It is the largest autonomous prefecture of China with an area of 462,700 km2.

Zhangjiajie and Sangzhi used to be parts of this autonomous prefecture.

The People's Republic of China established the autonomous prefecture on July 13, 1954.

Enshi is the only autonomous prefecture in Hubei province.

The area was declared an autonomous region in 1953 and in May 1956 became an autonomous prefecture.

Yanbian is designated as an autonomous prefecture due to the large number of ethnic Koreans living in the region.

Yanbian was upgraded to an ethnic autonomous prefecture in 1955.

The official name of an autonomous prefecture includes the most dominant minority in that region, sometimes two, rarely three.

Its one city and nine counties are now under the direct control of the autonomous prefecture.