A Practice Note on China's court structure. The Note details the functions of the SPC, the circuit courts and local courts. It addresses the SPC's role in issuing judicial interpretations and guiding cases and discusses the similar case search mechanism. The Note also introduces new types of special courts, including the China International Commercial Courts (CICC), intellectual property (IP) courts, financial courts and internet courts, as well as cross-administrative courts which are set up as a result of court system reform.