Indigenous signs for cities and provinces in China (中国)

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Explanation of glossing system used
(to understand how I describe the signs in this dictionary)

Beijing (北京)
(1) [H], PO > signer, draws a diagonal line across the chest from opposite shoulder to the waist. (< the sash worn by state officials at the beginning of the century soon after the fall of the Ching dynasty.)2 (2) [Bb], PO away, FO up, then [X], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation B-J in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Gansu, province of (甘肃)
[1], PO > signer, FO > NDS, then [loose A, that is fingers are only loosely curled], PO away, FO up [< the abbreviation G-S in the Chinese manual alphabet].2

Guangdong, province of (广东)
[1], PO > signer, FO > NDS, then [S], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation G-D in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Guangxi, province of (广西)
[1], PO > signer, FO > NDS, then [R], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation G-X in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Guizhou, province of (贵州)
[1], PO > signer, FO > NDS, then [horns with middle finger also extended], PO > singer, FO > NDS (< the abbreviation G-ZH in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Heilongjiang, province of (黑龙江)
[U], PO away, FO up, then [X], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation H-J in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Hong Kong (香港)
[E], PO > signer, FO up, is held below face and opens 2x to [5].2 (< the bright lights of the city.)

Aberdeen (香港仔)
Index and middle finger of [H] close on thumb, PO > signer + (2h)[B], POs ><, FOs away, DH is held above and touching NDH, move forward slightly 2x.1

Castle Peak (青山)
[V], PO > NDS, alt. wiggles FTs while kept stiff + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Causeway Bay (铜锣湾)
(2h)[A] with thumbs wrapped around edges of index fingers, DH taps the middle of the NDH forearm 2x + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Central District (中区)
DH [1], PO away, FO up, is held behind and touches NDH [G], FO > DS [< the sign CHUNG - "center" which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Chaiwan (柴湾)
DH [B], PO up, passes 2x under NDH [A] with thumb wrapped around edge of index finger, PO > DS + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Cheung Chau (长洲)
(2h)[B^ dot], POs ><, FOs away, separate while closing to (2h)[O^] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Fanling (粉岭)
Thumb runs along FTs of fingers from ring finger to thumb of same hand like FEW + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Happy Valley (跑马地)
(2h)[S], POs > signer, DH is held above and touching NDH, both rise together + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above. (< sign for "place").1

Hunghum (indigenous name for Hunghum )
[1], PO > signer, runs FT down chin 2x + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Kennedy Town (indigenous name for Kennedy Town )
DH [M], PO away, but with FTs held straight out crosses wrists with NDH [S], PO down, and DH waves slightly from side to side at wrist. + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Kowloon (九龙)
[X], PO away, FO up, is shaken slightly in place + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Kwun Tong (观塘)
[3] touches thumb to forehead + [V] touches DS jaw with FTs.1

Laichikok (indigenous name for Laichikok )
[Y], PO > signer, FO up, moves down face.1

Lyemun (indigenous name for Lyemun )
[B], PO > NDS, nods hand up and down (like a handshake) while moving forward + (2h)[B], POs down, FOs away are held side by side and separate while supinating (< the sign MUN - "gate").1

Mongkok (旺角)
DH [1], PO down, lays finger across FTs of NDH [F], PO up, FO away [< the sign MONG which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

New Territories (新界)
[B] runs FTs down DS cheek + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Ngau Tau Kok (牛头角)
[Y] touches DS temple with thumb + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

North Point (indigenous name for North Point )
(2h)[L], POs > signer, FOs up, touch pinkie sides together [< sign for "north" which also resembles the ideogram (character) for that word] + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Ping Chau (平洲)
(2h)[B], POs down, FOs away, separate, then hands are brought together, POs up, FOs away.1

Rennies Mill (indigenous name for Rennies Mill)
[1] runs FT across throat towards DS and then up jaw + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Repulse Bay (浅水湾)
[B], PO > NDS, FOs up, moves towards DS while closing to [O^].1

Sai Ying Poon (西营盘)
(2h)[B], POs ><, FOs away, DH is held above and touching NDH, move forward slightly 2x + [G dot], PO > NDS is shaken slightly + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Sau Mau Ping (秀茂坪)
[V] touches jaw + [S], PO away, FO up, is held in place (not shaken).1

Shamshuipo (深水埗)
[W], PO away, FO up, is shaken slightly at wrist [< the sign SHUI, which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word] + [1] moves downward from side + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Shatin (沙田)
Thumb runs along FTs of fingers from ring finger to thumb of same hand like FEW + (2h)[W], POs down, FOs away, cross FTs diagonally [< the sign TIN, which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word].1

Shaukiwan (筲箕湾)
(2h)[B], DH runs FTs (> DS) across the palm of NDH, PO up, FO away, 2x + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Shek O (石澳)
FT of [X] taps against teeth + [O], PO > signer is held in place (not shaken).1

Sheung Shui (上水)
[1] points and moves upward (< the sign SHEUNG - "heaven") + [W], PO away, FO up is shaken slightly at wrist [< the sign SHUI, which also resembles the ideogram ("character") for that word].1

Sheung Wan (上环)
[1] points upward (< sign for SHEUNG - "Heaven") + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Silver Mine Bay (indigenous name for Silver Mine Bay )
[F], PO away, FO up, is held at side of mouth.1

Stanley (赤柱)
(2h)[A] with thumbs wrapped around edges of index fingers are crossed at wrists with DH PO down and NDH PO up, twist at wrists until they exchange POs + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Tokwawan (土瓜湾)
Thumb runs along FTs of fingers from ring finger to thumb of same hand like FEW + (2h)[C], POs ><, FOs down, are held below waist + [B], PO > NDS, passes through area that was between these two hands + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Tse Wan Shan (慈云山)
(2h)[B:], POs away, held high and move in circles symmetrically as seen from behind + [B], PO down, rises and falls while moving > NDS (< sign for "mountain").1

Tsimshatsui (尖沙嘴)
[F], PO away, FO up, is held at DS temple + [X], PO away, FO up, is shaken slightly in place.1

Tsuen Wan (荃湾)
DH [5:], PO up, crosses wrists with [S], PO down and DH closes to [S].1

Wanchai (湾仔)
[B], PO > NDS, hand rises and falls while moving forward + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Wong Tain Sin (黄玠罪过)
[5], PO away, FO up, is twisted 2x at elbow + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Yaumati Sin (油麻地小单)
[bO], PO > signer, is held at mouth + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Yuen Long (元朗)
[L:], PO > NDS is held in place + [1] points downward at knee level and traces a CW circle as seen from above (< sign for "place").1

Hunan, province of (湖南)
[U], PO away, FO up, then [N], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation H-N in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Inner Mongolia (内蒙古)
[N], PO > NDS, FO up, then [M], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation N-M in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Jiangsu, province of (江苏)
[X], PO > NDS, FO up, then [loose A, that is fingers are only loosely curled], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation J-S in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Jiangxi, province of (江西)
[X], PO > NDS, FO up, then [R], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation J-X in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Jilin, province of (吉林)
[X], PO > NDS, FO up, then [L], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation J-L in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Liaoning, province of (辽宁)
[L], PO away, FO up, then [N], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation L-N in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Ningxia, province of (宁夏)
[N], PO > NDS, FO up, then [R], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation N-X in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Peking
See "Beijing".

Shandong, province of (山东)
[like N, except thumb is extended], PO away, FO up, then [S], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation SH-D in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Shanghai (上海)
(1) (2h)[I:] link pinkies with DH above NDH.2 (from the British manual letter for "S"?) (2) [like N, except thumb is extended], PO away, FO up, then [U], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation SH-H in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Shanxi (province of Shansi) [山西]
[like N, except thumb is extended], PO away, FO up, then [R], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation SH-X in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Shanxi (province of Shensi) [indigenous name for Shanxi in Shensi]
[like N, except thumb is extended], PO away, FO up, then [R], PO away, FO up [< the abbreviation SH-N in the Chinese manual alphabet (final instead of another initial X, so as to differentiate from the other province, see previous Shanxi)].2

Sichuan, province of (四川)
[loose A, that is fingers are only loosely curled], PO away, FO up, then [B^], PO down, FO away (< the abbreviation S-CH in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Taiwan, province of (台湾)
[horns with fingers loose], PO away, FO up, then [W], PO away, FO up (< the abbreviation T-W in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Tibet, province of (西藏)
[R], PO away, FO up, then [horns with fingers tight], PO > signer, FO > NDS (< the abbreviation X-Z in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Yunnan, province of (云南)
[Y], PO away, FO up, then [N], PO > NDS, FO up (< the abbreviation Y-N in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

Zhejiang, province of (浙江)
[horns with middle finger also extended], PO > singer, FO > NDS, then [X], PO > NDS, FO > NDS (< the abbreviation ZH-J in the Chinese manual alphabet).2

List of sources cited

1. Signs around the world: Cities [Videotape]. Burtonsville, MD: Sign Media.
2. Yau, S. C. (1977). The Chinese signs: lexicon of the standard sign language for the deaf in China. Hongkong: Chiu Ming Publ Co.

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