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Where is Mandarin spoken in China?
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Chinese languages
Oracle bone inscriptions from the village of Xiaotun, Henan province, China; Shang dynasty, 14th or 12th century bce.
Mandarin is the most widely spoken form of Chinese, serving as the native language for approximately two-thirds of the population in China. Its distribution across the country is extensive:1
- Northern China: Mandarin is spoken throughout the region north of the Yangtze River, including the Northeast provinces. The northern variant, centered on Beijing, is the most widespread and serves as the basis for Modern Standard Chinese.12
- Southwestern China: The western or Upper Yangtze variant is spoken in the Sichuan Basin and surrounding areas, with Chengdu as a central hub.12
- Lower Yangtze Region: The southern or Lower Yangtze variant is centered on Nanjing and is spoken in northern Jiangsu as well as southern and central Anhui.2
- Northwestern China: A northwestern variant is recognized in most of the northwestern region, extending from the city of Baoji.12
Beyond these regions, Mandarin is used by various ethnic groups, including the Hui and Manchu peoples, and is spoken throughout much of the rest of the country.12