Autonomous prefectures (Chinese: 自治州; pinyin: Zìzhìzhōu) are one type of autonomous areas of China, existing at the prefectural level, with either ethnic minorities forming over 50% of the population or being the historic home of significant minorities. All autonomous prefectures are mostly dominated, in population, by the Han Chinese. The official name of an autonomous prefecture includes the most dominant minority in that region, sometimes two, rarely three. For example, a Kazakh (Kazak in official naming system) prefecture may be called Kazak Zizhizhou. Like all other prefectural level divisions, autonomous prefectures are divided into county level divisions. There is one exception: Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture contains two prefectures of its own. Under the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, autonomous prefectures cannot be abolished.

List of autonomous prefectures

Ethnic composition of autonomous prefectures (2010)

Former autonomous prefectures of China

Dehong Dai may refer to:

The Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture (Zaiwa: Sikung Sam Zaizo Byumyu Yumsing Upkang Mau; simplified Chinese: 德宏傣族景颇族自治州; traditional Chinese: 德宏傣族景頗族自治州; pinyin: Déhóng Dǎizú Jǐngpōzú Zìzhìzhōu) is located in western Yunnan province, People's Republic of China, and is one of the eight autonomous prefectures of the province, bordering Baoshan to the east and Burma's Kachin State to the west.

Geography

Dehong stretches 122 km (76 mi) from east to west and 170 km (110 mi) from north to south, its area is 11,526 km² (4,450 sq mi).

Climate

Administration

Dehong is divided into three counties and two county level cities:

The prefectural government seat is Mang City.

Population

The population of Dehong in 2003 was of 1.02 million, 48.17% of whom were Han Chinese, 51.83% were national minorities, mostly Dai and Jingpo.

History

The area was declared an autonomous region in 1953, and in May 1956 became an autonomous prefecture. In 1960 when interprovincial migration took place many farmers came to Yunnan to farm bananas. This was during the "Great Leap Forward" when a biologist working for Mao Zedong wrote an article about the weather in Yunnan being very suitable for bananas to be planted. A very long time ago before this many Chinese were in fact very scared of going there because of an illness that lurked about. It was later discovered that this was an identifiable tropical disease. The farmers helped to get rid of the disease. They made clearings, roads and space for fields and plantations.