The Qing empire 清 (1644-1911) was founded by the Tungusian people of the Manchus, descendants of the Jurchens. They came from the northeastern region (what became to be known as "Manchuria") and conquered China in 1644. They inherited the provinical structure from the Ming empire 明 (1368-1644). The empire was divided into provinces (sheng) that were - except those in the northern border regions to Mongolia - more or less identical to those of modern China. Subordinated to the provinces were superior prefectures (fu 府) and secondary prefectures (zhou 州). The number of prefectures was substantially less than five hundred years before. Border regions (in the provinces of Zhili, Shanxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Yunnan) were administered by subprefectures (ting 廳) that were directly responsible to the provincial government. The border regions of the southwest were often indirectly administered through native chieftains (tusi 土司). In the course of the 18th century their territories were gradually transformed into regular districts (xian 縣), a process called gaitu guiliu 改土歸流 "transforming indirect rule by regular forms". The provinces of Qinghai and Xinjiang were only created during the 18th and 19th centuries, as a result of the territorial expansion of the Qing empire. The province of Sichuan was also considerably enlarged by the conquest of Eastern Tibet.

Provinces of Qing China: 直隸 Zhili [modern Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin] Shengjing 盛京 (later Fengtian 奉天 [modern Liaoning]) Jilin 吉林 Heilongjiang 黑龍江 Shanxi 山西 Shaanxi 陜西 Gansu 甘肅 Shandong 山東 Henan 河南 Jiangsu 江蘇 Anhui 安徽 Hubei 湖北

Hunan 湖南 Jiangxi 江西 Zhejiang 浙江 Fujian 福建 Guangdong 廣東 Guangxi 廣西 Guizhou 貴州 Yunnan 雲南 Sichuan 四川 Qinghai 青海 (since 1907) Xizang 西藏 (since 1751) Xinjiang 新疆 (since 1884)

In the homeland of the Manchus, in the provinces Kirin and Heilongjiang the territory was administered as subordinated banners (fu dutong xiaqu 副都統轄區):

Subordinated banners of Kirin Province: Kirin 吉林副都統轄區 Baidune 白都訥副都統轄區 Alachuka 阿勒楚喀副都統轄區 Ningguta 寧古塔副都統轄區 Sanxing 三姓副都統轄區

Subordinated banners of Heilongjiang Province: Heilongjiang 黑龍江副都統轄區 Qiqihar 齊齊哈爾副都統轄區 Morgen 墨爾根副都統轄區 Ulunber Centrally Administered Territory 呼倫貝爾總管轄區

Mongolia, whose population was politically joint to the Manchus, was administered in khanates (Chinese: hanbu 汗部; Mongolian: aimaγ), unions or leagues (meng 盟), and banners (Chinese: qi 旗; Mongolian: khōshun). Outer Mongolia (Uliasutai 烏里雅蘇台) was governed by a military governor.

Khanates of Outer Mongolia: Sechen Khanate 車臣汗部 Tüshiyetü Khanates 土謝圖汗部 Sayin-Noyan Khanates 三音諾顏汗部 Jasaghtu Khanates 扎薩克圖汗部 Border regions: Khobdo Region 科布多 Tangnu-Uula Uriyangkhai 唐努烏梁海

Banners and unions of Inner Mongolia: Etsina Torghuud Banner 額濟納土爾扈特旗 Alashan Eluud Banner 阿拉善厄魯特旗 Ih-Ju Union 伊克昭盟 Ulanqab Union 烏蘭察布盟 Kilin-Gol Union 錫林郭勒盟 Ju-Ud Union 昭烏達盟 Josotu Union 卓索圖盟 Jirem Union 哲里木盟 Special administration regions: Chahar 察哈爾 Dariganga Pastures 達里岡愛牧場

Tibet (Xizang 西藏; province since 1751) and Eastern or Chinese Turkestan (Xinjiang 新疆; province since 1884) and Qinghai 青海 (province since 1907) were loosely administered by Grand Ministers (Zhu Zang dachen 駐藏大臣) resp. a commander-general (zongtong 總統) for Turkestan and different commanders-in-chief (Sino-Mongolian: zhasake 札薩克) for Qinghai.
Bhutan 布嚕克巴 Sikkim 哲孟雄 Nepal (Gorkha) 廓爾喀 Russia "Eluosi" 俄羅斯 (Tsarist Russia: "Sha-E" 沙俄) Korea 京城 kyongsong (mod. Seoul), Yuenan 河內, Nanzhang 南掌 cap: Longbolabang 隆勃剌邦 Luang Prabang, Miandian 緬甸 cap: Amoluobuluo 阿摩羅補羅 (modern Mandalay), Kokand 霍罕