How are Chongqing’s districts, counties, and autonomous counties organized?

Chongqing is a provincial-level municipality under the direct administration of the central government of China. Administratively, the municipality is divided into three primary types of units:

• Districts (shixiaqu): These generally comprise the more urbanized areas of the municipality.1
• Counties (xian): These units typically encompass rural areas within the municipality's expanded territorial limits.1
• Autonomous counties (zizhixian): These are administrative divisions designated for ethnic minority populations.1

At the grassroots level, the organization shifts based on the environment: rural areas are organized into villages, while urban districts utilize neighbourhood street committees. These committees act as quasi-official administrations that handle local welfare, sanitation, dispute mediation, and the propagation of legal orders.1

Since its designation as a provincial-level municipality in 1997, Chongqing has incorporated a vast series of urban-rural units, significantly expanding its land area and population beyond the city proper.12