China is the world's third-largest nation by area and the largest by population. China is bordered by the Mongolian Republic and Russia on the north, by Russia and North Korea on the north-east , by the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea on the east, by the South China Sea on the south, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, and Nepal on south-west, by Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan on the west ; and by Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on the north-west. China covers 6,000,000 square miles and spanning 60 longitudinal degrees.
For centuries, China has played a leading role in civilization, excelling in arts and sciences. China, a land of beauty and fascination, attracts adventurous travelers all over the world.
Below is a brief introduction about China's geography, population and economy
Official Country Name:
The People's Republic of China
Government:
The National People's Congress
Geography:
China is the world's third-largest country, after Canada and US.
Population:
1.26 billion (July 2000)
Area:
9,600,000 sq. km
Coastline:
14,500 km
Capital City:
Beijing (12 million population)
Languages:
Official Language: Mandarin Chinese or Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect.
Other Languages: Seven other major Chinese dialects, Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka.
Religions:
69% Non-religious or atheist; 20% orthodox Chinese beliefs, mainly Confucianism and Daoism
9% Buddhism, 2% Other, including Muslim and Christian.
Largest Metropolitan Areas:
Shanghai 14,150,000
Beijing 12,510,000
Tianjin 9,420,000
(1995 estimates)
Climate:
Extremely diverse, tropical in the south to sub-arctic in the north.
Ethnic Groups:
Han Chinese: 92%
Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities: 8%
Nature Resources:
A wide range of minerals are to be found in China, among them coal, iron, copper, aluminum, mercury and others. The size of Chinese mineral reserves is rated third largest in the world. China is also rich in oil and natural gas resources
Industries:
Services sector contributes 32% to the Chinese economy, industry contributes approximately 53% and the balance, 15% in agriculture and forestry
Main Export Products:
Machinery and equipment, clothing and toys
Main Export:
21% to the United States,17% to Hong Kong and approximately 14% to Japan
Main Import:
18% from Japan, 12% from Taiwan, 10% from South Korea. 8% from United States
Main Trading Partner:
United States, Japan and Taiwan
GDP - Per capita
Estimated at 5,000 dollars, low compared to the developed countries
Monthly Wage:
800 - 2,500 Yuan(between 30 - 97 dollars) as of April 2004. Average monthly salary in the financial sector as well as in business with foreign investments is very much higher.
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Chinese Writing Characteristics
Over the years, Chinese were evolved and developed in the following different ways:
