Mainland China

Background

In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the People's Liberation Army had largely defeated the Kuomintang (KMT)'s National Revolutionary Army in the Chinese Civil War. This forced the Kuomintang to relocate the government and institution of the Republic of China to the relative safety of Taiwan, an island which was placed under its control after the surrender of Japan at the end of World War II in 1945. With the establishment of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949, the CCP-controlled government saw itself as the sole legitimate government of China, competing with the claims of the Republic of China, whose authority is now limited to Taiwan and other islands. This resulted in a situation in which two co-existing governments competed for international legitimacy and recognition as the "government of China". With the democratisation of Taiwan in the 1990s and the rise of the Taiwanese independence movement, some people began simply using the term "China" instead.

Due to their status as colonies of foreign states during the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the phrase "mainland China" excludes Hong Kong and Macau. Since the return of Hong Kong and Macau to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 and 1999, respectively, the two territories have retained their legal, political, and economic systems. The territories also have their distinct identities. Therefore, "mainland China" generally continues to exclude these territories, because of the "one country, two systems" policy adopted by the Chinese government towards the regions. The term is also used in economic indicators, such as the IMD Competitiveness Report. International news media often use "China" to refer only to the mainland of the People's Republic of China.

Political use

People's Republic of China

The Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国出境入境管理法) defines two terms in Chinese that are translated to "mainland":

• Dàlù (), which means 'the continent'.
• Nèidì (), literally 'inland' or 'inner land'. It excludes Hong Kong and Macau.

In the PRC, usage of the two terms is not strictly interchangeable. To emphasise the One-China policy and not give the ROC "equal footing" in cross-strait relations, the term must be used in PRC's official contexts with reference to Taiwan (with the PRC referring to itself as the "mainland side" dealing with the "Taiwan side"). In fact, the PRC government mandates that journalists use "Taiwan" and "the Mainland" (Dàlù) as corresponding concepts.

But in terms of Hong Kong and Macau, the PRC government refers to itself as "the Central People's Government". In the People's Republic of China, the term 内地 (Nèidì, 'inland') is often contrasted with the term 境外 ('outside the border') for things outside the mainland region. Examples include "Administration of Foreign-funded Banks" () or the "Measures on Administration of Representative Offices of Foreign Insurance Institutions" ().

Hainan is an island, but is nevertheless commonly considered to be part of the "mainland" politically, because its government, legal and political systems do not differ from the rest of the PRC. Nonetheless, Hainanese people still refer to the geographic mainland as "the mainland" and call its residents "mainlanders".

Before 1949, the Kinmen and Matsu islands, were jointly governed with the rest of Fujian Province under successive Chinese governments. The two territories are generally considered to belong to the same historical region, Fujian Province, which has been divided since 1949 as a result of the civil war. However, because they are not controlled by the PRC, they are not included as part of "mainland China".

Some Internet platforms like Bilibili bans the term "mainland China" on their website and considered its use promoting separatism and undermining the integrity of national sovereignty. They require that the term should be replaced as "Chinese mainland", "China's mainland" and "the mainland of China". According to the Foreign Ministry of the People's Republic of China, "Chinese mainland" is the correct term because "mainland China" supposedly implies that there are other Chinas.

Hong Kong and Macau

Hong Kong and Macau have been territories of the PRC since 1997 and 1999 respectively. However, due to the One Country, Two Systems policy, the two regions maintain a degree of autonomy, hence they are not governed as part of mainland China.

Geographically speaking, Hong Kong and Macau are both connected to mainland China in certain areas (e.g. the north of the New Territories). Additionally, the islands contained within Hong Kong (e.g. Hong Kong Island) and Macau are much closer to mainland China than Taiwan and Hainan, and are much smaller.

In Hong Kong and Macau, the terms "mainland China" and "mainlander" are frequently used for people from PRC-governed areas (i.e. not Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau). The Chinese term Neidi (), meaning the inland but still translated mainland in English, is commonly applied by SAR governments to represent non-SAR areas of PRC, including Hainan province and coastal regions of mainland China, such as "Constitutional and Mainland Affairs" (政制及內地事務局) and Immigration Departments. In the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (as well as the Mainland and Macau Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) the CPG also uses the Chinese characters 内地 "inner land", with the note that they refer to the "customs territory of China".

Taiwan (Republic of China)

References to the PRC and other lost continental territories as the mainland began appearing in Taiwan state documents as early as 1954.

Legal definitions followed in the 1990s. The 1991 Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China stated that "the handling of people's rights and obligations and other affairs between the free area and the mainland can be specially stipulated by law", and used the legal term "mainland area" without defining its geographical boundaries. The 1992 Regulations on the Relations between the People in Taiwan and the Mainland defined "Taiwan" as areas controlled by the ROC and "mainland" as "the territory of the Republic of China". The related Cross-Strait Act called those under PRC jurisdiction - excluding those in Hong Kong and Macau - as "people of the mainland area", and used "free area of the Republic of China" to describe areas under ROC control. The issue on the mainland's territory also stated in the Judicial Yuan Interpretation No. 328 in 1993. In 2012, the Supreme Court of the Republic of China's judgment #900 labeled the Macao Special Administrative Region as the "Mainland's Macau Area". The 2002 amendments to the Implementation Rules of the Regulations on People Relations between Taiwan and mainland China defined the mainland as areas claimed but not controlled by the ROC, corresponding to "areas under control of the Chinese Communists" (within the de facto borders of the People's Republic of China).

Views of the term "mainland China" (中國大陸) vary on Taiwan. During the Dangguo era, the KMT had previously referred to the territories under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) by several different names, e.g. "(territory controlled by the) Communist bandits", "occupied/unfree area (of China)", "Communist China" (as opposed to either "Nationalist China" or "Democratic China"), "Red China" (as opposed to "Blue China"), and "mainland China (area)". In modern times, many of these terms have fallen out of use. The terms "mainland China" (中國大陸) or "the mainland" (大陸) still remain in popular use, but some also simply use the term "China" (中國). The former term is generally preferred by the Pan-Blue Coalition led by the KMT, while the latter term is preferred by the Pan-Green Coalition led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which opposes the term "mainland" and its suggestion that Taiwan is part of China. This has caused many political debates.

Mainland China

Mainland China, simply Mainland, is a political and legal term used in the People's Republic of China. It refers to the areas under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China, excluding the regions of Hong Kong and Macau. This term is often used in contexts where the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau are mentioned, and in some cases, it is synonymous with "mainland China". Nevertheless, in Taiwan, "mainland China" is also often used to refer to all territories administered by the People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

Legal uses

Mainland China

On 30 December 1954, the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China addressed a marital issue between a spouse residing in Inland and another residing in Hong Kong or Macau. The court used the term "mainland" in its official response, "Reply of the Supreme People's Court Regarding the Handling Opinions on Marital Issues with One Spouse Residing in Mainland and the Other in Hong Kong or Macau." This terminology arose from a divorce case between a person from Hong Kong and another from Zhoushan.

On 6 December 1984, in a reply by the Supreme People's Court titled "Reply of the Supreme People's Court on the Issue of Whether Civil Cases Involving Hong Kong and Macau Compatriots Holding 'British National Overseas Passports' Issued by the Hong Kong British Authorities and Identity Cards Issued by the Macau Portuguese Authorities in Mainland Chinese People's Courts Should Be Treated as Foreign-Related Cases," it was pointed out that holders of such documents are considered Chinese citizens, not recognizing them as having British or Portuguese nationality; hence their civil cases in Mainland Chinese courts should not be treated as foreign-related cases.

On 30 June 2012, the Eleventh National People's Congress passed Article 89 of the "Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China," which states: "Exiting refers to traveling from Mainland China to other countries or regions, from Mainland China to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macau Special Administrative Region, or from the Mainland China to the Taiwan region". This law symmetrically aligns "Mainland China" with the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions, and in English versions, both are uniformly translated as "Chinese Mainland".

Additionally, the term "Mainland residents" is commonly used in contexts related to immigration control, tourism, and marriage, such as individual travel from Hong Kong and Macau, and Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macau residents.

Hong Kong

In 1997, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed the "Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Handling the Existing Laws of Hong Kong in Accordance with Article 160 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China", which required that any references in Hong Kong laws to "Mainland", "Taiwan", "Hong Kong", and "Macau" should be interpreted as referring to parts of the People's Republic of China. The Hong Kong Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance stipulates that "'China' refers to the People's Republic of China", and "'the People's Republic of China' includes the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions".

In 2003, the Ministry of Commerce and the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong signed the "Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement" defining "mainland" as "all the tariff territory of the People's Republic of China".

On 1 April 2006, the "Mainland Affairs Liaison Office", under the Constitutional Affairs Bureau, was established, and on 1 July 2007, during the administration of Donald Tsang, it was renamed the "Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau".

Macau

In 1999, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) passed the "Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Handling the Existing Laws of Macau in Accordance with Article 145 of the Basic Law of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China." This decision required that any references in Macau's laws that mentioned Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau, either individually or together, should be interpreted as referring to parts of the People's Republic of China. Law No. 1/1999 of Macau, also known as the "Reunification Law", restated relevant parts of the decision in its Annex IV.

In 2003, the Ministry of Commerce and Macau's Secretary for Economy and Finance signed the "Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Mainland and Macau" which defined "mainland" as "all the tariff territory of the People's Republic of China".

Usage in entertainment industry

In order to differentiate from the entertainment industries of Europe, America, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong, the entertainment industry in Mainland China is often referred to as the "Mainland entertainment industry" or simply "Mainland entertainment". Artists who have developed their careers within the People's Republic of China are also referred to as "mainland artists".

Use of "China" in place of "mainland China"

Listing "China", "Hong Kong", "Macau" and "Taiwan" side by side

The government of the People's Republic of China and supporters thereof assert that Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are an inseparable part of China as part of the One-China principle, not to be confused with One-China policies. Therefore, they could view listing Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan alongside China as an implied assertion that the aforementioned are independent to China, violating the One-China principle. However, contrarily, supporters of independence, both the maintaining of or declaration of, are likely to list Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as separate to China. This is also common in folk usage by people who do not necessarily support independence.

Other terms

Other geography-related terms which are used to avoid mentioning the political status of the PRC and ROC.

Notes

References

Citations

Sources

• IMD

References

1. (10 July 2017). "中央流行疫情指揮中心1月28日宣布提升中國大陸(不含港澳)之旅遊疫情建議至第三級『警告』(Warning)，大陸委員會調升湖北省（包含武漢市）的旅遊警示燈號為「紅色」，中國大陸其他地區旅遊警示燈號為「橙色」".
2. "2月6日起全中國大陸(含港澳)列二級以上流行地區，居住中國大陸各省市陸人暫緩入境". 疾病管制署.
3. "有關中國大陸「國家情報法(草案)」新聞參考資料".
4. (1993). "China, India, Japan and the Security of Southeast Asia". ISEAS.
5. (17 May 2018). "為何陸生希望自己被稱內地？使用中國、內地、大陸等詞彙前，你懂背後的意識形態？".
6. (2001). "The Chinese Triangle of mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong : comparative institutional analyses". Greenwood Press.
7. (22 June 2007). "Mainland Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Bill". Legislative council HK.
8. "《中华人民共和国出境入境管理法》（中英文）Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China".
9. (20 September 2022). "Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao Emergency Service Information".
10. "What Does Using the Term Mainland China Imply for Taiwan?". US Taiwan Business Council.
11. "The Practice of the 'One Country, Two Systems' Policy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". Information Office of the State Council. The People’s Republic of China.
12. "Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China". Legalisation of Documents.
13. link
14. "社区公约 - 违法违禁".
15. (2025-10-06). "「中國內地」官方英譯「Chinese Mainland」 湯家驊：用字不能馬虎 憶述一事令他無言以對".
16. Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. "[http://www.cmab.gov.hk/ Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China] {{Webarchive. link. (2021-10-21 ." ''Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau.'' Retrieved on 10 March 2008.)
17. [http://www.immd.gov.hk/zhtml/facts_3_0.htm Chinese version] {{webarchive. link. (27 November 2009 , [http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/facts_3_0.htm English version] {{webarchive). link. (4 February 2009 , Statistics on Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals ({{lang). zh-hant. 輸入內地人才計劃數據資料), [[Immigration Department (Hong Kong)]].
18. [http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/files/main_e.pdf English Text] {{Webarchive. link. (4 June 2011 [http://www.locpg.gov.cn/big5/jmwl/cepa/cepaxy/200702/t20070225_1844.asp Chinese text] {{webarchive). link. (7 July 2011 )
19. "解释字號：释字第31号".
20. Bi-Yu Chang. (2015). "Building castles in the sand". [[Routledge]].
21. Frank Jacobs. (23 July 2010). "A Map of Greater China, Made in Taiwan". [[Big Think]].
22. "中华民国宪法增修条文".
23. "台湾地区与大陆地区人民关系条例".
24. [http://www.taiwandocuments.org/constitution04.htm Additional Articles to the Republic of China Constitution] {{Webarchive. link. (15 May 2017 , 6th Revision, 2000)
25. "No.328".
26. "香港澳門關係條例施行細則".
27. "裁判字號：101年台上字第900號".
28. "Laws and Regulations Regarding Mainland Affairs".
29. "臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例施行細則".
30. 邱政宗. (March 1991 }}{{dead link). "中華民國立法院法制局研究成果《外蒙古定位後續問題評析》".
31. "台灣小學課本裡的「共匪」（管仁健／著）".
32. Wachman, Alan. (1994). "Taiwan: National Identity and Democratization". M.E. Sharpe.
33. [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/07/23/2003538429 DPP is firm on China name issue] {{Webarchive. link. (8 May 2021 . Taipei Times (14 July 2013). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.)
34. "Railway Construction, Operation and Maintenance".
35. "存档副本".
36. "第597章 《內地判決（交互強制執行）條例》". 電子版香港法例.
37. "No.328".
38. "2月6日起全中國大陸(含港澳)列二級以上流行地區，居住中國大陸各省市陸人暫緩入境". 疾病管制署.
39. "有關中國大陸「國家情報法(草案)」新聞參考資料".
40. [[最高人民法院审判委员会]]. "最高人民法院关于配偶一方居住内地一方居住港澳婚姻问题的处理意见的复函".
41. [[最高人民法院审判委员会]]. "最高人民法院关于港澳同胞持有"英国属土公民护照"和澳葡当局所发身份证在内地人民法院起诉、应诉的民事案件，是否作为涉外案件问题的批复".
42. "中华人民共和国出境入境管理法".
43. "《中华人民共和国出境入境管理法》英文版".
44. [[国家移民管理局]]. (3 February 2020). "中华人民共和国出入境管理局调整疫情防控期间内地居民往来港澳地区出入境管理政策措施".
45. (2001). "内地居民往来港澳地区". [[新华社]]广东分社网络中心、[[广东省交通厅]].
46. (3 April 2020). "内地居民前往港澳定居办事指南". 东莞市公安局.
47. (13 May 2019). "已开办内地居民个人赴港澳地区旅游城市".
48. 13th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. "全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于根据《中华人民共和国香港特别行政区基本法》第一百六十条处理香港原有法律的决定".
49. "《内地与香港关于建立更紧密经贸关系的安排》 服务贸易协议".
50. "Cap. 362H TRADE DESCRIPTIONS (PLACE OF MANUFACTURE) (PIECE-KNITTED GARMENTS) ORDER ─ Section 4 Exception to section 2 in case of piece-knitted garment exported under Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement". Hong Kong e-Legislation.
51. "立法会：商务及经济发展局局长就「发展与內地的合作关系」的动议辩论致辞全文（只有中文）".
52. "全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于根据《中华人民共和国澳门特别行政区基本法》第一百四十五条处理澳门原有法律的决定".
53. "澳門特別行政區 第1/1999號法律 回歸法".
54. "《内地与澳门关于建立更紧密经贸关系的安排》 服务贸易协议".
55. "媒介之变｜内地娱乐圈：技术时代的追星体验_思想市场_澎湃新闻-The Paper". 澎湃新闻.
56. (2018-08-28). "IKEA將中國與台港並列 網民玻璃心又碎罵翻 環球網要求改正". 新頭殼newtalk.
57. (2023-06-08). "又「乳滑」了！主持人將中國、香港、台灣並列 泰藝人見面會粉絲喊China抗議". NewTalk.
58. (2019-09-17). "巴黎银行把香港台湾同中国并列 网友：想退出中国市场？". [[Global Times]].