Administrative divisions

Shanxi Province has 11 prefectural-level cities under its jurisdiction. Taiyuan, the provincial capital, is located at the center of the province. The other prefectural-level cities, from north to south, are Datong, Shuozhou, Xinzhou, Yangquan, Lvliang, Jinzhong, Changzhi, Jincheng, Linfen, and Yuncheng. Under the jurisdiction of these 11 prefectural-level cities are 117 county-level administrative divisions, including 25 municipal districts, 11 county-level cities, and 81 counties.

Taiyuan City, located in the heart of the province, covers a total area of 6,959 square kilometers. It has 6 municipal districts, 3 counties, and 1 county-level city under its jurisdiction, namely Xiaodian District, Yingze District, Xinghualing District, Jiancaoping District, Wanbolin District, Jinyuan District, Qingxu County, Yangqu County, Loufan County, and Gujiao City. These districts, counties, and the city administer a total of 105 grassroots administrative units, consisting of 53 neighborhoods, 21 towns, and 31 townships.

Datong City, located at the northernmost tip of Shanxi, covers an area of 14,176 square kilometers. It has 4 municipal districts and 6 counties under its jurisdiction: Xinrong District, Pingcheng District, Yungang District, Yunzhou District, Yanggao County, Tianzhen County, Guangling County, Lingqiu County, Hunyuan County, and Zuoyun County. These divisions are further subdivided into 145 administrative units, including 46 neighborhoods, 33 towns, and 66 townships.

Shuozhou City, located in northwestern Shanxi, covers 10,662 square kilometers. It has 2 municipal districts, 3 counties, and 1 county-level city under its jurisdiction: Shuocheng District, Pinglu District, Shanyin County, Ying County, Youyu County, and Huairen City. Under their jurisdiction are 73 administrative units, consisting of 4 neighborhoods, 19 towns, and 50 townships.

Xinzhou City, located in central-north Shanxi, covers 25,180 square kilometers. It has 1 municipal district, 12 counties, and 1 county-level city under its jurisdiction: Xinfu District, Dingxiang County, Wutai County, Dai County, Fanshi County, Ningwu County, Jingle County, Shenchi County, Wuzhai County, Kelan County, Hequ County, Baode County, Pianguan County, and Yuanping City. These are further subdivided into 191 administrative units, including 6 neighborhoods, 59 towns, and 126 townships.

Yangquan City, located to the east of the province’s centerline, covers 4,451 square kilometers. It has 3 municipal districts and 2 counties under its jurisdiction: Municipal District, Mining District, Suburban District, Pingding County, and Yu County. These divisions administer a total of 44 administrative units, including 12 neighborhoods, 20 towns, and 12 townships.

Lvliang City, located to the west of the province’s centerline, covers 21,143 square kilometers. It has 1 municipal district, 10 counties, and 2 county-level cities under its jurisdiction: Lishi District, Wenshui County, Jiaocheng County, Xing County, Lin County, Liulin County, Shilou County, Lan County, Fangshan County, Zhongyang County, Jiaokou County, Xiaoyi City, and Fenyang City. These divisions administer a total of 161 administrative units, comprising 13 neighborhoods, 81 towns, and 67 townships.

Jinzhong City, located in central-east Shanxi, covers 16,408 square kilometers. It has 1 municipal district, 9 counties, and 1 county-level city under its jurisdiction: Yuci District, Yushe County, Zuoquan County, Heshun County, Xiyang County, Shouyang County, Taigu County, Qi County, Pingyao County, Lingshi County, and Jiexiu City. These divisions administer 135 administrative units, including 17 neighborhoods, 59 towns, and 59 townships.

Changzhi City, located in southeastern Shanxi, covers 13,864 square kilometers. It has 4 municipal districts and 8 counties under its jurisdiction: Luzhou District, Shangdang District, Tunliu District, Lucheng District, Xiangyuan County, Pingshun County, Licheng County, Huguan County, Zhangzi County, Wuxiang County, Qin County, and Qinyuan County. These divisions administer 146 administrative units, including 14 neighborhoods, 68 towns, and 64 townships.

Jincheng City, located at the southeastern end of Shanxi, covers 9,484 square kilometers. It has 1 municipal district, 4 counties, and 1 county-level city under its jurisdiction: Municipal District, Qinshui County, Yangcheng County, Lingchuan County, Zezhou County, and Gaoping City. These divisions administer a total of 84 administrative units, including 10 neighborhoods, 48 towns, and 26 townships.

Linfen City, located in southwestern Shanxi, covers 20,589 square kilometers. It has 1 municipal district, 14 counties, and 2 county-level cities under its jurisdiction: Yaodu District, Quwo County, Yicheng County, Xiangfen County, Hongtong County, Gu County, Anze County, Fushan County, Ji County, Xiangning County, Daning County, Xi County, Yonghe County, Pu County, Fenxi County, Houma City, and Huozhou City. These divisions administer 171 administrative units, comprising 20 neighborhoods, 75 towns, and 76 townships.

Yuncheng City, located at the southwestern end of Shanxi, covers 14,106 square kilometers. It has 1 municipal district, 10 counties, and 2 county-level cities under its jurisdiction: Yanhu District, Linyi County, Wanrong County, Wenxi County, Jishan County, Xinjiang County, Jiang County, Yuanqu County, Xia County, Pinglu County, Ruicheng County, Yongji City, and Hejin City. These divisions administer 149 administrative units, including 13 neighborhoods, 81 towns, and 55 townships.

There are 11 prefectural-level cities in Shanxi, with Xinzhou City having the largest jurisdictional area and Yangquan City the smallest. Among the 117 county-level divisions, the county, city, and municipal district with the largest areas are Xing County in Lvliang City, Yuanping City in Xinzhou City, and Pinglu District in Shuozhou City, respectively. The smallest are Quwo County in Linfen City, Houma City in Linfen City, and Mining District in Yangquan City.

In total, Shanxi’s 117 counties, cities, and municipal districts administer 1,398 grassroots administrative units, including 564 towns, 632 townships, and 202 neighborhoods. These, in turn, oversee 28,079 organically assigned villages.