National periodicals: periodicals sponsored by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council and their subordinate departments or China Academy of Sciences, China Academy of Social Sciences, democratic parties and national people's organizations, and periodicals sponsored by national professional societies. In addition, publications clearly marked with the words "national journals" and "core journals" can also be regarded as national journals.

Provincial periodicals: namely, periodicals sponsored by provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and their subordinate ministries, commissions, departments and bureaus, and journals (periodicals) sponsored by colleges and universities.