Qianxinan Prefecture administers Kaili City and the counties of Danzhai, Majiang, Huangping, Shibing, Zhenyuan, Cengong, Sansui, Tianzhu, Jinping, Liping, Congjiang, Rongjiang, Leishan, Taijiang, and Jianhe (according to the “Autonomous Regulations of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture”), 28 subdistricts, 129 towns, 60 townships (including 15 ethnic townships and 2 towns with ethnic township status), 2,154 villages, and 284 residents' committees.

Historical Development:

【Administrative Development】 Qiandongnan is one of the earliest cultural birthplaces in Guizhou Province. Since the 1980s, numerous ancient cultural sites have been discovered within the region. Artifacts such as chipped stone tools have been unearthed at Cibingzhou and Pantang in Tianzhou County, as well as at Liangjiang and Yangxi in Jingshan County along the middle and upper reaches of the Qingjiang River. The Guizhou Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and other institutions have preliminarily identified these as Late Paleolithic-era remains. Multiple Neolithic-era sites have been discovered in Rongjiang, Tianzhou, and Huangping counties. In Tianzhu County, Shang-Zhou Dynasty and Warring States-Qin-Han Dynasty sites have also been discovered. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the Qiandongnan region belonged to the Zangke and Chu Qianzhong regions. During the Warring States Period, it belonged to the Qulan and Chu Qianzhong commanderies. During the Qin Dynasty, it belonged to the Qianzhong and Xiang commanderies. During the Han Dynasty, it belonged to the Wuling, Zangke, and Yulin commanderies. During the Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties, its administrative affiliation changed with the shifting political landscape. During the Sui Dynasty, it belonged to the Zangke and Yuanling commanderies. During the Tang Dynasty, it belonged to the Qianzhong Circuit, with the establishment of Sishou, Yingzhou, Chongzhou, and Liangzhou. During the Song Dynasty, it was divided among the Jinghu North Road, Kuizhou Road, and Guangnan Road. During the Yuan Dynasty, it belonged to the Huguang Province's Sishou Xuanwei Office (Xuanfu Office, Anfu Office) and the Sichuan Province's Bozhou Xuanwei Office. During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, eight military districts were established: Zhenyuan, Qinglang, Tonggu, Wukai, Pianqiao, Guzhou, Qingping, and Xinglong. During the Yongle period, four prefectures were established: Sizhou, Zhenyuan, Liping, and Xinhua, all under the jurisdiction of Guizhou Province. In the later part of the Ming Dynasty, most of southeastern Guizhou belonged to Sizhou, Zhenyuan, Liping, Duyun, and Pingyue Prefectures. During the Ming Dynasty, Tianzhou belonged to the Jingzhou Prefecture of the Huguang Province, and during the Qing Dynasty, it was incorporated into Guizhou. During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, five halls were established: Guzhou, Qingjiang, Taigong, Danjiang, and Bazhai. During the Republic of China period, the prefectures, states, and halls were reorganized into counties. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the administrative divisions of southeastern Guizhou underwent some adjustments and changes. In November 1949, Zhenyuan was liberated, and the Zhenyuan Special Region of Guizhou Province was established. In 1950, Guizhou Province was divided into eight special regions, with the Zhenyuan Special Region encompassing 12 counties: Lushan, Huangping, Shibing, Zhenyuan, Yuqing, Leishan, Taijiang, Jianhe, Jinheng, Tianzhou, Cengong, and Sansui. The five counties of Liping, Congjiang, Rongjiang, Danshan, and Majiang were part of the Doushan Special Region (renamed Duyun Prefecture in 1952). In April 1956, the State Council decided to establish the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, with Yuqing County transferred to the Zunyi Prefecture. On July 23, 1956, the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture (abbreviated as “Qiandongnan Prefecture”) was officially established, comprising 16 counties: Zhenyuan, Lushan, Huangping, Shibing, Leishan, Taijiang, Jianhe, Jinhui, Tianzhou, Cengong, Sansui, Liping, Congjiang, Rongjiang, Danzhai, and Majiang counties, with the prefectural seat established in Kaili. In December 1958, Qiandongnan Prefecture adjusted its administrative divisions, merging the 16 counties into seven: Kaili, Huangping, Zhenyuan, Jianhe, Jinhui, Liping, and Rongjiang. From August 1961 to November 1962, Qiandongnan Prefecture gradually restored the administrative divisions of the 16 counties. By the end of 1962, the prefecture administered 16 counties: Kaili, Majiang, Danzhai, Huangping, Shibing, Zhenyuan, Cengong, Sansui, Tianzhou, Jinsheng, Liping, Congjiang, Rongjiang, Leishan, Taijiang, and Jianhe. In August 1983, the State Council approved the dissolution of Kaili County and the establishment of Kaili City. In January 1984, Kaili City was officially established.

Currently, Qiandongnan Prefecture administers Kaili City and 15 counties (according to the “Autonomous Regulations of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture”), 28 sub-districts, and 12 towns (according to the “Autonomous Regulations of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture”), namely: Kaili City, Danzhai, Majiang, Huangping, Sh Tianzhu, Jinping, Liping, Congjiang, Rongjiang, Leishan, Taijiang, and Jianhe (according to the “Autonomous Regulations of Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture”), 28 subdistricts, 129 towns, 60 townships (including 15 ethnic townships and 2 towns with ethnic township status), 2,154 villages, and 284 residents' committees.