The territory of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture belonged to Chu Qianzhong Commandery Prefecture in the Warring States Period.
During the Western Han Dynasty, it belonged to Wuling County.
During the Three Kingdoms period, it initially belonged to Shu and later to Wu.
In the Western and Eastern Jin dynasties, it belonged to Wuling County, Jingzhou.
During the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties periods, it belonged to the Qianzhong Road.
In the Song Dynasty, it was nemed Chenzhou and Lizhou on Jinghu North Circuit.
In the Yuan Dynasty, it was also known as the Enzhou Propaganda and Comfort Department, Chenzhou Road, Lizhou Road, and Yongshun Propaganda and Comfort Department in Hubei and Guangdong provinces, as well as the newly added Geman Comfort Department.
During the Ming Dynasty, Yongshun Xuanwei and Baojing Prefecture Xuanwei were established, while the rest were located in Yue and Chen prefectures.
In the Qing Dynasty, Yongshun Prefecture and Fenghuang, Qianzhou, and Yongsui Zhili Departments were established, with Lizhou in the northeast.
From the third year of the Republic of China (1914) to the eleventh year of the Republic of China (1922), it was the Chenyuan Road. From 1938 to 1949, it was the eighth and ninth administrative inspection districts of the Republic of China.
At the beginning of the founding of the China, Fenghuang, Qiancheng, Yongsui, Luxi and Yongshun, Longshan, Baojing, Guzhang and other counties belonged to Yuanling District and Yongshun District respectively.
On August 1, 1952, with the approval of the Central People's Government, six counties were designated as Qiancheng, Fenghuang, Yongsui, Luxi, Guzhang, and Baojing, forming the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region (at the prefecture level). The district was governed by Suoli Town, Qiancheng County, under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province, and governed by six counties, namely Qiancheng, Fenghuang, Huayuan, Luxi, Guzhang, and Baojing. In September of the same year, the Xiangxi Administration and its affiliated Yongshun, Yuanling, and Huitong districts were abolished, and its Yongshun, Longshan, Sangzhi, and Dayong counties were managed by the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region. In December of the same year, it officially took over Yongshun, Longshan, Sangzhi, and Dayong counties.
On April 28, 1955, according to Article 53 of the Constitution, Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was renamed Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture. State governance and territory remain unchanged.
On September 6, 1957, the 57th plenary meeting of the State Council adopted the decision of the People's Committee of Hunan Province to establish Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province and revoke it. On September 20 of the same year, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was officially established, and at the same time, Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture announced its cancellation.
In 1952, Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established, and the People's Government of the Autonomous Region was stationed in Qiancheng County. Six counties, including Yongshun, Longshan, Dayong, Baojing, Sangzhi, and Guzhang, belonging to the former Yongshun Special Zone, and four counties, namely Qiancheng, Yongsui, Luxi, and Fenghuang, belonging to the former Yuanling Special Zone, were included in the Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region.
In 1955, Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Region was established as Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture, with the Autonomous Prefecture People's Committee stationed in Jishou County.
On September 20, 1957, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture was established. The autonomous prefecture is located in Jishou County. Jishou, Luxi (stationed in Wuxi Town), Fenghuang (stationed in Tuojiang Town), Huayuan, Baojing (stationed in Qianling Town), Guzhang, and 6 counties under the jurisdiction of the former Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture, as well as the provincial leadership of the former Xiangxi Miao Autonomous Prefecture
