hive为元数据检索提供了非常有限的选项。
直接查询元存储。

演示

Hive

create table clicks_fact (i int) partitioned by (day date,file_date int)
;

alter table clicks_fact add
    partition (day=date '2016-09-02',file_date=20160901)
    partition (day=date '2016-09-02',file_date=20160902)
    partition (day=date '2016-09-03',file_date=20160901)
    partition (day=date '2016-09-03',file_date=20160902)
    partition (day=date '2016-09-03',file_date=20160903)
;

元存储（mysql）

use metastore;

select  distinct
        pkv.PART_KEY_VAL

from            DBS                 as d

        join    TBLS                as t

        on      t.DB_ID =
                d.DB_ID

        join    PARTITION_KEYS      as pk

        on      pk.TBL_ID =
                t.TBL_ID

        join    PARTITIONS          as p

        on      p.TBL_ID =
                t.TBL_ID       

        join    PARTITION_KEY_VALS  as pkv

        on      pkv.PART_ID =
                p.PART_ID

            and pkv.INTEGER_IDX =
                pk.INTEGER_IDX       

where   d.NAME       = 'local_db'
    and t.TBL_NAME   = 'clicks_fact'
    and pk.PKEY_NAME = 'file_date'
;

+--------------+
| PART_KEY_VAL |
+--------------+
|     20160901 |
|     20160902 |
|     20160903 |
+--------------+