CHINA
China , lies mainly in the northern temperate zone, is the world's most populous and third largest nation. Stretching from its southern borders in the Himalayas to the deserts of Mongolia in the north, and from the East China Sea through the Yangzi River Valley plains, to the Tibetan Plateau in the western mainland, China covers an area of 9,596,960 square kilometers. The nation comprises five autonomous regions and twenty-two provinces, as well as Hong Kong, which is now titled a 'Special Administrative Region'. The seat of government, Beijing, is a large city of 11 million people.
Due to its size, China's climate is obviously very diverse, ranging from an unbearable 48ºC in the northwest during summer to an equally unbearable -40ºC in the far north in winter.
The official language in China is Mandarin, as spoken in Beijing, but there are also many different dialects in different areas. Chinese food is like no other cuisine, and again, this differs greatly between regions. Art in China is also stunningly unique, perhaps best typified by calligraphy, performed with ink and brush, and held in extremely high esteem by the Chinese.
Fact file
Area: 9,596,960 square kilometers
Population: 1.2 billion
Capital City: Beijing
People: Han Chinese 93%, other immigrants (including Mongol, Zhuang, Manchu and Uighur) 7%
Main Language: Mandarin ( Beijing dialect)
Religion: Officially atheist; Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism. Also Islamic and Christian communities
Major Industries: Iron, steel, coal, machinery, textiles
Currency: Renminbi (RMB)
To know more about China, please go to:
http://china.scmp.com/map/
