Taiwan is claimed by the PRC, while mainland China is claimed by the ROC.
As of 18 November 1997, the Government of the People's Republic of China banned localities from making and using local flags and emblems.[1]
Flag |
Duration |
Use |
Description |
|
1862 – 1890 |
Flag of the Qing Empire |
No standard specifications |
|
1890 – 1912 |
Flag of the Qing Empire |
Replaced old triangular flag |
|
1895 |
Flag of the Republic of Formosa |
|
|
1912 – 1928 |
First flag of the Republic of China, or "Five Races Under One Union" |
Used mainly in Shanghai and eastern parts of northern China until 1928. This flag was widely flown even before the founding of the Republic of China by Chinese on the eastern coast and garnered the greatest respect at the founding of the ROC. Stripes represent the five great races in China's history, according to Dr. Sun Yat-sen: red for Han Chinese, yellow to represent Manchus, blue as Mongols, white for both Huis and Uyghurs, and black for Tibetans. |
|
1911 – 1928 |
Army flag of the Republic of China |
The banner of the Wuchang uprising of October 10, 1911, subsequently used as the flag of the army of the Republic of China, ca. 1913-1928. |
|
1916 |
Flags of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China. |
These variations on the initial flag of the Republic of China emphasize Han administration over other ethnicities in China. |
|
Mainland: 1928 – 1949 |
Flag of the Republic of China |
Not used in areas administrated by the People's Republic of China except in historical venues. Currently used as the national flag of the Republic of China (Taiwan). |
|
1931 – 1934 |
Jiangxi Soviet republic flag |
hammer and sickle along with Chinese characters for China Communist (Zhonggong, 中共) written in classical word order, i.e., read from the right. |
|
1931 – 1934 |
Alternate flag of the Jiangxi Soviet republic |
Black hammer and sickle over a white star, with a red background. Banner to the left reads "Chinese Soviet Republic", read from top to bottom. |
Flag |
Duration |
Use |
Description |
|
1959 – 1997 |
Flag of the British colony of Hong Kong |
A British Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Hong Kong (1959 – 1997). |
|
1876 – 1959 |
Flag of the British colony of Hong Kong |
A British Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Hong Kong (1876 – 1959). |
|
1870 – 1876 |
Flag of the British colony of Hong Kong |
A British Blue Ensign with a crowned "HK". |
|
1985-1999 |
Flag of the Regional Council |
|
1960s-1999 |
Flag of the Urban Council, Hong Kong |
|
1670 – 1999 |
Flag of Portugal, used in colonial era Macau |
The Portuguese flag was used in colonial era Macau as there was no territorial flag. (Portuguese flag design changed during colonial administration; the version shown was that used in 1999.) |
|
1975 – 1999 |
Flag of the Municipality of Macau, one of two local municipal governments. |
A light blue field charged with the coat of arms of Macau. |
|
|
Flag de facto used to represent the Portuguese territory of Macao. |
During the Portuguese administration this flag also represented the Territory of Macau in the international forums, although it was not the official flag of the Portuguese colony. This was the flag used at the handover to China in 1999. |
|
1895 – 1945 |
Flag of the Empire of Japan |
used during the Japanese conquests of mainland China. Also used in Hong Kong from 1941 to 1945 during Japanese occupation |
|
1941-1945 |
Flag the Imperial Japanese Army |
alternate flag used during the initial occupation of Hong Kong |
|
until Dec 29, 1928 |
Flag of Fengtian clique. |
Used by warlords until Chinese reunification (1928). |
|
1932 – 1945 |
Flag of Manchukuo |
A yellow field with the red, blue, white and black stripes of the first flag of the Republic of China (see above) in the canton. |
|
1940 – 1943 |
Flag of the Republic of China-Nanjing. |
Used by the Japanese puppet government till 1943 when the pendent was removed and the regular ROC flag took its place. The pendant reads "Peace, Anti-Communism, National Construction". |
|
1920s – 1940s |
Flag of Ma clique |
Used by Hui islamic warlords only in Xinjiang |
|
Present |
Flag of Xinjiang |
The "Kokbayraq" flag. This flag is used by Uyghurs as a symbol of the East Turkestan independence movement. It is almost identical to the flag of Turkey except with a blue background. The Government of the People's Republic of China prohibits using the flag in the country. |
|
1912 – 1950 |
Flag of Tibet |
Symbols of Tibet devised by the 13th Dalai Lama. Currently used by the Central Tibetan Administration, their government in exile.
This flag is outlawed in mainland China.[2]
|