A guide to the meaning of place names in China

These elements are commonly used in various combinations to form place names throughout China, reflecting geographical features, cultural aspects, and historical significance.

  • Tiān 天 - Heaven: TianAnMen 天安门 - TianAnMen
  • Mén 门 - Gate: DongMen 东门 - East Gate
  • Sì 寺 - Temple: ShaoLinSi 少林寺 - ShaoLin Temple
  • Shān 山 - Mountain: HuangShan 黄山 - Yellow Mountain
  • Hé 河 - River: HuangHe 黄河 - Yellow River
  • Jiāng 江 - River (large): ChangJiang 长江 - Yangtze River
  • Hú 湖 - Lake: XiHu 西湖 - West Lake
  • Hǎi 海 - Sea: QingDao 青岛 - QingDao
  • Zhōu 州 - State or Prefecture: GuangZhou 广州 - GuangZhou
  • Shì 市 - City: ShangHai 市 - ShangHai City
  • Zhèn 镇 - Town: ZhouZhuang 镇 周庄镇 - ZhouZhuang Town
  • Cūn 村 - Village: ZhouCun 周村 - Zhou Village
  • Miào 庙 - Temple: WenMiao 文庙 - Confucius Temple
  • Qiáo 桥 - Bridge: LuGouQiao 卢沟桥 - Marco Polo Bridge
  • Dòng 洞 - Cave: YunGang ShiKu 云冈石窟 - YunGang Grottoes
  • Bǎo 堡 - Fort or Castle: ZhangJiaJie 张家界 - ZhangJiaJie
  • Tái 台 - Platform or Terrace: DongTai 东台 - DongTai
  • Lǐng 岭 - Ridge or Mountain Range: WuLing 五岭 - Five Ridges
  • Gǎng 港 - Harbor or Port: XiangGang 香港 - Hong Kong
  • Yuàn 苑 - Park or Garden: YiHeYuan 颐和园 - Summer Palace
  • Quán 泉 - Spring: JiNan 济南 - JiNan
  • Wān 湾 - Bay: ShenZhen Wan 深圳湾 - ShenZhen Bay
  • Dǎo 岛 - Island: HaiNan Dao 海南岛 - HaiNan Island
  • Chéng 城 - City or Town: NanJing Cheng 南京城 - NanJing City
  • Guǎngchǎng 广场 - Square: TianAnMen GuangChang 天安门广场 - TianAnMen Square
  • Gōng 宫 - Palace: GuGong 故宫 - Forbidden City
  • Yuàn 院 - Courtyard or Compound: BeiJing DaXue 北京大学 - Peking University
  • Cūnzhuāng 村庄 - Village: ZhouZhuang Cun 周庄村 - ZhouZhuang Village
  • Qū 区 - District or Area: ChaoYang Qu 朝阳区 - ChaoYang District
  • Lù 路 - Road or Street: Chang'An Lu 长安路 - Chang'An Road
  • Jiē 街 - Street: WangFuJing Jie 王府井街 - WangFuJing Street
  • Fāng 坊 - Lane or Alley: NanLuoGuXiang 南锣鼓巷 - NanLuoGuXiang
  • Běi 北 - North: BeiJing 北京 - BeiJing
  • Nán 南 - South: NanJing 南京 - NanJing
  • Dōng 东 - East: DongGuan 东莞 - DongGuan
  • Xī 西 - West: Xi'An 西安 - Xi'An
  • Zhōng 中 - Central: ZhongShan 中山 - ZhongShan
  • Wài 外 - Outer: WaiTan 外滩 - The Bund
  • Nèi 内 - Inner: NeiMengGu 内蒙古 - Inner Mongolia
  • Xīn 新 - New: XinJiang 新疆 - XinJiang
  • Jiù 旧 - Old: JiuJinShan 旧金山 - San Francisco
  • Shàng 上 - Upper: ShangHai 上海 - ShangHai
  • Xià 下 - Lower: XiaGuan 下关 - XiaGuan
  • Qián 前 - Front: QianMen 前门 - QianMen
  • Hòu 后 - Back: HouHai 后海 - HouHai
  • Cháng 长 - Long: ChangChun 长春 - ChangChun
  • Duǎn 短 - Short: DuanShan 短山 - DuanShan
  • Gāo 高 - High: GaoXiong 高雄 - KaoHsiung
  • Dī 低 - Low: DiCun 低村 - DiCun
  • Dà 大 - Big: DaTong 大同 - DaTong
  • Xiǎo 小 - Small: XiaoZhen 小镇 - XiaoZhen
  • Lóng 龙 - Dragon: LongYan 龙岩 - LongYan
  • Fèng 凤 - Phoenix: FengYang 凤阳 - FengYang
  • Fú 福 - Fortune: FuZhou 福州 - FuZhou
  • Ān 安 - Peace: Xi'An 西安 - Xi'An
  • Qìng 庆 - Celebration: QingYang 庆阳 - QingYang
  • Xīng 兴 - Prosperous: XingHua 兴化 - XingHua
  • Jí 吉 - Lucky: JiLin 吉林 - JiLin
  • Xiáng 祥 - Auspicious: XiangFu 祥符 - XiangFu
  • Guāng 光 - Light: GuangZhou 广州 - GuangZhou
  • Míng 明 - Bright: MingGuang 明光 - MingGuang
  • Hékǒu 河口 - River Mouth: HeKou 河口 - HeKou
  • Qiáotóu 桥头 - Bridgehead: QiaoTou 桥头 - QiaoTou
  • Shānjiǎo 山脚 - Foothill: ShanJiao 山脚 - ShanJiao
  • Hǎibīn 海滨 - Seaside: HaiBin 海滨 - HaiBin
  • Mǎtóu 码头 - Wharf: MaTou 码头 - MaTou
  • Gǔ 古 - Ancient: GuZhen 古镇 - GuZhen
  • Wén 文 - Culture: WenHua Cun 文化村 - WenHua Village
  • Chāng 昌 - Flourishing: ChangPing 昌平 - ChangPing
  • Cuì 翠 - Emerald (green): CuiHu 翠湖 - CuiHu
  • Jīn 金 - Gold: JinShan 金山 - JinShan
  • Yín 银 - Silver: YinChuan 银川 - YinChuan
  • Qīng 青 - Blue/Green: QingDao 青岛 - QingDao
  • Hóng 红 - Red: HongHe 红河 - HongHe
  • Huáng 黄 - Yellow: HuangShan 黄山 - HuangShan
  • Bái 白 - White: BaiYun 白云 - BaiYun
  • Hēi 黑 - Black: HeiLongJiang 黑龙江 - HeiLongJiang
  • Yáng 阳 - Sun: LuoYang 洛阳 - LuoYang
  • Yīn 阴 - Shade: YinShan 阴山 - YinShan
  • Xīng 星 - Star: XingZi 星子 - XingZi
  • Yuè 月 - Moon: YueLiang Wan 月亮湾 - Moon Bay
  • Huā 花 - Flower: HuaDu 花都 - HuaDu
  • Cǎo 草 - Grass: CaoYuan 草原 - Grassland
  • Shù 树 - Tree: ShuCun 树村 - ShuCun
  • Lín 林 - Forest: LinHai 林海 - LinHai
  • Yuán 园 - Garden: YuanLin 园林 - YuanLin
  • Nóng 农 - Agricultural: NongChang 农场 - NongChang
  • Gōng 工 - Industrial: GongYe Qu 工业区 - GongYe District
  • Shāng 商 - Commercial: ShangYe Jie 商业街 - Commercial Street
  • Xué 学 - Learning: XueYuan Lu 学院路 - XueYuan Road
  • Yī 医 - Medical: YiYuan Jie 医院街 - YiYuan Street
  • Zhàn 站 - Station: HuoChe Zhan 火车站 - Train Station
  • Shì 室 - Room: BanGong Shi 办公室 - Office
  • Lóu 楼 - Building: GaoLou 高楼 - Tall Building
  • Qū 区 - Area/District: ShiQu 市区 - Urban Area
  • Yuánqū 园区 - Park/Zone: GongYe YuanQu 工业园区 - Industrial Park
  • Jīdì 基地 - Base: KeJi JiDi 科技基地 - Technology Base
  • Jiēdào 街道 - Street: Gu JieDao 古街道 - Ancient Street
  • Xiǎoqū 小区 - Residential area: XiaoQū 小区 - Residential Area
  • Zhōngxīn 中心 - Center: Shi ZhōngXīn 市中心 - City Center

Chinese city names and their meanings :

  • BeiJing 北京 - North Capital
  • ShangHai 上海 - Above Sea
  • ChongQing 重庆 - Double Celebration
  • TianJin 天津 - Heavenly Ford
  • GuangZhou 广州 - Expansive Prefecture
  • ShenZhen 深圳 - Deep Ditch
  • ChengDu 成都 - Become Capital
  • Nanjing 南京 - South Capital
  • Xi'An 西安 - Western Peace
  • HangZhou 杭州 - Hang Prefecture
  • Wuhan 武汉 - Combined from WuChang (武昌) and HanKou (汉口)
  • SuZhou 苏州 - Su Prefecture
  • Shenyang 沈阳 - Rising Sun
  • Dongguan 东莞 - East Pass
  • Ningbo 宁波 - Tranquil Waves
  • Qingdao 青岛 - Green Island
  • Guiyang 贵阳 - Precious Sun
  • Haikou 海口 - Sea Mouth
  • Kunming 昆明 - Bright Merits
  • Xiamen 厦门 - Door of the House

Related Videos

 

Featured Videos

The Great Wall of China near BeiJing
The Great Wall of China near BeiJing
BaDaLing and MuTianYu Great Wall (about 1+ hours from BeiJing city center) ... JinShanLing and SiMaTai Great Wall (about 2+ hours from BeiJing) ... Bonus films - Plus, Cindy Zhang shows us a hike along the rugged JianKou section of the Great Wall (it is not far from MuTianYu) ...
From treating disease to promoting health – food is the best medicine
From treating disease to promoting health – food is the best medicine
Dr. Mark Hyman & Dr. William Li. "I never get tired of saying it: real food heals. Food has the power to prevent and reverse disease, and the more we know about it, the more power we have to curate a targeted diet to help us reach our health goals. The catch is that we have to choose the right foods, the ones that elevate us, and simultaneously ditch the poor-quality ones that harm us. There are powerful compounds in foods— like curcumin, genistein, catechins, lycopene, resveratrol, quercetin — that have medicinal impacts on the body. That’s why I call the grocery store the drug store; we can literally eat our medicine at every meal. My guest this week on The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. William Li, is here to tell us all about eating to beat disease and making the idea that food is medicine second nature. You may also be surprised to find out that angiogenesis, or how the body forms blood vessels, is a common denominator in creating optimal health. William Li, MD, is a world-renowned physician, scientist, speaker, and author of Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself. He is best known for leading the Angiogenesis Foundation." Bonus film - Can we eat to starve cancer? (Angiogenesis) - Dr. William Li ... Bonus film 2 - more about diet and cancer - Dr. Mark Hyman talks with Dr. Jason Fung ... Bonus film 3 - on cognitive decline and the real causes - Dr. Mark Hyman talks with Dr. Dale Bredesen ... Bonus film 4 - GI health (IBS, etc.) plus the differences between standard and functional medicine - Dr. Hyman talks with Dr. Todd LePine ... Lastly (for now), Dr. William Li discusses the amazing power of plant nutrition and health ...
Paragliding in Hong Kong 香港
Paragliding in Hong Kong 香港
At LanTau Island ...
Scenes from YuanMingYuan 圆明园, BeiJing
Scenes from YuanMingYuan 圆明园, BeiJing
YuánMíngYuán was the original Summer Palace in BeiJing and sometimes referred to as the 'Old Summer Palace'. YuanMingYuan lies 8 kilometers (5 miles) northwest of central Beijing, close to the (new) Summer Palace (YíHéYuán 颐和园). It was constructed during the 18th and early 19th centuries and was a wonderland of lakes and waterways, bridges, hills and pavilions. There were originally towers, terraces, pavilions, halls, corridors, pagodas and bridges with a total construction area of 150,000 square meters. Artisans were recruited from all over China to enact the exquisite settings. Many of the 160 scenic spots were reproductions of famous mountains, rivers and famous gardens in China. The various styles of architecture, standing encircled by hills and streams, presented a most picturesque view. In addition, hundreds of invaluable Chinese art masterpieces and antiquities were stored in the halls, including some unique copies of literary works and collections. YuanMingYuan was, indeed, a veritable museum of garden construction and horticulture. Known to be one of the largest museums in the world, a popular name in China was the 'Garden of Gardens'. In 1860 during the 'Second Opium War', YuanMingYuan was looted then burned down by imperialist British and French troops. So great was the devastation that a new Summer Palace was later built nearby.
‘My Shangri-la’ 香格里拉
‘My Shangri-la’ 香格里拉
An 11 day trip through YunNan province in the snow ... Plus, 'Never regret a trip to LiJiang' ... Includes the nearby Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
XiaoCang 小仓 Village, FuJian – beautiful music video
XiaoCang 小仓 Village, FuJian – beautiful music video
Featuring the She 畲 people, one of the 56 ethnic groups in China and the largest minority in FuJian province.
Selena in BeiJing 北京 – video
Selena in BeiJing 北京 – video
Selena is from the Philipines. The first film features LongQing Gorge, an acrobatics show and BaDaLing Great Wall. The second, Beijing Zoo, the Olympic Park and ChaoYang Park ...
The beautiful ZhuJiaJiao 朱家角 Water Town, ShangHai
The beautiful ZhuJiaJiao 朱家角 Water Town, ShangHai
The Spring Festival Gala, 2024 – Don’t miss it
The Spring Festival Gala, 2024 – Don’t miss it
Some highlights from the annual spectacular. Performers showcase Xinjiang's splendid musical culture ... Reunion (awesome music and dance) ... Celebration ... Preparing for the Year of the Dragon (animation) ... The poetic dance, "The Painting Journey – The Legend of a Panorama of Mountains and Rivers", highlights the aesthetics of traditional Chinese painting ... Beautiful patterns ... The magic of tea ... Hanfu show, 'Ni Chang' ... Martial arts dance ... Hanfu dance ... A special performance with the traditional Chinese instruments of the Sanxian and the Doumbek, as well as the Flamenco guitar - the sound of the dessert ... Sending good wishes ... More to come ...

Tag search ?