Mainland China refers to the part of China that is under the direct jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), excluding:

• Hong Kong

• Macau

• Taiwan

It includes 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions (like Xinjiang and Tibet), and 4 direct-controlled municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing). It’s the political, economic, and cultural core of the country.