On Jan 28, 2015, the first circuit court of the Supreme People's Court was established in south China's Shenzhen, a move widely viewed as a key step towards optimizing the judicial sector. Three days later, the second circuit court opened in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning province.

So far, six circuit courts have been established across the country. The circuit courts of the Supreme People's Court make it convenient for residents to file lawsuits and help solve people's disputes, reducing pressure on the top court.

  • The First Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court

    The First Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court was established in south China's Guangdong province on Jan 28, 2015.

    It is a standing judicial arm of the SPC for handling civil and commercial cases, administrative lawsuits and criminal appeals of first and second instance and retrials in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan, and civil and commercial and judicial relief cases related to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan that are meant to be tried by the SPC.

    The court heard its first dispute on March 2 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, a move designed to ease the burden on the country's top court.

  • The Second Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court

    The Second Circuit Court of the Supreme People of China in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning province is a standing judicial arm of the SPC that covers Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. It was established on Jan 31, 2015.

    The court safeguards the Constitution and other laws, leads in judicial reforms, handles the people’s judicial affairs in a fair manner, works for an open, dynamic, and transparent judicial system in the people’s interest, and helps people see the fairness and justice in its handling of each case.

  • The Third Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court

    China opened a third Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court in eastern Jiangsu province on Dec 28, 2016.

    The Third Circuit Court in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, will mainly handle major administrative, civil and commercial cases that must be heard by the SPC in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Shanghai municipality.

    According to the SPC, the court will help meet local demand in the densely populated regions.

  • The Fourth Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court

    China opened a fourth Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court in central China’s Henan province on Dec 28, 2016.

    The Fourth Circuit Court in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, will mainly handle major administrative, civil and commercial cases that must be heard by the SPC in the four provinces of Henan, Shanxi, Hubei and Anhui.

    According to the SPC, the court will help meet local demand in the densely populated regions.

  • The Fifth Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court

    China opened a fifth Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court in southwest China's Chongqing municipality on Dec 29, 2016. Li Shaoping, vice president of the SPC, was appointed head of the circuit court.

    The fifth Circuit Court covers Chongqing, Tibet autonomous region and provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan.

  • The Sixth Circuit Court of the Supreme People’s Court

    China opened a sixth Circuit Court of the Supreme People's Court in Xi'an, northwestern China's Shaanxi province on Dec 29, 2016. Zhang Shuyuan, vice president of the SPC, was appointed head of the circuit court.

    The Sixth Circuit Court handles cases in the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai, Ningxia Hui autonomous region and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.