Address Verification Best Practices for China Addresses

Back Next

Administrative Divisions of China

Chinese address system is complex as the address begins with the largest division of the country followed by the smaller divisions. China has a street-based address structure.

The following image shows the address elements of a Chinese address and how the elements are parsed to the Address Verification fields:

The image shows the different elements in a China address and the corresponding Address Verification fields.

For Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, and Tianjin, if you enter the city name once, the city name is parsed to Province. If you enter the city name twice, the second city name is parsed to Locality1.

China is divided into the following administrative-level divisions:

Provincial level: China is divided into the following provincial-level divisions:
Province. Called Shěng, denoted by 省.
Municipality. Called Zhíxiáshì, denoted by 直辖市.
Autonomous region. Called Zìzhìqū, denoted by 自治区.
Special administrative region (SAR). Called Tèbié Xíngzhèngqū, denoted by 特别行政区.
Prefectural level: China is divided into the following prefectural-level divisions:
Prefectural-level cities. Called Dìjíshì, denoted by 地级市.
Prefectures. Called Dìqū, denoted by 地区.
Autonomous prefectures. Called Zìzhìzhōu, denoted by 自治州.
Leagues. Called Méng, denoted by 盟.
County level: China is divided into the following county-level divisions:
Counties. Called Xiàn, denoted by 县.
Autonomous counties. Called Zìzhìxiàn, denoted by 自治县.
County-level cities. Called Xiànjíshì, denoted by 县级市.
Districts. Called Shìxiáqū, denoted by 市辖区.
Banners. Called Qí, denoted by 旗.
Autonomous banners. Called Zìzhìqí, denoted by 自治旗.
Township level: China is divided into the following township-level divisions:
Towns. Called Zhèn, denoted by 镇.
Townships. Called Xiāng, denoted by 乡.
Subdistricts. Called Jiēdàobànshìchù, denoted by 街道办事处.
Ethnic townships. Called Mínzúxiāng, denoted by 民族乡.
Sumu. Called Sūmù, denoted by 苏木.
Ethnic Sumu. Called Mínzúsūmù, denoted by 民族苏木.
Village level: China is divided into the following village-level divisions:
Village committees. Called Cūnmínwěiyuánhuì, denoted by 村民委员会.
Neighborhood or community committees. Called Jūmínwěiyuánhuì, denoted by 居民委员会.

Rename Saved Search

Table of Contents

Address Verification Best Practices for China Addresses

Address Verification Best Practices for China Addresses

Administrative Divisions of China

Administrative Divisions of China