China
China is the world's most populous country with about 1.3 billion
people—20 percent of the Earth's population. Occupying most of
East Asia, it is the fourth largest country in area (after Russia,
Canada, and the U.S.). China's geography is highly diverse, with
hills, plains, and river deltas in the east and deserts, high
plateaus, and mountains in the west. Climate is equally varied,
ranging from tropical in the south (Hainan) to subarctic in
northeastern China (Manchuria). China's geography causes an uneven
population distribution; 94 percent live in the eastern third of the
country. Shandong province, with its mild coastal climate, has 91
million people, but Tibet, with its harsh mountain plateau climate,
has only 2.6 million. The coastal regions are the most economically
developed—acting as a magnet for an estimated 90 million Chinese
migrants from the poor rural interior. China has perhaps the world's
longest continuous civilization; for more than 40 centuries its
people created a culture with strong philosophies, traditions, and
values.
| Capital: | Beijing |
| Government type: | Democratic Republic |
| Population: | 1,288,679,000 (July 2005 est.) |
| Languages: | Mandarin, Cantonese, Wu and other dialects |
| Official Currency: | Yuan Currency Exchange Rates |
| Climate: | tropical in the south; arctic cold in northeast; |
| Independence Day: | 1 October 1949 |
| Religion: | Taoists, Buddhist, Muslim |
| Area: | total: 9,596,960 sq km |
| Country Dial Code: | 86 |
Top Destinations in China
Beijing | Shanghai | Xi'an | Guilin |
Hong Kong | Tibet
The Great Wall | Yangzi River |
Xiamen | Zhengzhou