Exploring the Middle Kingdom: Fascinating Facts about China's

red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner; the color red represents revolution, while the stars symbolize the four social classes - the working class, the peasantry, the urban petty bourgeoisie, and the national bourgeoisie (capitalists) - united under the Communist Party of China

China map showing major cities as well as the many bordering East Asian countries and neighboring seas.

Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Background

China's civilization dates from at least 1200 B.C.. From the 3rd century B.C. and for the next two millennia, China alternated between periods of unity and disunity under a succession of imperial dynasties. After World War II, the Chinese Communist Party under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system.

Geography:

Area

• total: 9,596,960 sq km

• land: 9,326,410 sq km

• water: 270,550 sq km

Climate:

extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest), arable land

People and Society

Population: 1,413,142,846 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.1%, ethnic minorities 8.9% (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) (2021 est.)

Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry); note - Zhuang is official in Guangxi Zhuang, Yue is official in Guangdong, Mongolian is official in Nei Mongol, Uyghur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uyghur, and Tibetan is official in Xizang (Tibet)

Religions: folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.2%, Christian 5.1%, Muslim 1.8%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%, other 0.7% (includes Daoist (Taoist)), unaffiliated 52.1% (2021 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.18% (2023 est.)

Government

Government type: communist party-led state

Capital: Beijing

Executive branch

• chief of state: President XI Jinping (since 14 March 2013); Vice President HAN Zheng (since 10 March 2023)

• head of government: Premier LI Qiang (since 11 March 2023)

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Congress (NPC) or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (maximum of 3,000 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses, and the People's Liberation Army; members serve 5-year terms); note - in practice, only members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), its 8 allied independent parties, and CCP-approved independent candidates are elected.

Economy

Economic overview

one of the world’s top two economies; sustained growth due to export relations, its manufacturing sector, and low-wage workers; only major economy to avoid COVID-19 economic decline; recovery efforts slowing due to longstanding poverty imbalances and other institutional issues; state-sponsored economic controls.

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

• $24.861 trillion (2021 est.)

• $22.996 trillion (2020 est.)

• $22.493 trillion (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

• $17,600 (2021 est.

• $16,300 (2020 est.)

• $16,000 (2019 est.)

Agricultural products

maize, rice, vegetables, wheat, sugar cane, potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, sweet potatoes

Industries

world leader in gross value of industrial output; mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals, coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizer; consumer products (including footwear, toys, and electronics); food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, railcars and locomotives, ships, aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles, satellites

Exports

• $3.554 trillion (2021 est.)

• $2.739 trillion (2020 est.)

• $2.631 trillion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

United States 17%, Hong Kong 10%, Japan 6% (2019)

Exports - commodities

broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, office machinery and parts, telephones (2021).

Imports

• $3.091 trillion (2021 est.)

• $2.38 trillion (2020 est.)

• $2.499 trillion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

South Korea 9%, Japan 8%, Australia 7%, Germany 7%, US 7%, Taiwan 6% (2019).

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, integrated circuits, iron, natural gas, cars, gold (2019).

Exchange rates:

Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar

Exchange rates:

• 6.449 (2021 est.)

• 6.901 (2020 est.)

• 6.908 (2019 est.)

• 6.616 (2018 est.)

• 6.759 (2017 est.)

LGBTQIA+ Travelers

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) travelers can face unique challenges when traveling abroad. Laws and attitudes in some countries may affect safety and ease of travel. Legal protections vary from country to country. Many countries do not legally recognize same-sex marriage. Approximately seventy countries consider consensual same-sex sexual relations a crime, sometimes carrying severe punishment.

Telephone Code: 86

Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 120; Fire: 119; Police: 110, 122 (traffic accident)

Vaccinations

An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Currency (Code): Renminbi yuan (RMB)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, C, I

Time Difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time); note: despite its size, all of China falls within 1 time zone

Potable Water: Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit: An IDP is not recognized. Tourists are not allowed to drive in China.

Road Driving Side: Right

Tourist Destinations

Classical Gardens of Suzhou; Potala Palace; Shanghai's Promenade; Hangzhou's Historic West Lake; Qing Zhao Mausoleum; Leshan Giant Buddha; Hong Kong Skyline; Zhangjiajie National Forest Park; Great Wall; Terracotta Army; Forbidden City; Summer Palace; Tiananmen Square; Longmen Grottoes

Major Sports: Basketball, table tennis, volleyball

Cultural Practices

Give and receive everything with two hands.

Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not officially recognized, though the practice has become increasingly common among tour guides, top-end restaurants, tour bus drivers, and hotel staff. Tipping about 10% is appreciated. Make sure a service charge has not already been included. Taxi drivers often do not accept tips.

Souvenirs

Silk items, jade and pearl items, calligraphy sets, antique ceramics, designer fashions, electronics.

Traditional Cuisine

Peking Roast Duck — maltose syrup (a natural sweetener produced from fermented grains) glazed-duck roasted until brown; the skin is served dipped in a sugar-garlic sauce and the meat is served with sweet bean sauce, spring onions, pancakes, and cucumber sticks