The establishment of the dynasty of the Eastern Han did not change much the local administrative system and regionalism of the Western Han. Twelve regions were set up in the whole country apart from the area around the capital which was directly under the governance of Sili Xiaowei Ministry. A Regional Governor (Zhoumu) was appointed in charge of each region. The parallel commandery and princedom were the second level administrative regions under the region, and the county is the third level administrative region.

As Records of Commanderies and Princedoms of History of the Later Han recorded about the administrative regions in the fifth year (140AD) during the period of Yonghe of the reign of Emperor Shun, the Cishi Ministry of You Region ruled 11 commanderies and principalities, 90 counties, towns and marquisates, of which the present Beijing area includes 5 commanderies and 14 counties.