List of Chinese flags


This is a list of flags of entities named "China".

National flags

Imperial flags

[Special [administrative regions of China|Special administrative regions]] flags

FlagDurationUseDescription
July 1997–presentFlag of Hong KongA white, five-petal Bauhinia blakeana on a red field with 1 star on each of the petals. The Chinese name of Bauhinia × blakeana has also been frequently shortened as 紫荊/紫荆, although 紫荊/紫荆 refers to another genus called Cercis. A statue of the plant has been erected in Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong.
December 1999–presentFlag of MacauA lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars on a green field

City flags

As of 18 November 1997, the Chinese Government banned localities from making and using local flags and emblems. Despite this law, some cities have adopted their own flag that often includes their local emblem as shown below.
FlagDurationUseDescription
May 1997–January 1998Flag of HarbinA white, five-petal flower surrounding a snowflake on a dark green field
December 1995–presentFlag of Suzhou
December 1986–presentFlag of NanjingStill used in 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.
March 2009–presentFlag of Shangrao
March 2006–presentFlag of Kaifeng

Military flags

Proposed national flags of the Republic of China

Proposed national flags of the People's Republic of China

In July 1949, a contest was announced for a national flag for the newly founded People's Republic of China. From a total of about 3,000 proposed designs, 38 finalists were chosen. In September, the current flag, submitted by Zeng Liansong, was officially adopted, with the hammer and sickle removed.

Alternative proposals

Selection of proposals

Non-state flags

Historical national flags

Other historical flags

Note that Hong Kong and Macau were handed over to the People's Republic of China in 1997 and 1999 respectively.

Manchukuo flags

Flags by current self-declared entities