A Special Administrative Region is a highly autonomous administrative division of the People's Republic of China. Each SAR has a gubernatorial Chief Executive as head of the region and head of government. Each region's government, however, is not fully independent, inasmuch as foreign policy and military defense are retained as the province of the motherland and central government.

The People's Republic of China, at present, has two Special Administrative Regions, Hong Kong and Macau, and they should not be confused with Special Economic Zones, which are regions fully under the administration of the Central People's Government. Article 31 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China authorizes the National People's Congress to create Special Administrative Regions.