China has 34 administrative regions, each with its own official Chinese name. Although in English they are usually represented by pinyin, such as "Shanghai Municipality" (上海市), "Beijing Municipality" (北京市), and "Zhejiang Province" (浙江省), recently some netizens have tried to literally translate these names into English based on the meanings of the Chinese characters, resulting in refreshing and dramatically different styles.

Next, let's take a look at the literal English translations of the names of China’s municipalities and the meanings behind them.

Beijing — Northern Capital

The literal translation of Beijing is "Northern Capital." This name immediately brings to mind the cold north. You might think of Winterfell, the northern stronghold in Game of Thrones, as if stepping into a magical world ready to face the harsh winter.

Tianjin — Heavenly Ford

Tianjin’s name literally means "Heavenly Ford," or "a crossing to heaven." It is like a mysterious city built in the sky, a bridge connecting the mortal world to paradise. People in Tianjin look down from the skies with powerful and mysterious abilities.

Shanghai — On the Sea

Shanghai literally means "On the Sea," evoking the city’s geographical characteristic of being built by the sea. If you have watched One Piece, you might think of Fish-Man Island or the legendary Atlantis. The people of Shanghai become masters of both land and sea, controlling the exchanges between water and land.

Chongqing — Double Celebration

Chongqing’s name means "Double Celebration," symbolizing the city’s prosperity and joy. In reality, Chongqing is a place of beautiful mountains and rivers, with warm and hospitable people who seem to celebrate and enjoy life every day.

If We Imagine These Four Municipalities as Races in a Game World Setting

  • Beijing would be the human tribe living in cold environments, bravely resisting the harsh winter;
  • Tianjin would be the divine race with the power of flight, controlling sky and magic;
  • Shanghai would be the overlord of the waters, mastering the freedom of the sea;
  • Chongqing would be the hobbits living surrounded by mountains, peaceful, kind, and brave.

Interactive Question

If you could choose, which major Chinese city would you like to start your adventure in? Which race would you choose as your character? Or perhaps we want to pick other Chinese provinces or regions as the birthplace of our large fantasy game world? Later, we will introduce more provinces and regions in China one by one and explore what style they each represent.