LGFVs) for infrastructure-led growth, which has culminated in acute burdens exacerbated by the post-2020 market downturn and fiscal strains. Local , encompassing official bonds and hidden LGFV liabilities, reached nearly 48 trillion RMB officially and over 60 trillion RMB in estimated off-balance-sheet obligations by late 2024, with county-level administrations particularly vulnerable due to limited revenue streams like land sales, which plummeted amid stagnation. This overleveraging, pursued to meet growth targets under central mandates, has led to crises, stalled projects, and reduced public services in underperforming county-level cities, as central controls post-2022 curbed further borrowing while exposing preexisting mismatches between expenditures and fiscal capacities. Population dynamics amplify these failures, with net outflows to provincial capitals and megacities draining talent and consumer bases from county-level urban areas. Nationwide, county-level shrinking cities are widely distributed, often in northeastern provinces where up to 18.1% of cities showed shrinkage by 2023 metrics, reflecting industrial decline in state-owned enterprises and insufficient innovation ecosystems. manifests in metrics such as GDP lagging national averages—many such cities report growth rates below 4% annually post-2020, compared to 5-6% national figures—coupled with rising in traditional sectors and challenges in attracting due to administrative constraints. These patterns underscore systemic vulnerabilities: without upgrades to prefecture-level status, county-level cities struggle with inferior fiscal autonomy and planning powers, perpetuating a cycle of underinvestment and relative decline.

Policy Debates on Upgrades

The county-to-city upgrading policy, initiated in , aimed to transform rural county economies into urban-oriented ones by granting elevated administrative status, but it faced scrutiny for lax standards that allowed upgrades without sufficient economic agglomeration or urban infrastructure. Empirical analyses indicate that while such upgrades initially boosted local decision-making autonomy in areas like and taxation, they often led to government expansion that crowded out development and misallocated resources away from productive uses. By the early 1990s, the central government halted widespread "xian gai shi" (county-to-city) conversions amid concerns over administrative proliferation, which disrupted spatial hierarchies and inflated bureaucratic layers without commensurate growth benefits. Proponents of selective upgrades argue they enhance fiscal incentives and flexibility, enabling county-level cities to attract and foster more effectively than pure counties, as evidenced by post-upgrade increases in firm patenting and economic output in qualified cases. For instance, upgraded entities often secure preferential national policies on taxation and land quotas, positioning them advantageously relative to districts or unupgraded counties. However, critics highlight causal risks, including negative spillovers like heightened inter-locality for resources, which can exacerbate uneven development and strain central fiscal transfers without resolving underlying rural-urban divides. Studies of analogous reforms, such as county-to-district conversions, reveal that while large metropolises may gain from integration, smaller or peripheral units experience growth抑制 due to subsumed autonomy and amplified land dependency. Ongoing debates center on balancing with control, with some localities resisting upgrades to in favor of retaining for its perceived policy perks, as seen in cases like Daye and Guanghan where district conversion sparked local opposition over fears of diluted authority. Central directives since the moratorium emphasize strict criteria—such as GDP thresholds and urban population ratios—to curb "involution" in reforms, where frequent adjustments prioritize short-term gains over sustainable . Academic assessments underscore that unchecked upgrades historically misled metrics by equating administrative labels with genuine formation, prompting a shift toward "city leading counties" models that integrate without full elevation. As of 2023, policy reflections advocate evidence-based selectivity, prioritizing upgrades only where causal links to productivity exist, amid broader efforts to streamline divisions and mitigate fiscal distortions.

Variants and Recent Adjustments

Sub-prefectural Cities

Sub-prefectural cities, also known as deputy-prefecture-level cities, represent a variant of county-level cities in China's administrative hierarchy, positioned administratively between standard county-level divisions and full prefecture-level cities. These entities retain county-level formal status but are granted enhanced autonomy and authority, effectively operating at a "half-level" above ordinary counties while remaining subordinate to their respective prefecture-level administrations. This designation allows them to exercise certain prefecture-level prerogatives in areas such as economic planning, fiscal management, and infrastructure development, aimed at accelerating growth in economically vibrant or strategically important locales. The status originated in the reform era to empower dynamic county-level cities burdened by prefectural oversight, with initial designations emerging in the as part of broader efforts to foster local initiative. For instance, cities like Jiyuan in Province were elevated in to bypass rigid prefectural controls and directly report key decisions to provincial authorities. By 2024, approximately 50 such cities exist nationwide, selected based on criteria including GDP contribution, industrial output, and population dynamics, though the designation lacks formal codification in national law and functions through administrative privileges in the cadre promotion system. Examples include in Jiangsu Province, noted for its proximity to and robust manufacturing sector; in , leveraging border trade; and in , supporting resource extraction in remote areas. In terms of powers, sub-prefectural cities can independently approve mid-sized investment projects, retain a larger share of revenues, and implement tailored without prefectural veto, which has enabled faster infrastructure buildup—such as links and industrial parks—compared to peers. However, they lack full prefectural independence, with prefectures retaining oversight on major personnel appointments and inter-regional coordination. Recent adjustments reflect ongoing central efforts to streamline divisions: between 2010 and 2020, several were created or upgraded amid pushes, including in Province (e.g., Xiantao), while a few faced boundary tweaks or mergers to address imbalances, as seen in provincial plans emphasizing over proliferation. These changes align with national policies reducing administrative layers, though evaluations of efficacy vary, with data showing elevated GDP growth rates (often 10-15% above averages in early 2000s) but persistent dependency on provincial subsidies in less industrialized cases.

Conversions to Districts

Conversions of county-level cities to , known as che shi she qu (撤市设区), involve the abolition of a county-level city's independent administrative status and its reorganization as an urban directly subordinate to the prefecture-level city. This adjustment facilitates closer integration with the urban core, enabling unified , development, and access to municipal fiscal resources. Such conversions accelerated in the early in eastern provinces like and , where rapid demanded streamlined to support industrial expansion and inflows. The process requires provincial government proposals and State Council approval, often tied to criteria such as non-agricultural employment rates exceeding 70% and urban built-up areas surpassing 50 square kilometers. Notable examples include Guangzhou's conversion of the county-level cities of Panyu and Huadu to districts in 2000, which expanded the city's administrative reach and boosted real estate and manufacturing sectors. Similarly, Zhuhai converted Doumen County-level City to Doumen District in 2001, enhancing coastal development linkages. In 2016, Jinan transformed Zhangqiu County-level City into Zhangqiu District, aiming to consolidate suburban growth amid provincial urbanization targets. Proponents argue these shifts promote economic agglomeration by reducing rural-urban administrative barriers and enabling district-level access to central transfers, with empirical studies showing positive GDP growth coefficients of 0.124 in megacities post-conversion. However, analyses reveal heterogeneous outcomes: while large cities benefit from scale economies, smaller or medium-sized conversions often yield negative effects, such as a -2.597 coefficient on GDP, due to lost fiscal , heightened pressures, and diminished agricultural incentives. Districts like those in , converted post-2016, have faced slowed public service delivery and economic stagnation amid over-expansion. By 2020, such adjustments contributed to nearly 140 county-level units (including cities) becoming districts over the prior decade, though national policy has since emphasized restraint to avoid excessive "no-county-ization" and fiscal strain. Post-2017 tightenings, reinforced in 2022 directives, prioritize cases with proven urban maturity, reflecting concerns over premature upgrades exacerbating inequality rather than sustainable growth.

Comparable Divisions Internationally

Analogues in Other Nations

In , the thị xã (provincial town or district-level town) serves as the closest analogue to China's county-level cities, functioning as a sub-provincial urban administrative unit that governs both densely populated urban wards (phường) and surrounding rural communes (xã), often encompassing semi-urbanized areas with mixed economic activities. Established under Vietnam's 2012 Law on Organization of , thị xã units report to provincial people's committees and possess intermediate status between rural districts (huyện) and higher-level provincial cities (thành phố thuộc tỉnh), mirroring the hybrid urban-rural jurisdiction and developmental role of county-level cities in China's prefecture-administered system. As of mid-2025, following administrative mergers that reduced Vietnam's provincial-level units from 63 to 34, approximately 10-15 thị xã persist in the restructured hierarchy, emphasizing urban expansion while retaining oversight of peri-urban and industry. Similar hybrid structures appear sparingly elsewhere, influenced by socialist administrative legacies. In , kun (counties) with urban centers, such as those upgraded to city status under the si designation at the county-equivalent level, administer combined urban cores and rural townships (ri), akin to county-level cities in promoting localized industrialization within provincial frameworks, though data on exact numbers remains limited due to restricted reporting—around 200 such units existed as of 2020 estimates. In , gorodskoy (urban okrugs) function comparably as municipal districts for cities and adjacent territories, bypassing rural rayon structures to manage integrated urban-rural economies under federal subjects (oblasts or krais); by 2023, over 600 urban okrugs covered about 40% of the population, facilitating targeted development without full provincial elevation. These units reflect pragmatic adaptations to pressures but lack the rigid hierarchical embedding of China's model.

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