Sub-provincial divisions in the People's Republic of China

Under provincial cities (Chinese副 省级 城市, Pinyin fù shengji Chengshi ) are prefecture-level cities in the People's Republic of China, which were given by Government Decision of 25 February 1994 highlighted a special status. The mayor of a sub- provincial city has the same rank as the vice-governor of a province. Originally 16 sub- provincial cities were created, but since Chongqing was elevated to the rank of a centrally-administered city in 1997, remained 15 cities. These have a much higher level of rights, powers and responsibilities, especially in the fields of justice and economy, than the other 270 prefecture-level cities.

The 15 sub- provincial cities are:

• Among the 15 cities are ten provincial capitals ( Changchun, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Jinan, Nanjing, Shenyang, Wuhan and Xi'an ).
• The provinces of Guangdong, Liaoning, Shandong and Zhejiang respectively represent two sub- provincial cities,
• Fujian, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jilin, Shaanxi and Sichuan one.
• Fujian is the only province that list, in which not the capital ( Fuzhou) is sub- provincial city.