---
title: "County Level Definition in China | Model Diplomat"
description: "The county level is the third administrative tier in China, crucial for direct governance. It's where citizens most interact with the state."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/county-level"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The county level (县级) is the third administrative tier of the People's Republic of China, situated below provinces and prefectures and above townships, where most direct state governance of the population occurs.
- Which administrative tiers in China use direct elections?
- What constitutional article establishes the county level?
- How does a county-level city differ from a prefecture-level city?
- What cadre rank does a county Party secretary hold?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In 2016 the State Council approved converting Xi'an's Hu County into Huyi District, a typical county-to-municipal-district reclassification that absorbed a rural county into an expanding provincial-capital city.

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