China, officially known as the People's Republic of China, is the world's most populous country, with a population of over 1.4 billion people. It is located in East Asia, bordered by 14 countries, including Russia, Mongolia, India, and North Korea. The country covers an area of 9.6 million square kilometers, making it the world's third-largest country by land area.

China has a rich history and culture that spans over 5,000 years, with important contributions to fields such as art, literature, philosophy, and science. The official language is Mandarin, and the country's capital city is Beijing.

In recent years, China has become a major global economic power, with the world's second-largest economy and a rapidly growing middle class. The country is a leading producer of a wide range of goods, including electronics, textiles, and machinery, and is also a major exporter of goods and services.

China is governed by the Communist Party of China, which has been in power since 1949. The country has a complex political system, with a president who serves as both the head of state and the head of government, and a National People's Congress that serves as the country's highest legislative body.

Despite its many achievements, China faces a number of challenges, including air pollution, income inequality, and human rights issues. The government has taken steps to address some of these issues, such as investing in renewable energy and increasing social welfare programs, but others remain a source of concern.

China is also known for its rich cultural heritage and iconic landmarks, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. The country has a rich culinary tradition, with dishes such as dumplings, noodles, and Peking duck that are enjoyed around the world.

National holiday
National Day (anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949)

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. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Currency (Code)
Renminbi yuan (RMB)

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

Major Languages
Standard Chinese or Mandarin, Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages

Major Religions
folk religion 21.9%, Buddhist 18.3%, Christian 5.2%, Muslim 2%, Hindu < 0.1%, Jewish < 0.1%

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
Clicking finger or whistling is considered very rude.

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

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, Uighur is official in Xinjiang Uygur, Kyrgyz is official in Xinjiang Uygur, 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
name: Beijing

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.)

Real GDP per capita
$17,600 (2021 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.)

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

Exports - commodities
broadcasting equipment, computers, integrated circuits, office machinery and parts, telephones (2019)

Imports
$3.091 trillion (2021 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)