Provinces Autonomous regions Sub-provincial autonomous prefectures Autonomous prefectures Leagues (Aimag) (abolishing) Prefectures Provincial-controlled cities Provincial-controlled counties Autonomous counties County-level cities DistrictsEthnic districts Banners (Hoxu)Autonomous banners Shennongjia Forestry District Liuzhi Special District Wolong Special Administrative Region Workers and peasants districts Ethnic townships Towns Subdistricts Subdistrict bureaux Sum Ethnic sum County-controlled districts County-controlled district bureaux (obsolete) Management committees Town-level city Areas Villages · Gaqa · Ranches Village Committees Communities Capital cities New areas Autonomous administrative divisions National central cities History: before 1912, 1912–49, 1949–present Autonomous prefectures (Chinese: 自治州; pinyin: zìzhìzhōu) are one type of autonomous administrative division in China, existing at the prefectural level, with either ethnic minorities forming over 50% of the population or being the historic home of significant minorities, although the latter situation is most common.

The official name of an autonomous prefecture includes the most significant minority in that region, sometimes two, rarely three.

For example, a prefecture with a large number of Kazakhs (Kazak in official naming system) may be called a Kazak Autonomous Prefecture.

Under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, autonomous prefectures cannot be abolished.

[citation needed] The PRC's autonomous administrative divisions may be found in the first (or top) to third levels of its national administrative divisions thus: