How many cities are there in China?
As one of the most populous countries in the world, China's number of cities has always been a topic of concern. As urbanization accelerates, the number of cities in China is also constantly changing. This article will provide you with a detailed analysis of the number and distribution of Chinese cities based on the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days.
1. Overview of the number of cities in China

According to the latest administrative division data, China currently has a total of687 cities, including cities at different levels such as municipalities, prefecture-level cities, and county-level cities. These cities are distributed in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government, covering a wide range from first-tier cities to fifth-tier cities.
| city level | Quantity | representative city |
|---|---|---|
| municipality | 4 | Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing |
| Sub-provincial city | 15 | Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Wuhan, etc. |
| prefecture-level city | 293 | Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, etc. |
| County-level city | 375 | Kunshan, Yiwu, Zhangjiagang, etc. |
2. Distribution characteristics of Chinese cities
The distribution of cities in China shows obvious regional differences. The urban density in the eastern coastal area is higher, while the urban distribution in the western area is sparse. The following are the urban distribution characteristics mentioned in hot topics in recent years:
| area | Number of cities | Population share |
|---|---|---|
| eastern region | 248 | about 40% |
| central region | 168 | about 26% |
| western region | 157 | about 20% |
| Northeastern region | 114 | about 14% |
3. Changes in the number of cities in recent years
With the advancement of urbanization, the number of cities in China is also constantly adjusting. Hot content in the past 10 days shows that the following trends are worthy of attention:
1.Remove county and establish city: In recent years, many places have actively promoted the removal of counties and established cities, and the number of county-level cities has increased. For example, in 2023, Xiangyin County in Hunan and Lufeng County in Yunnan were approved to remove counties and establish cities.
2.urban agglomeration development: Urban agglomerations such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area have become the focus of development, and cities in the region are more closely connected.
3.Characteristic small city: With the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, a number of characteristic small cities have emerged, such as Wuzhen in Zhejiang and Lijiang in Yunnan.
4. Distribution of China’s Urban Population Size
In addition to the number of cities, population size is also an important indicator for measuring urban development. The following is the recently hotly discussed urban population size distribution data in China:
| population size | Number of cities | representative city |
|---|---|---|
| Mega cities (>10 million) | 7 | Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, etc. |
| Megacities (5-10 million) | 14 | Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou, etc. |
| Large cities (1-5 million) | 135 | Wuxi, Xiamen, Harbin, etc. |
| Medium-sized cities (500,000-1 million) | 221 | Yueyang, Liuzhou, Jiujiang, etc. |
| Small cities (<500,000) | 310 | Mainly county-level cities |
5. Prospects for future urban development
Based on recent hot discussions, China’s urban development will show the following trends:
1.Smart city construction accelerates: Many cities have applied 5G, artificial intelligence and other technologies to urban management to create smart city models.
2.Green and low-carbon transformation: Driven by the carbon neutrality goal, urban green development has become the focus, and investment in new energy, public transportation and other fields has increased.
3.coordinated regional development: Driven by national strategies, cities in central and western regions will receive more development opportunities, and regional gaps are expected to narrow.
4.urban renewal: Urban renewal projects such as the renovation of old communities and the protection of historical neighborhoods will continue to advance.
To sum up, China currently has 687 cities, which present rich and diverse characteristics in terms of size, function and level of development. With the in-depth implementation of the national new urbanization strategy, the quantity and quality of Chinese cities will usher in new development opportunities.
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