China Laws Directory
Welcome to the China Laws Directory — a complete guide to the English translations of Chinese laws and regulations published on this site. The directory follows the official seven-department classification of China’s legal system, with labor and employment instruments shown in their own practical category and instruments whose classification is disputed collected under Others. Each entry links to the full translation of the latest, currently effective version of the instrument. Repealed laws, superseded versions and drafts are not listed.
Browse by Department
Constitutional Laws
64 instruments
The Constitution and the laws that give effect to it. This department covers the structure and powers of state organs, elections, legislation and supervision, national symbols, nationality, regional ethnic autonomy, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau. It also includes the laws protecting national sovereignty and security — national defense, national security, counter-espionage, and territorial sea and border laws — together with military service legislation and the protection of military personnel, heroes and martyrs. For foreign investors, this department matters because it defines the constitutional framework within which all business and administrative activity in China operates.
Civil & Commercial Laws
81 instruments
Civil and commercial laws govern the legal relationships between equal parties — individuals and companies — in everyday economic life. This department includes the Civil Code and its books (general provisions, property, contracts, personality rights, marriage and family, inheritance, and tort liability), company and partnership law, foreign investment law, securities, insurance, negotiable instruments, trusts and enterprise bankruptcy. Intellectual property laws — patent, trademark, copyright and related protection regulations — also belong here. These are the laws most directly relevant to forming a company in China, signing contracts, protecting assets, and resolving commercial disputes.
Administrative Laws
166 instruments
Administrative laws regulate the relationship between public authorities on one side and citizens and enterprises on the other. This department covers public security, household and residence registration, entry and exit administration, education, science and technology, health and medical care, food and drug safety, epidemic prevention, customs and quarantine, environmental protection, fire safety, road traffic, archives and state secrets, as well as cyberspace and data administration. For foreign businesses, these laws set the day-to-day compliance framework — licensing, filings, inspections, and the consequences of non-compliance.
Economic Laws
251 instruments
Economic laws regulate economic activity and market order. This is the largest department: taxation (individual and enterprise income tax, VAT, tariffs, stamp tax and the other major tax instruments), banking and finance, foreign trade and foreign exchange, anti-monopoly and fair competition review, product quality, advertising, pricing, standardization, land and natural resources, energy, agriculture, transport and infrastructure, and government procurement. For foreign investors this department contains the core rules for China market entry, investment incentives, customs clearance, and the tax costs of doing business in China.
Labor & Employment Laws
60 instruments
China’s labor law and its related regulations. This department covers the employment relationship from hiring to termination: the Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law, employment promotion, labor dispatch, wages and minimum wage standards, working hours and paid annual leave, collective contracts and trade unions, social insurance (pension, medical, unemployment, work-related injury and maternity), the housing provident fund, workplace safety and occupational disease prevention, labor dispute mediation and arbitration, and the special rules for female, underage and foreign employees — including work permits. These are the rules that directly govern every employment decision for companies with staff in China.
Social Laws
19 instruments
Social laws protect the rights and interests of specific groups and promote social welfare and cohesion. This department includes the protection of women’s rights and interests, minors, the elderly, persons with disabilities and veterans, charity and public-welfare donations, the Red Cross, foundations, and social assistance. Together with the Labor & Employment department above, these instruments complete China’s social security and social protection framework.
Criminal Laws
1 instruments
China’s criminal legislation defines crimes and their punishments. This department lists the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China (with its amendments). Related procedural instruments — the Criminal Procedure Law and judicial-assistance mechanisms — are listed under Procedural Laws. For businesses, the criminal law matters most through corporate offences such as bribery, tax evasion and environmental crimes.
Procedural Laws
11 instruments
Procedural laws govern how substantive rights are enforced and how disputes are resolved. This department covers civil procedure, criminal procedure, administrative litigation, arbitration, mediation, notarization, extradition and international judicial assistance. For foreign companies, these instruments determine how a contract dispute, an administrative decision or a labor case actually gets heard and resolved before Chinese courts and arbitration institutions.
Others
19 instruments
Some instruments are classified differently by different authorities, or span several departments of the legal system. Rather than force a single label on them, they are collected here. Examples include the Audit Law, the State Compensation Law, the Veterans Protection Law, the Foreign State Immunity Law and the Anti-Organized Crime Law — each of which appears under different departments in different official or academic classifications. The translations remain complete and current regardless of the label.
Search the Directory
Type a keyword to find the law you are looking for:
If you need help applying any of these laws to your business in China — company setup, tax, payroll, or compliance — our team is happy to assist. See our legal services or contact us.
Disclaimer: This directory is provided for reference and navigation only. The English translations are unofficial; the Chinese official texts prevail. Laws and regulations are subject to change, and the directory does not constitute legal advice.
