administrative region; area under one's jurisdiction

a province-level city or first-level administrative subdivision directly under the jurisdiction of the central government

to govern, manage, or exercise administrative control over a territory, organization, or group

the official power to make legal decisions and judgments; the power or right to exercise authority over a subject or territory.

to govern directly

a city under the direct jurisdiction of a provincial government

a county-level administrative unit under prefecture-level cities or sub-provincial cities

to be in overall command of a group, organization, or military force

to control; to govern

to administer; to have jurisdiction over

A first-level administrative subdivision in China, equal in status to a province, administered directly by the central government (Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing).