During the climax of COVID-19 lockdown, the news bulletin was flooded with the phrase lai x faan x renyuan (inbound passengers of x) or similar, where x is a monosyllabic short name of a geographic unit. The short names for units other than provinces has been far less common at present than the first half of the last century, when you are expected to read in columns. A critique that time states that the short names are so irrecognisable that writers need to annotate the full names, as in across Ping (Peiping), Tsin (Tientsin)… (from memory, I cannot find the source by now).

I crawled recent announcements for this post. I did not discern the full name actually denoted in the context, making the data noisy. Regions with insufficient data were omitted.

Many announcements outside ‘China proper’ still use short names instead of rephrasing. Altay, for example, was abbreviated ‘A’, along with several A’s.

Hebei

石Zhiecceadrang 唐Dhangsran 秦Dzinhuangdao 邯Hondan 邢Hiengdhai 保Baodhieq 张Dyangceakeo 承Djengdec 沧Tsangjeu 廊Langfvang 衡Haengshue 定Dhieqjeu 辛Sindzip

Shanxi

并Tayqiuan 同Dhahdhung 泉Yangdziuan 长Dhyangdhyih 晋Zinndjaeng 朔Sruocjeu 晋Zinndyung 〇Yunndjaeng 忻Xinjeu 临Limfven 吕Liuuliang

Inner Mongolia

呼Höhhot 包Baudheu 乌Uxae 赤Chiecfong 通Tungliau 鄂Ordos 〇Hulunbuir 巴Bayannur 乌Ulanqab 兴Hinggan 锡Xilingol 阿Alxa

Liaoning

沈Sheemyang 连Dhahlien 鞍Onsran 抚Fuuzhunn 溪Beenkei 丹Dandung 锦Ciimjeu 营Yengkeo 阜Fveosin 辽Liauyang 盘Bhonciim 铁Tietlieg 朝Dhyauyang 葫Huludao

Jilin

长Dhyangchun 吉Citlim 平Sihbhieng 辽Liauqiuan 通Tungxuah 〇Bhaecsran 松Siongqiuan 〇Bhaecdjaeng 延Yenbien

Heilongjiang

哈Harbin 齐Qiqihar 〇Ceisei 鹤Hoccag 双Sruangeapsran 庆Dhahkieq 伊Ichun 佳Ceamucsi 七Tsitdhaiho 牡Meodanceang 〇Xec’ho 〇Suixuah 〇Dahxing’onlieg

Jiangsu

宁Nomcieng 锡Vusiec 徐Sziujeu 常Djangjeu 苏Sujeu 通Nomtung 连Lienyuncag 淮Huai’on 盐Yemdjaeng 扬Yangjeu 镇Dynnceang 泰Tayjeu 宿Siuctsien

Zhejiang

杭Hangjeu 甬Niengbo 温Unjeu 嘉Ceaxing 湖Hujeu 绍Zhaoxing 金Cimhua 衢Giujeu 舟Jeusran 台Taijeu 丽Lishue

Anhui

肥Hopfvui 芜Vuhu 蚌Bhaeqbhuh 淮Huainom 马Maa’onsran 淮Huaibec 铜Dhungling 安Onkieq 黄Huangsran 滁Dhyujeu 阜Fveoyang 宿Siucjeu 六Liuc’on 亳Bhocjeu 池Dhyijeu 宣Siuandjaeng

Fujian

榕Fucjeu 厦Heaamen 莆Bhudhien 明/三Samming 泉Dziuanjeu 〇Jangjeu 南Nombhieng 岩Liongqeam 〇Niengdec

Jiangxi

昌Nomchang 景Ciegdecdynn 萍Bhiengxiang 浔Cieoceang 余Sinyu 鹰Ingdhom 赣Commjeu 吉Cit’on 宜Qichun 抚Fuujeu 饶Zhagrau

Shandong

济Zeenom 青Tsiengdao 淄Driboc 枣Zaodrang 东Dungyeng 烟Iendhai 潍Wuifang 济Zeenieng 泰Tay’on 威Uixae 〇Ritjaw 莱Laivu 临Limqi 德Decjeu 聊Liaudjaeng 滨Binjeu 菏Hodhyaec

Henan

郑Dhyeqjeu 汴Kaifong 洛Locyang 平Bhiengdiegsran 安Onyang 鹤Hocbiec 新Sinxiang 焦Ziauzoc 濮Bhucyang 许xiuuchang 〇Lohho 三Sammenheap 宛Nomyang 商Shangkieu 信Sinnyang 周Jeukeo 驻Juhmaadiemm 济Zeeqiuan

Hubei

武Vuuxonn 黄Huangzhiec 堰zhip’ienn 宜Qichang 襄Siangyang 鄂Qocjeu 荆Ciengmen 孝Xeawcoom 荆Ciengjeu 黄Huangcang 咸Heamnieng 随Szuijeu 〇Enshi 仙Siendhau 潜Dziemceang 天Tienmen 区Zhennongceah

Hunan

长Dhyangsra 株Dyujeu 潭Siangdhom 衡Haengyang 邵Zhawyang 岳Qeocyang 常Djangdec 张Dyangceaceay 益Iecyang 郴Tymjeu 永Yuegjeu 怀Huaixuah 娄Leudee 〇Siangsei

Guangdong

穗Cuagjeu 韶Zhaucuan 深shemjenn 珠Juxae 汕Sranndheu 佛Fvutsran 江Ceangmen 湛Dhyaamceang 茂Mewmieng 肇Dhyaokieq 惠Hueyjeu 梅Mueijeu 汕Srannvue 河Hoqiuan 阳Yangceang 清Tsiengyuaan 莞Dungcuoon 〇Dyungsran 潮Dhyaujeu 揭Cietyang 云Yunfveu

Guangxi

邕Nomnieng 柳Lieojeu 桂Cueylim 梧Qujeu 北Becxae 港Fvangdjaengcag 钦Kimjeu 贵Cuycag 玉Qiouclim 百Baecsraec 贺Hohjeu 河Hodhyi 〇Laibin 崇Jrungzoo

Sichuan

蓉Djaengdu 〇Dzihcuq 攀Panjixua 泸Lujeu 德Decyang 绵Mienyang 广Cuagqiuan 遂Szuynieng 内Nuyceang 乐Locsran 南Nomchung 眉Muisran 宜Qibin 广Cuag’on 达Dhatjeu 雅Qeaaon 巴Badyung 资Ziyang 〇Ngawa 〇Garzê 凉Liangsran

Guizhou

筑Cuyyang 六Liucbhonshue 遵Zunqih 安Onzhunn 毕Bitziet 铜Dhungren 〇Giemseinom 〇Giemdungnom 〇Giemnom

Shaanxi

〇Sei’on 铜Dhungchuan 宝Baocei 咸Heamyang 渭Wuynom 延Yen’on 汉Xonndyung 榆Yulim 安Onkang 商Shangloc

Gansu

兰Lanjeu 嘉Ceayouccuan 金Cimchang 银Bhaecqin 天Tienshue 武Vuu’ui 张Dyangyeh 平Bhiengliang 酒Zieodziuan 庆Kieqyang 定Dhieqsei 陇Liognom 临Limheaa 甘Comnom