This is a list of the current and former capitals of subnational entities of China. The history of China and its administrative divisions is long and convoluted; hence, this chart will cover only capitals after the completion of the Mongol conquest of China in 1279, because the modern province (sheng 省) was first created during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. A selection of subnational entities and their capitals before 1279 can be found in the article History of the political divisions of China. Years may not line up perfectly during periods of turmoil (e.g. at the end of each dynasty).
The list includes current and former provinces, as well as other first-level units that have been used over the course of China's recent history, such as autonomous regions, military command zones during the Qing Dynasty, and so forth. Unless otherwise specified, a given administrative unit can be assumed to be a province with its present name. Historical names of provinces and entities that are not provinces will be specified as they arise.
Excluded from the list:
Many of the capitals given in this chart have had multiple historical names during different dynasties. In some cases, different names were used concurrently for the same city. This chart gives only the modern names for the sake of simplicity.
For the sake of simplicity, the chart will not attempt to be exhaustive in its descriptions of border changes.
National entities since 1279:
| Government | When |
|---|---|
| Yuan Dynasty | 1271—1368 |
| Ming Dynasty | 1368—1644 |
| Qing Dynasty | 1616—1912 |
| Republic of China | 1912—present |
| People's Republic of China | 1949—present |
| Province (or equivalent) | Capital | When | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anhui | During the Yuan Dynasty, modern Anhui was split between the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government, the province of Jianghuai, and (from 1291) the province of Henanjiangbei. | ||
| N/A | 1366—1644 | As part of Zhili up to 1421; as part of Nanzhili after 1421. Administered directly by the central government, instead of a province. | |
| N/A | 1645—1661 | Part of Jiangnan Province, formed out of former Nanzhili in 1645. Split into Jiangsu and Anhui in 1661. | |
| Nanjing | 1661—1760 | Nanjing is in neighbouring Jiangsu province. | |
| Anqing | 1760—1853 | ||
| Hefei | 1853—1862 | During the Taiping Rebellion. | |
| Anqing | 1862—1946 | ||
| Hefei | 1946—1949 | ||
| Hefei (north) | 1949—1952 | As North Anhui and South Anhui administrative regions. | |
| Wuhu (south) | |||
| Hefei | 1952—present | ||
| Fujian | Fuzhou, Quanzhou | 1278—1299 | Between 1278 and 1299, separate provinces in the Fujian area were repeatedly split out and remerged back into Jiangzhe Province. |
| N/A | 1299—1356 | Part of Jiangzhe Province until Fujian Province was split out of it. | |
| Fuzhou | 1356—present | ||
| Kinmen | 1949—1956 | Since 1949, the People's Republic of China has governed the majority of Fujian (with Fuzhou as capital), while the Republic of China on Taiwan has maintained a separate Fujian province (with Kinmen or Sindian as capital) to administer offshore islands of Fujian under its control, i.e. the islands of Kinmen and Matsu. Sindian is in Taiwan. |
|
| Sindian | 1956—1996 | ||
| Kinmen | 1996—present | ||
| Gansu | Zhangye | 1286—1368 | |
| N/A | 1368—1667 | Part of Shaanxi Province. | |
| Lanzhou | 1667—present | Gansu was called Gongchang 1667—1670. | |
| Guangdong | Before 1369, modern Guangdong was split between the provinces of Jiangxi, Huguang, and (from 1364) Guangxi. | ||
| Guangzhou | 1369—present | ||
| Guangxi | Mostly found within Huguang Province before 1364. | ||
| Guilin | 1364—1912 | Included parts of modern Guangdong until 1369. | |
| Nanning | 1912—1936 | ||
| Guilin | 1936—1950 | ||
| Nanning | 1950—present | Guangxi Province became Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 1958. | |
| Guizhou | Mostly found within the provinces of Huguang, Sichuan, and Yunnan before 1413. | ||
| Guiyang | 1413—present | ||
| Hainan | Part of Guangxi before 1369; part of Guangdong after 1369. | ||
| Haikou | 1949—1950 | As Hainan Special Administrative Region. | |
| N/A | 1950—1988 | Part of Guangdong Province. | |
| Haikou | 1988—present | ||
| Hebei | Administered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government before 1368. Briefly split between Henan and Shandong provinces, 1368—1369. | ||
| Beiping | 1369—1421 | As Beiping Province. | |
| N/A | 1421—1669 | As Beizhili up to 1645; as Zhili after 1645. Administered directly by the central government, instead of a province. | |
| Baoding | 1669—1902 | As Zhili province. | |
| Tianjin | 1902—1928 | ||
| Beiping | 1928—1930 | ||
| Tianjin | 1930—1935 | ||
| Baoding | 1935—1958 | ||
| Tianjin | 1958—1968 | ||
| Shijiazhuang | 1968—present | ||
| Heilongjiang | N/A | 1264—1368 | Part of Liaoyang Province. "Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287. |
| Mongols, Manchus, and Ming China military garrisons in the area during the Ming Dynasty. | |||
| Aigun | 1683—1690 | Area of control of the General of Heilongjiang. Became Heilongjiang Province in 1907. | |
| Nenjiang | 1690—1699 | ||
| Qiqihar | 1699—1907 | ||
| Qiqihar | 1907—1931 | ||
| N/A | 1931—1945 | Part of Manchukuo. | |
| Bei'an | 1945—1949 | As Heilongjiang Province (northwestern part of modern Heilongjiang) | |
| Jiamusi | As Hejiang Province (northeastern part of modern Heilongjiang) | ||
| Qiqihar | As Nenjiang Province (southwestern part of modern Heilongjiang) | ||
| Mudanjiang | As Songjiang Province (southeastern part of modern Heilongjiang) | ||
| Qiqihar | 1949—1954 | As Heilongjiang Province (western part of modern Heilongjiang) | |
| Harbin | As Songjiang Province (eastern part of modern Heilongjiang) | ||
| Harbin | 1954—present | New Heilongjiang formed from Songjiang + old Heilongjiang in 1954 | |
| Henan | Administered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government for the most part before 1291. | ||
| Kaifeng | 1291—1954 | Initially as Henanjiangbei Province, which included parts of modern Jiangsu, Anhui, Hubei provinces. Given approximately modern borders and modern name in 1368. | |
| Zhengzhou | 1954—present | ||
| Hubei | N/A | 1277—1664 | Part of Huguang Province. |
| Wuchang | 1664—1927 | ||
| Wuhan | 1927—present | Wuhan is the amalgamation of Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang. | |
| Hunan | N/A | 1277—1664 | Part of Huguang Province. |
| Changsha | 1664—present | ||
| Inner Mongolia | See the history section of Inner Mongolia for the administrative entities of that region before 1947. | ||
| Ulaanhot | 1947—1950 | As Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. | |
| Zhangjiakou | 1950—1952 | ||
| Hohhot | 1952—present | ||
| Jiangsu | Before 1356, modern Jiangsu was split between the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government, the province of Jianghuai, (from 1291) the province of Henanjiangbei, and (from 1354) the province of Huainanjiangbei. | ||
| N/A | 1366—1644 | As part of Zhili up to 1421; as part of Nanzhili after 1421. Administered directly by the central government, instead of a province. | |
| N/A | 1645—1661 | Part of Jiangnan Province, formed out of former Nanzhili in 1645. Split into Jiangsu and Anhui in 1661. | |
| Suzhou | 1661—1912? | ||
| Nanjing | 1912?—1928 | ||
| Zhenjiang | 1928—1949 | ||
| Yangzhou (north) | 1949—1952 | As North Jiangsu and South Jiangsu administrative regions. | |
| Wuxi (south) | |||
| Nanjing | 1952—present | ||
| Jiangxi | Nanchang | 1277—present | Included parts of modern Guangdong until 1369. |
| Jilin | N/A | 1264—1368 | Part of Liaoyang Province. "Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287. |
| Mongols, Manchus, and Ming China military garrisons in the area during the Ming Dynasty. | |||
| Ningguta | 1662—1757 | Area of control of the General of Ningguta (up to 1757) or the General of Jilin (from 1757). Became Jilin Province in 1907. | |
| Jilin City | 1757—1907 | ||
| Jilin City | 1907—1931 | ||
| N/A | 1931—1945 | Part of Manchukuo. | |
| Jilin City | 1945—1954 | ||
| Changchun | 1954—present | ||
| Liaoning | N/A | 1264—1368 | Part of Liaoyang Province. "Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287. |
| Partially under Shandong province during the Ming Dynasty, until Manchu conquest circa 1618. | |||
| Shenyang | 1662—1907 | Area of control of the General of Shengjing. Became Fengtian Province in 1907. | |
| Shenyang | 1907—1931 | Fengtian Province from 1907 to 1929; Liaoning Province from 1929 onwards. | |
| N/A | 1931—1945 | Part of Manchukuo. | |
| Shenyang | 1945—1949 | As Liaoning Province (central part of modern Liaoning) | |
| Tonghua | As Andong Province (eastern part of modern Liaoning; southern part of modern Jilin) | ||
| Liaoyuan | As Liaobei Province (northern part of modern Liaoning; western part of modern Jilin) | ||
| Jinzhou | 1949—1954 | As Liaoxi Province (western part of modern Liaoning) | |
| Dandong | As Liaodong Province (eastern part of modern Liaoning; southern part of modern Jilin). Dandong was then known as "Andong" | ||
| Shenyang | 1954—present | ||
| Ningxia | Mostly part of Gansu Province (up to circa 1370); part of Shaanxi Province (up to 1667); part of Gansu Province (1667 onwards) | ||
| Yinchuan | 1928—1954 | Ningxia Province split out of Gansu in 1928. | |
| N/A | 1954—1958 | Part of Gansu Province. | |
| Yinchuan | 1958—present | Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region split out of Gansu in 1958. | |
| Qinghai | Historically Oyirad Mongols in the north, Amdo and Kham Tibetans in the south. Overseen by commissioner stationed at Xining (then part of Gansu Province) during Qing Dynasty, early Republic of China (up to 1928). | ||
| Xining | 1928—present | ||
| Shaanxi | Xi'an | 1286—present | From 1260 to 1286, Shaanxi Province (and in some cases, a combined Shaanxi-Sichuan Province) was established and disbanded several times. |
| Shandong | Administered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government before circa 1357. | ||
| Qingzhou | 1357?—1377? | ||
| Jinan | 1377?—present | ||
| Shanxi | Administered by the Secretariat (中書省) of the central government before 1368. | ||
| Taiyuan | 1369—present | ||
| Sichuan | Chengdu | 1286—1287 | From 1260 to 1286, Sichuan Province (and in some cases, a combined Shaanxi-Sichuan Province) was established and disbanded several times. |
| Chongqing | 1287—1289 | ||
| Chengdu | 1289—1949 | ||
| Nanchong (north) | 1949—1952 | As North Sichuan, South Sichuan, East Sichuan and West Jiangsu administrative regions. | |
| Luzhou (south) | |||
| Chongqing (east) | |||
| Chengdu (west) | |||
| Chengdu | 1952—present | ||
| Taiwan | European colonization from 1624 to 1661; Kingdom of Tungning from 1661 to 1683. See History of Taiwan. | ||
| N/A | 1683—1887 | Part of Fujian Province. | |
| Tainan | 1887—1895 | ||
| N/A | 1895—1945 | Ceded to Japan. See Political divisions of Taiwan (1895-1945). | |
| Taipei | 1945—1957 | After the People's Republic of China was established in 1949, the Republic of China retreated to Taiwan, which now constitutes the majority of its territory. | |
| Jhongsing Village | 1957—present | The People's Republic of China does not recognize the move of the capital to Jhongsing Village. It still shows Taipei as the capital of Taiwan Province on its maps. | |
| Tibet | Part of Yuan Dynasty up to fourteenth century; struggle between Sakyapa, Kagyüpa, later Gelukpa schools of Tibetan Buddhism up to seventeenth century, when Gelukpa becomes dominant. | ||
| Lhasa | (1720's)—present | The Dalai Lamas (Gelukpa school) ruled over Ü-Tsang (or more) from Lhasa from 1642 onwards. Qing China began to assert control over Tibet in the 1720s until its fall in 1912; from 1912 to 1951 Tibet was self-ruling but recognized internationally as a part of China. Planning Committee for Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) from 1955 to 1965; TAR established in 1965. | |
| Xinjiang | Ruled by Chagatai Khanate from thirteenth to fifteenth century; fragmented until eighteenth century when Qing China conquered the region. See History section of Xinjiang. | ||
| Yining | 1762—1888 | General of Ili, based in Yining, held administrative powers until 1888; region was lost to Yakub Beg from 1865, then reconquered by 1881. | |
| Urumqi | 1884—present | Xinjiang Province until 1955; Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region from 1955. | |
| Yunnan | Kunming | 1275—present | |
| Zhejiang | N/A | 1289—1367 | Part of Jiangzhe Province. |
| Hangzhou | 1367—present | ||
| Chahar | See Inner Mongolia for history before 1914. | ||
| Zhangjiakou | 1914—1937 | Chahar Special Administrative Region until 1928; province from 1928. | |
| N/A | 1937—1945 | Part of Mengjiang. | |
| Zhangjiakou | 1945—1952 | Disbanded in 1952, distributed into Hebei Province, Shanxi Province. | |
| Huainanjiangbei | Tianchang | 1354—1364? | Established out of Henanjiangbei; disappeared with end of Yuan Dynasty (circa 1368). Found mainly in modern Jiangsu province. |
| Huguang | Changsha | 1277—1281 | |
| Wuchang | 1281—1664 | Split into Hubei and Hunan provinces in 1664 | |
| Jiangnan | Nanjing | 1645—1661 | Converted from the directly-administered Nanzhili region in 1645; split into Jiangsu and Anhui provinces in 1661. See also remarks at Jiangsu, Anhui entries. |
| Jiangzhe | Hangzhou | 1289—1367? | A province was established in the region in 1276; its seat was moved around and it was renamed several times, until settling upon Jiangzhe Province with seat at Hangzhou in 1289. Split into Zhejiang, Fujian Provinces by Ming Dynasty. |
| Jiaodong | Laiyang | 1364—1368? | Established in the Shandong Peninsula; does not appear to have outlasted the end of the Yuan Dynasty. |
| Liaoyang | Liaoyang | 1264—1368? | "Liaoyang" was the final name of the province after several changes between 1264—1287. Lasted until the end of Yuan Dynasty (circa 1368); found today mostly in Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang. |
| Pingyuan | Xinxiang | 1949—1952 | Split out of Hebei, Shandong, Henan provinces in 1949; distributed into Henan, Shandong provinces in 1952. |
| Rehe | See Inner Mongolia for history before 1914. | ||
| Chengde | 1914—1933 | Rehe Special Administrative Region until 1928; province from 1928. | |
| N/A | 1933—1945 | Part of Manchukuo. | |
| Chengde | 1945—1955 | Disbanded in 1955, distributed into Hebei Province, Liaoning Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. | |
| Suiyuan | See Inner Mongolia for history before 1914. | ||
| Hohhot | 1914—1937 | Suiyuan Special Administrative Region until 1928; province from 1928. | |
| N/A | 1937—1945 | Part of Mengjiang. | |
| Hohhot | 1945—1954 | Merged into Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 1954. | |
| Xikang | Kangding | 1914—1950 | Chuanbian Special Region created in 1914, from western Sichuan and territory formerly ruled from Lhasa; it is roughly equivalent to southern Kham and southern Amdo. Converted into Xikang Province established in 1939; merged into Sichuan province in 1955. See also remarks at entries for Tibet, Sichuan. |
| Ya'an | 1950—1955 | ||
| Xing'an | Hailar | 1945—1947? | After the end of Manchukuo at the end of World War II, Xing'an Province was created from the northwestern part of Manchuria, which was administered by Heilongjiang province before the war. The region was superseded by Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. |
| Zhili; Beizhili; Nanzhili | Regions directly administered by the central government, not part of any province. "Zhili" (modern Jiangsu and Anhui) from 1366 to 1421; "Beizhili" (modern Hebei) and "Nanzhili" (modern Jiangsu, Anhui) from 1421 to 1645; "Zhili" (modern Hebei) from 1645 to 1669. Name kept for "Zhili Province" (modern Hebei) from 1669 to 1927. See also remarks at Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui entries. | ||