Autonomous prefecture
Autonomous prefectures are one type of autonomous administrative divisions of China, existing at the prefectural level, with either ethnic minorities forming over 50% of the population or being the historic home of significant minorities. All autonomous prefectures are mostly dominated, in population, by the Han Chinese. The official name of an autonomous prefecture includes the most dominant minority in that region, sometimes two, rarely three. For example, a Kazakh prefecture may be called Kazak Zizhizhou. Like all other prefectural level divisions, autonomous prefectures are divided into county level divisions. There is one exception: Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture contains two prefectures of its own. Under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, autonomous prefectures cannot be abolished.List of autonomous prefectures
Former autonomous prefectures of China
- Hainan Li and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Guangdong, abolished because of the establishment of Hainan Province.
- Hedong Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu, later changed name as Wuzhong Hui Autonomous Prefecture, abolished because of the establishment of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
- Xihaigu Hui Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu, later changed name as Guyuan Hui Autonomous Prefecture, abolished because of the establishment of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
- Guixi Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture in Guangxi Province, abolished because of the establishment of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
- Bayinhot Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu, included today's Dengkou County and Alxa League. The autonomy abolished after it merged into Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Administrative prefecture level units with a population of 30% or more of ethnic minorities
- Hebei: Chengde
- Liaoning: Benxi, Dandong
- Hunan: Zhangjiajie, Huaihua
- Guizhou: Anshun, Tongren
- Yunnan: Yuxi, Pu'er, Lijiang, Lincang
- Qinghai: Haidong
