Decoding China's Divisions
An authoritative guide to the hierarchical coding system that structures the People's Republic of China's administrative landscape.
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The Coding Scheme
Hierarchical Structure
The administrative division codes for the People's Republic of China are a standardized system used to identify and categorize its administrative units. These codes are published by the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The structure is hierarchical, with digits representing different levels of administration.
Province Level (Digits 1-2)
The first two digits of the code identify the highest level of administrative division. This typically corresponds to a province, autonomous region, direct-administered municipality, or a Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Prefecture Level (Digits 3-4)
Digits three and four provide information about the prefecture-level division. This can include prefecture-level cities, prefectures, autonomous prefectures, or Mongolian leagues. Specific code ranges (e.g., 01โ20 and 51โ70 for provincial cities; 21โ50 for other prefecture-level units) denote the type and jurisdiction.
County Level (Digits 5-6)
The fifth and sixth digits represent the county-level division. This category encompasses municipal districts, county-level cities, counties, and the banner areas specific to Inner Mongolia. Different code ranges within these digits further differentiate these units, such as those under the jurisdiction of county-level cities versus those directly administered by a province.
Statistical Codes
Extending the Hierarchy
Beyond the primary six-digit code, an additional six digits are appended to identify administrative divisions at the village level and above. This extended coding system provides a granular view of China's administrative structure, facilitating detailed statistical analysis and data management.
Granular Identification
This detailed coding allows for precise identification of sub-districts and even specific communities within larger administrative units. It is essential for national statistical bureaus to accurately collect, compile, and disseminate data across all levels of governance.
Illustrative Example
Beijing's Xicheng District
Consider the code 110102
. This sequence signifies:
- 11: Beijing Municipality (Province Level)
- 01: Dongcheng District (Prefecture Level - though often grouped with Xicheng in statistical contexts)
- 02: Xicheng District (County Level)
This segment identifies the specific district within the capital municipality.
Yuetan Subdistrict
The next set of digits, 007
, refines the location further. In the context of the code 110102 007 003
, this refers to:
- 007: Yuetan Subdistrict, Xicheng District.
This level indicates a sub-district or similar administrative unit below the county level.
Yuetan Community
The final three digits, 003
, pinpoint the most granular level provided in the example:
- 003: Yuetan Community.
This demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the statistical coding, extending down to the community level for detailed data aggregation.
Related Information
Administrative Divisions
Understanding the codes requires knowledge of China's broader administrative structure. This includes the various levels from provinces down to villages and the different types of units within each level.
Explore Administrative Divisions โก๏ธInternational Standards
The ISO 3166-2 standard provides country codes for subdivisions. For China, this is represented as ISO 3166-2:CN, which aligns with but is distinct from the national coding system.
View ISO 3166-2:CN โก๏ธComparative Systems
Other nations also employ numeric coding systems for their administrative divisions. OKATO (All-Russian Classifier of Objects of Administrative Division) is a notable example from Russia, serving a similar purpose of standardization.
Learn about OKATO โก๏ธTeacher's Corner
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This document has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence model. The content is derived from publicly available data, primarily the Wikipedia article on "Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China," and is intended for educational and informational purposes only.
While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, the information presented may not be exhaustive, entirely up-to-date, or perfectly reflect the nuances of China's complex administrative system. Users are advised to consult official sources and expert analyses for definitive information.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. This content does not constitute official guidance or advice.