China Province Capital Cities: Complete Guide to All 34 Provincial Capitals

Published April 20, 2025 · China Administrative Divisions

China's 34 provincial-level administrative divisions each have a capital city that serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the region. This comprehensive guide covers all provincial capitals across mainland China, including the four directly administered municipalities (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing), two special administrative regions (Hong Kong and Macau), and Taiwan Province.

Provincial capitals play a vital role in China's administrative hierarchy. They house the provincial government headquarters, serve as transportation hubs, and typically represent the largest and most developed cities within their respective provinces. Many capitals have rich histories spanning thousands of years, while others have grown rapidly as modern economic centers.

Table of Contents

Complete Table of All 34 Capital Cities

The following table lists all 34 provincial-level capital cities in China, organized by geographic region. Population figures are approximate urban population in ten-thousands (2024 estimates). Elevation shows the average city elevation in meters above sea level.

Province Capital City Chinese Population Elevation Region Established
Beijing Beijing Municipality 北京 2,189 43m North China 1045 BC
Tianjin Tianjin Municipality 天津 1,373 5m North China 1404 AD
Hebei Shijiazhuang 石家庄 1,123 80m North China 1925 AD
Shanxi Taiyuan 太原 539 800m North China 497 BC
Inner Mongolia Hohhot 呼和浩特 350 1,050m North China 1575 AD
Liaoning Shenyang 沈阳 914 50m Northeast 300 BC
Jilin Changchun 长春 907 250m Northeast 1800 AD
Heilongjiang Harbin 哈尔滨 1,001 150m Northeast 1097 AD
Shanghai Shanghai Municipality 上海 2,487 4m East China 1291 AD
Jiangsu Nanjing 南京 942 20m East China 495 BC
Zhejiang Hangzhou 杭州 1,237 19m East China 221 BC
Anhui Hefei 合肥 963 30m East China 221 BC
Fujian Fuzhou 福州 842 84m East China 202 BC
Jiangxi Nanchang 南昌 644 25m East China 201 BC
Shandong Jinan 济南 941 51m East China 2600 BC
Taiwan Taipei 台北 264 9m East China 1708 AD
Henan Zhengzhou 郑州 1,283 108m Central China 1600 BC
Hubei Wuhan 武汉 1,374 23m Central China 3500 BC
Hunan Changsha 长沙 1,042 45m Central China 1600 BC
Guangdong Guangzhou 广州 1,881 11m South China 214 BC
Guangxi Nanning 南宁 887 83m South China 318 AD
Hainan Haikou 海口 293 14m South China 110 AD
Hong Kong Hong Kong 香港 748 32m South China 1842 AD
Macau Macau 澳门 68 8m South China 1557 AD
Chongqing Chongqing Municipality 重庆 3,213 259m Southwest 316 BC
Sichuan Chengdu 成都 2,119 500m Southwest 311 BC
Guizhou Guiyang 贵阳 622 1,100m Southwest 1283 AD
Yunnan Kunming 昆明 860 1,891m Southwest 279 BC
Tibet Lhasa 拉萨 87 3,650m Southwest 633 AD
Shaanxi Xi'an 西安 1,300 405m Northwest 1134 BC
Gansu Lanzhou 兰州 438 1,520m Northwest 86 BC
Qinghai Xining 西宁 247 2,275m Northwest 1104 AD
Ningxia Yinchuan 银川 289 1,117m Northwest 1038 AD
Xinjiang Urumqi 乌鲁木齐 408 800m Northwest 1758 AD

The Four Directly Administered Municipalities

China has four cities that are administered directly by the central government, equivalent to provinces in administrative status. These municipalities are among the most important cities in China:

Beijing (北京)

As a directly administered municipality, Beijing operates at the provincial level with a population of 2,189 ten-thousand. It is the capital of Beijing and one of China's most significant political and economic centers.

Tianjin (天津)

As a directly administered municipality, Tianjin operates at the provincial level with a population of 1,373 ten-thousand. It is the capital of Tianjin and one of China's most significant political and economic centers.

Shanghai (上海)

As a directly administered municipality, Shanghai operates at the provincial level with a population of 2,487 ten-thousand. It is the capital of Shanghai and one of China's most significant political and economic centers.

Chongqing (重庆)

As a directly administered municipality, Chongqing operates at the provincial level with a population of 3,213 ten-thousand. It is the capital of Chongqing and one of China's most significant political and economic centers.

Regional Distribution Analysis

China's 34 provincial capitals are distributed across seven geographic regions. East China has the highest concentration with 8 capitals, reflecting the region's dense administrative structure and large population.

North China (5 capitals)

Total capital city population: 5,574 ten-thousand · Average: 1,114 ten-thousand · Cities: Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Hohhot

Northeast (3 capitals)

Total capital city population: 2,822 ten-thousand · Average: 940 ten-thousand · Cities: Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin

East China (8 capitals)

Total capital city population: 8,320 ten-thousand · Average: 1,040 ten-thousand · Cities: Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Fuzhou, Nanchang, Jinan, Taipei

Central China (3 capitals)

Total capital city population: 3,699 ten-thousand · Average: 1,233 ten-thousand · Cities: Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha

South China (5 capitals)

Total capital city population: 3,877 ten-thousand · Average: 775 ten-thousand · Cities: Guangzhou, Nanning, Haikou, Hong Kong, Macau

Southwest (5 capitals)

Total capital city population: 6,901 ten-thousand · Average: 1,380 ten-thousand · Cities: Chongqing, Chengdu, Guiyang, Kunming, Lhasa

Northwest (5 capitals)

Total capital city population: 2,682 ten-thousand · Average: 536 ten-thousand · Cities: Xi'an, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan, Urumqi

Cities with Ancient Capital History

Many of China's current provincial capitals have served as capitals of ancient Chinese dynasties and kingdoms. Some cities have been political centers for millennia:

Population Comparison

Among China's 34 provincial capitals, population varies dramatically from Chongqing's 32 million to Macau's 680,000. The four municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing) all exceed 10 million, while capitals in western regions tend to have smaller populations.

Most Populous Capital Cities

  1. Chongqing (Chongqing) — 3,213 ten-thousand
  2. Shanghai (Shanghai) — 2,487 ten-thousand
  3. Beijing (Beijing) — 2,189 ten-thousand
  4. Chengdu (Sichuan) — 2,119 ten-thousand
  5. Guangzhou (Guangdong) — 1,881 ten-thousand

Least Populous Capital Cities

  1. Yinchuan (Ningxia) — 289 ten-thousand
  2. Taipei (Taiwan) — 264 ten-thousand
  3. Xining (Qinghai) — 247 ten-thousand
  4. Lhasa (Tibet) — 87 ten-thousand
  5. Macau (Macau) — 68 ten-thousand

Elevation and Geography

China's capital cities span a remarkable range of elevations, from near sea level in Shanghai (4m) to the Tibetan Plateau's Lhasa (3,650m). This vast range reflects China's diverse geography, from coastal plains to the world's highest plateau.

Highest Capital Cities

  1. Lhasa — 3,650m above sea level (Tibet)
  2. Xining — 2,275m above sea level (Qinghai)
  3. Kunming — 1,891m above sea level (Yunnan)
  4. Lanzhou — 1,520m above sea level (Gansu)
  5. Yinchuan — 1,117m above sea level (Ningxia)

Lowest Capital Cities

  1. Guangzhou — 11m above sea level (Guangdong)
  2. Taipei — 9m above sea level (Taiwan)
  3. Macau — 8m above sea level (Macau)
  4. Tianjin — 5m above sea level (Tianjin)
  5. Shanghai — 4m above sea level (Shanghai)