|
Name of the country |
The People's Republic of China |
|
Capital city |
Beijing |
|
Population |
1295.33 million (by 2000) |
|
Area |
A territory area of 9.6 million square km, second to Russia and Canada, with a sea area of about 4.73 million square km. |
|
Location |
In East Asia, border on the west Pacific Ocean |
|
National flag |
A red flag with five stars. |
|
National anthem |
March of the Volunteers |
|
Ethnic groups |
There are 56 ethnic groups in China. The Han people make up 92 percent of the country's total population, and the other 55 ethnic groups, 8 percent, |
|
Languages |
Of the 56 ethnic groups, the Hui and Manchu use the same language as Han people, while the rest groups have their own spoken and written languages. |
|
Religion |
Of the 56 ethnic groups, the Hui and Manchu use the same language as Han people, while the rest groups have their own spoken and written languages. |
|
Main festivals |
New Year's Day, Spring Festival, International Labor Day, National Day |
|
Currency |
Renminbi (RMB) Yuan |
|
Time difference |
8 hours earlier than the Greenwich Time |
|
Time difference |
China is in the temperate zone, the country stretches from the tropical and subtropical zones in the south to the frigid zone in the north. |
|
Topography |
High in its west and low in its east: mountain areas 33.3%, plateaus 26%, basins 18.8%, plains 12% and hills 9.9%. |
|
Mountains |
Among the 19 mountains over 7,000 meters high in the world, seven are in China. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as "the roof of the world". The Himalayas have the world's highest peak Mt.Qomolangma, 8,848 meters. |
|
RiversCanal |
The Yangtze River, 6,300 km long, is the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. The Yellow River, the second longest in China, stretching 5,464 km. |
|
Canal |
The Grand Canal, 1,801 km long, is the longest man-made river in the world. Its cutting began in the fifth century BC. |
|
Lakes |
The Poyang Lake, China's largest freshwater lake, the Qinghai Lake on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the country's largest salt lake |
|
History |
China is one of the world's oldest civilizations with a history of 5,000 years. In 221 BC, Qinshihuang established the Qin Dynasty, the first feudal autocracy , thereby unveiling a 2,000-year period of feudalism .1949 saw the founding of the People's Republic of China. |
