Township (China)

A township (乡, xiāng) is a fourth-level administrative division in mainland China. Townships are subdivisions of counties, autonomous counties, county-level cities, or districts directly administered by municipalities. They are one level below towns (镇, zhèn).

Townships are typically rural areas populated by farmers and agricultural workers. They often encompass several villages. While similar to towns, townships generally have a smaller population, a less developed economy, and fewer urban characteristics.

A township government is responsible for local administration, including agriculture, education, healthcare, and public security within its jurisdiction. They operate under the guidance and supervision of the higher-level county or city government.

There are several types of townships, including:

• Ordinary Townships (乡, xiāng): The most common type, focused primarily on agriculture.
• Ethnic Townships (民族乡, mínzú xiāng): Established in areas with a concentration of ethnic minorities. These townships often have greater autonomy in cultural affairs and language preservation. The name of an ethnic township typically includes the ethnicity of the majority group residing there (e.g., a "Hui Township").

The status of a township can change over time. As rural areas develop, townships may be upgraded to towns. Conversely, some townships may be merged with neighboring administrative divisions. The number of townships in China has decreased in recent decades due to urbanization and administrative restructuring.