Administrative divisions of China
China is divided into 32 first-level administrative divisions:
Largest cities in China
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shanghai | 14,987,000 |
| 2 | BeijingCapital | 11,106,000 |
| 3 | Guangzhou | 8,829,000 |
| 4 | Shenzhen | 7,581,000 |
| 5 | Wuhan | 7,243,000 |
| 6 | Tianjin | 7,180,000 |
| 7 | Chongqing | 6,461,000 |
| 8 | Shenyeng | 4,787,000 |
| 9 | Dongguan | 4,528,000 |
| 10 | Chengdu | 4,123,000 |
Shanghai is the largest urban area in China with about 14,987,000 people; the capital, Beijing, has about 11,106,000.
Terrain, rivers & lakes
Highest terrain in China: ≈ 8,704 m — read from the global elevation model, so summit heights are approximate. The physical map paints elevation bands from green lowlands to brown highlands.
🌊 Rivers
- Fen
- Yi
- Bogcang
- Herlen
- Qarqan
- Huan
- Zi
- Jiulong
- Mei
- Tuo
- Tumen
- Nemor
- Quan
- Muling
- Ying
- Tuotuo
- Nmai
- Nanpan
- Nu
- Tongtian
- Hongshui
- Xun
- Jinsha
- Chang Jiang
- Yangtze
- Yarkant
- Liao
- Yuan
- Sutlej
- Han
- Gan
- Hong
- Dadu
- Ertix
- Xar Moron
- Maquan
- Konqi
- Tarim
- Za
- Xiliao
- Songhua
- Min
- Fuchun
- Zeya
- Lancang
- Hudi
- Ile
- Sanggan
- Wujia
- Yarlung
- Ghäghara
- Wu
- Xiang
- Huai
- Künes
- Sapt
- Dihang
- Mamas
- Buh
- Jialing
- Dong
- Yalong
- You
- Bei
- Indus
- Shilka
- Yong
- Yongding
- Song’acha
- Ussuri
- Yu
- Hai
- Shiquan
- Di’er Songhua
- Huang
- Qumar
- Yalu
- Tao’er
- Amur
- Shandian
- Da
- Hailar
- Daling
- Zuo
- Duliu
- Erdao
- Nanweng
- Chaor
- Argun’
- Wei
- Za’gya
- Yurungkax
- Dali
- Jing
- Dam
- Qin
- Ou
- Toxkan
- Zayü
- Zhang
- Luan
- Liu
- Rong
- Heilong Jiang
- Nen
- Wuding
- Aksu
- Luhit
- Xi
- Dan
🏞️ Lakes
- Hongze Hu
- Lake Khanka
- Hulun Nuur
- Tai Hu
- Nam Co
- Lake
- Bosten Hu
- Poyang Hu
- Daguan Hu
- Long Hu
- Liangzi Hu
- Siling Co
- Ayakkum Hu
- Ngoring Hu
- Gaoyou Hu
- Gyaring Hu
- Langa Co
- Mapam Yumco
- Po Hu
- Buyr Nuur
- Ngangla Ringeo
- Tangra Yumco
- Yamzho Yumco
- Shijiu Hu
- Hong Hu
- Chao Hu
- Weishan Hu
- Huangtang Hu
- Hoh Xil Hu
- Banggong Co
- Ulansuhai Nur
- Dongting Hu
- Ge Hu
- Elsen Nur
- Qagan Nur
- Dongping Hu
- Ebinur Hu
- Luoma Hu
- Wuchang Hu
- Dalai Nur
- Ulgain Gobi
- Aqqikkol Hu
- Gas Hu
- Hoh Sai Hu
- Huiten Nur
- Lumajangdong Co
- Gozha Co
- Gyaring Co
- Ngangzi Co
- Alesayqin Ha
- Songhua Hu
- Yueliang Pao
- Puma Yumco
- Xinfengjiang Shuiku
- Danjiangkou Shuiku
- Xinanjiang Shuiku
- Guanting Shuiku
- Baidagang Shuiku
- Supung Reservoir
- Qinghai Hu
Ethnic groups in China
Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)
Regionally, Han Chinese is the most common ethnic group across most of the 32 divisions, while Uyghur predominates in 1 division (Xinjiang); Tibetan predominates in 1 division (Xizang).
Source: CIA World Factbook (2021 est.) · regional dominance compiled by Glostats from censuses and surveys
Religions in China
folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.1% (2021 est.)
Regionally, unaffiliated is the most common religious group across most of the 32 divisions, while Muslim predominates in 1 division (Xinjiang); Buddhist predominates in 1 division (Xizang).
Source: CIA World Factbook (2021 est.) · regional dominance compiled by Glostats from censuses and surveys
Languages in China
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages; note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinji
Regionally, Mandarin is the most common language group across most of the 32 divisions, while Wu (Shanghainese) predominates in 2 divisions (Shanghai, Zhejiang); Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese) predominates in 2 divisions (Fujian, Hainan); Uyghur predominates in 1 division (Xinjiang); Tibetan predominates in 1 division (Xizang).
Source: CIA World Factbook · regional dominance compiled by Glostats from censuses and surveys
Explore more
India
Indonesia
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Japan
Philippines
Vietnam
IranSources: boundaries, cities, rivers and lakes from Natural Earth (public domain, 1:10m); elevation from the AWS Open Data terrain tiles (SRTM/GMTED); ethnic, religious and language shares from the CIA World Factbook; regional dominance compiled by Glostats from national censuses and surveys. Page generated 2026-10-19. More about our data.