CHINA: THE KEY FACTS
Location
Time
Area
Population
Population Density
Capital
Beijing (Peking). Population: 16.3 million (2007), estimated 17 million in 2008. Chongqing is the largest urban area, with a population of more than 31 million. Shanghai has a population of over 18 million and, as of 2004, 11 other cities had a population of over 2 million and 23 cities had a population of 1 to 2 million. At China's current rate of urbanization, it is predicted that by 2025, the nation will have 219 cities with more than 1 million inhabitants.
Geography
China is bordered to the north by Russia and Mongolia; to the east by Korea (Dem Rep), the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea; to the south by Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal; and to the west by India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. China has a varied terrain ranging from high plateaux in the west to flatlands in the east; mountains take up almost one-third of the land. The most notable high mountain ranges are the Himalayas, the Altai Mountains, the Tian Shan Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. On the border with Nepal is the 8,848m (29,198ft) Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest. In the west is the Qinghai/Tibet Plateau, with an average elevation of 4,000m (13,200ft), known as ‘the Roof of the World'. At the base of the Tian Shan Mountains is the Turpan Depression or Basin, China's lowest area, 154m (508ft) below sea level at the lowest point. China has many great river systems, notably the Yellow (Huang He) and Yangtze River (Chang Jiang, also Yangtze Kiang). Only 10% of all China is suitable for agriculture.
Government
People's Republic. China comprises 23 provinces (China considers Taiwan its 23rd province), five autonomous regions, two special administrative regions and four municipalities directly under central government.
Head of State
Head of Government
History
China is governed by the National People's
Congress (NPC), the nation's president and
premier of the People's Republic, and the
heads of individual ministries. The NPC is
held every five years and attended by some
3,000 delegates drawn from provincial
administrations, the military and various
state organs.
While China's political infrastructure
remains solid, its social and economic
foundations are shifting rapidly. Having
opened up to the world in the 1990s, and
joined the World Trade Organization in 2001,
China's economy has benefited from
significant inflows of foreign investment,
so much so that China is now the largest
holder of US government debt and owns the
largest foreign exchange reserves of any
nation in history. Socially, China is now
searching for a new identity. Having hosted
the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and with the 2010
World Expo in Shanghai and the 2010 Asian
Games in Guangzhou on the horizon, China's
urban population is more globalised than at
any point in history, and is seeking to
combine a penchant for global brands into
several millennia of Chinese history and
culture. It is also more confident and
nationalistic than ever, with events like
2008's first spacewalk by a Chinese
astronaut and the development of the world's
fastest train (Shanghai Maglev) and longest
cross-sea bridge (Hangzhou Bay Bridge)
evoking enormous national pride - and
setting expectations that the Middle Kingdom
is destined to become the world's next
superpower.
Language
Religion
China is officially Atheistic, but the stated religions and philosophies are Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. There are 100 million Buddhists and approximately 60 million Muslims, 5 million Protestants (including large numbers of Evangelicals) and 4 million Roman Catholics, largely independent of Vatican control.
Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Two-pin and three-pin sockets are generally in use. However, most 4 to 5 star hotels are also wired for the use of 110 volt appliances.
Social Conventions
Cultural differences may create
misunderstandings between local people and
visitors. The Chinese do not usually
volunteer information and the visitor is
advised to ask questions. Hotels, train
dining cars and restaurants often ask for
criticisms and suggestions, which are
considered seriously. Do not be offended if
you are followed by a crowd; this is merely
an open interest in visitors who are rare in
the remoter provinces. The Chinese are
generally reserved in manner, courtesy
rather than familiarity being preferred.
The full title of the country is ‘The
People's Republic of China', and this should
be used in all formal communications.
‘China' can be used informally, but there
should never be any implication that another
China exists. Although handshaking may be
sufficient, a visitor will frequently be
greeted by applause as a sign of welcome.
The customary response is to applaud back.
Anger, if felt, is expected to be concealed
and arguments in public may attract hostile
attention.
In China, the family name is always
mentioned first. It is customary to arrive a
little early if invited out socially. When
dining, guests should wait until their seat
is allocated and not begin eating until
indicated to do so. If using chopsticks, do
not position them upright in your rice bowl
as the gesture symbolises death. Toasting at
a meal is very common, as is the custom of
taking a treat when visiting someone's home,
such as fruit, confectionery or a souvenir
from a home country. If it is the home of
friends or relatives, money may be left for
the children.
If visiting a school or a factory, a gift
from the visitor's home country,
particularly something which would be
unavailable in China (a text book if
visiting a school, for example), would be
much appreciated. Stamps are also very
popular as gifts, as stamp-collecting is a
popular hobby in China. A good gift for an
official guide is a Western reference book
on China.
Conservative casual wear is generally
acceptable everywhere and revealing clothes
should be avoided since they may cause
offence. Visitors should avoid expressing
political or religious opinions.