The Population of China's Cities

T HE first modern population census of China was taken by the Communist regime on June 30, 1953. Summary results published in the Chinese press on November 1, 1954, included population distribution by provinces, autonomous regions (autonomous ch'ii), and centrally administered cities (Peking, Shanghai, and Tientsin).' Virtually no other population data on cities and minor civil divisions have become available directly from Chinese sources. However, it has recently become evident that Soviet research institutions have gained access to some unpublished tabulations of the Chinese census and have been using them.2 The purpose of this paper is to present for the first time in English a systematic tabulation of the 1953 census figures for the cities of China as assembled from various Soviet sources. The opportunity is also taken to list new cities established since the census and to discuss other major changes in urban population data in recent years. Although more than five years have passed since the census was taken and the figures have been outdated by subsequent population shifts, it is felt that the compilation will be of value as a point of departure for later studies on the population of the cities of China.