| Political divisions of China.
A province, in the context of China, is a translation of sheng (省 shěng), which is an administrative division of China. Provinces form part of the first level in the administrative structure of the People's Republic of China. Theoretically, provinces are also the first level division of the Republic of China on Taiwan, though this role has been greatly diminished.
The People's Republic of China currently administers 22 provinces, out of a total of 33 province level divisions, and claims a 23rd province, Taiwan Province. The Republic of China administers the entirety of Taiwan Province, as well as some offshore islands of Fujian province, and two municipalities (Taipei and Kaohsiung).
("Province" is also a translation of zhou, a division of the Han Dynasty, as well as circuits, a division of the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty. See History of the political divisions of China.)
The provinces of China were first set up during the Yuan Dynasty. There were initially 10 provinces. By the time of the Qing Dynasty there were 18, all of which were in China proper. These were:
For every province, there was a xunfu (巡撫), a political overseer on emperor's behalf and a tidu (提督), a military governor. In addition, there was a zongdu (總督) general military inspector for two or three provinces together.
For Outer Chinese regions of Fengtian (now Liaoning), Jilin, Heilongjiang, Xinjiang, and Mongolia, the military leaders were generals (將軍) and vice-tudong (副都統), and civilian leaders were heads of the leagues (盟長).
In 1878, Xinjiang became a province, in 1909, Fengtian, Jilin, and Heilongjiang were made provinces as well. As a result, there were 22 provinces in China (Outer China and China proper) near the end of the Qing Dynasty.
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