Elementary Knowledge of China
National Summary:
conventional long form: People's Republic of China
conventional short form: China
local long form: Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo
local short form: Zhong Guo
abbreviation: PRC
data code: CH
capital: Beijing (Peking).
Location:
China is situated in the eastern part of Asia,
on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, in the southeastern part of the Eurasian contient, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea
and Vietnam . It's border countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia (northeast), Russia (northwest), Tajikistan, and Vietnam. It's geographic coordinates is 35 00 N, 105 00 E. Download the country map of China.
Size:
China covers covers an area of 9.6 million square km, which is approximately one-fifteenth of the land area of the world.
National Flag:
 The national flag has five yellow, five-pointed stars on the upper left part on a field of red. The red color of the flag symbolizes revolution. The larger star represents the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the four smaller ones, the Chinese people. This expresses the great unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC.
National Emblem:
The national emblem of the PRC features
Tiananmen Gate beneath the five shining stars,
encircled by ears of grain and with a cogwheel at
the bottom. Click to know more about Tianan Men.
National Anthem:
The national anthem was written in 1935, with
lyrics by the noted poet Tian Han and music by the
famous composer Nie Er. Download China's national anthem in MP3 or MIDI.
Administrative Institutions:
At present,China was divided into 23 provinces (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi,
Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Taiwan), 5 autonomous regions (Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Tibet), 4 municipalities (Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin), and 1 special administrative region (Hongkong).
Population:
China has the largest population in the
world. In 1998, there were 1,248.1 million
people living on the mainland (excluding
those living in Hong Kong, Taiwan and
Macao), accounting for 22 percent of the
world population.
Male ------------------ 581.82 million, 51.5 percent of the total
Female ---------------- 548.69 million, 48.5 percent of the total
Growth rate ------------ 0.77%
Birth rate ------------ 15.1 births/1,000 population
Death rate ------------ 6.98 deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups:
Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other
nationalities 8.1%
population and distribution of ethnic minorities
(based on the Fourth National Census data on
July 1, 1990)
| Ethnic Group |
Population(10,000) |
Major
Areas of Distribution |
Mongolian
|
480.24
|
Inner
Mongolia, Xinjiang, Liaoning, Jilin,Heilongjiang, Gansu, Hebei, Henan and Qinghai |
Hui
|
861.20
|
Ningxia,
Gansu, Henan, Hebei, Qinghai,Shandong,Yunnan, Xinjiang, Anhui, Liaoning,Heilongjiang,
Jilin, Shaanxi, Beijing andTianjin |
Tibetan
|
459.31
|
Tibet,
Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan |
Uygur
|
720.70
|
Xinjiang |
Miao
|
738.36
|
Guizhou,
Hunan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan,Hainan and Hubei |
Yi
|
657.85
|
Sichuan,
Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi |
Zhuang
|
1,555.58 |
Guangxi,
Yunnan, Guangdong and Guizhou |
Bouyei
|
254.83
|
Guizhou |
Korean
|
192.34
|
Jilin,
Liaoning and Heilongjing |
Manchu
|
984.68
|
Liaoning,
Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Beijing,and Inner Mongolia |
Dong
|
250.68
|
Guizhou,
Hunan and Guangxi |
Yao
|
213.70
|
Guangxi,
Hunan, Yunnan, Guangdong and Guizhou |
Bai
|
159.81
|
Yunnan
and Guizhou |
Tujia
|
572.50
|
Hunan and
Hubei |
Hani
|
125.48
|
Yunnan |
Kazak
|
111.08
|
Xinjiang,
Gansu and Qinghai |
Dai
|
102.54
|
Yunnan |
Li
|
111.25
|
Hainan |
Lisu
|
57.46
|
Yunnan
and Sichuan |
Va
|
35.20
|
Yunnan |
She
|
63.47
|
Fujian,
Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Guangdong |
Gaoshan
|
0.29
|
Taiwan
(the figure excludes the Gaoshan ethnic group in Taiwan Province) and Fujian |
Lahu
|
41.15
|
Yunnan |
Shui
|
34.71
|
Guizhou
and Guangxi |
| Dongxiang |
37.37 |
Gansu and Xinjiang |
Naxi
|
27.78
|
Yunnan
and Sichuan |
Jingpo
|
11.93
|
Yunnan |
Kirgiz
|
14.35
|
Xinjiang
and Heilongjiang |
Tu
|
19.26
|
Qinghai
and Gansu |
Daur
|
12.15
|
Inner
Mongolia, Heilongjiang and Xinjiang |
Mulam
|
16.06
|
Guangxi |
Qiang
|
19.83
|
Sichuan |
Bulang
|
8.24
|
Yunnan |
Salar
|
8.75
|
Qinghai
and Gansu |
Maonan
|
7.24
|
Guangxi |
Gelo
|
43.82
|
Guizhou
and Guangxi |
Xibo
|
17.29
|
Xinjiang,
Liaoning and Jilin |
Achang
|
2.77
|
Yunnan |
Pumi
|
2.97
|
Yunnan |
Tajik
|
3.32
|
Xinjiang |
Nu
|
2.72
|
Yunnan |
Ozbek
|
1.48
|
Xinjiang |
Russian
|
1.35
|
Xinjiang |
Ewenki
|
2.64
|
Inner
Mongolia and Heilongjiang |
De'ang
|
1.55
|
Yunnan |
Bao'an
|
1.17
|
Gansu |
Yugu
|
1.23
|
Gansu |
Jing
|
1.87
|
Guangxi |
Tartar
|
0.51
|
Xinjiang |
Drung
|
0.58
|
Yunnan |
Oroqen
|
0.70
|
Inner
Mongolia and Heilongjiang |
Hezhen
|
0.43
|
Heilongjiang |
Monba
|
0.75
|
Tibet |
Loba
|
0.23
|
Tibet |
Jino
|
1.80
|
Yunnan |
|
Topography:
The topography of China is complex, high in the
west and low-lying in the east. Mountains, hills
and plateaus account for 65 percent of the
country's land area. Among the world's 19 mountain
peaks, 8,000 meters above sea level or higher,
China has seven. China also abounds in rivers and
lakes. The total length of rivers runs to 220,000
km. More than 5,000 rivers have a catchment area
exceeding 100 square km. More than 2,800 lakes are
more than one square km in size, among which 13
have a water surface of more than 1,000 square km.
Climate:
China's climate is determined by the interplay between seasonally changing mosoons-- the winter monsoon, polar continental air masses from Siberia which cause cold, arid winters, and the summer monsoon, the tropical pacific air masses which cause hot summers. Due to China's size-- an expanse of land covering more than 35 degrees of latitude-- and complex topography, there are pronounced variations in climate from region to region. Extremely cold, dry Siberian winds blow over the Mongolian Plateau seaward into North China from September to April. In the south they are blocked by parallel mountain ranges such as Qinling in Shaanxi, Dabie Shan in Anhui/Henan/Hubei and Nanling in southern Hunan.
Average Temperatures in Major Chinese Cities
(Degree in Centigrade)
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Yearly |
| Beijing |
-3.7 |
-1.8 |
6.9 |
15.0 |
21.3 |
25.3 |
25.1 |
24.5 |
19.8 |
11.4 |
3.4 |
-1.7 |
12.1 |
| Changchun |
-17.1 |
-12.0 |
-1.2 |
6.5 |
15.2 |
21.5 |
21.6 |
20.2 |
14.8 |
5.6 |
-4.2 |
-10.6 |
5.0 |
| Changsha |
5.6 |
6.4 |
10.8 |
16.9 |
23.4 |
25.6 |
28.4 |
29.3 |
27.8 |
24.2 |
19.1 |
15.8 |
22.1 |
| Chengdu |
6.4 |
6.7 |
10.8 |
15.6 |
21.5 |
23.8 |
23.3 |
22.9 |
20.2 |
15.4 |
10.2 |
8.7 |
15.2 |
| Chongqing |
7.0 |
10.0 |
14.5 |
19.5 |
23.0 |
25.5 |
29.0 |
30.0 |
25.0 |
19.0 |
14.0 |
10.5 |
18.9 |
| Fuzhou |
10.4 |
9.1 |
12.4 |
18.5 |
22.5 |
26.0 |
29.0 |
28.9 |
24.5 |
18.4 |
12.1 |
8.4 |
17.6 |
| Guangzhou |
13.9 |
13.1 |
16.9 |
23.3 |
26.2 |
27.3 |
28.1 |
28.7 |
26.9 |
22.7 |
18.0 |
16.8 |
21.9 |
| Guilin |
8.2 |
9.5 |
13.0 |
18.2 |
23.4 |
26.4 |
28.0 |
28.7 |
26.1 |
21.0 |
15.8 |
10.5 |
19.1 |
| Guiyang |
6.3 |
5.3 |
11.6 |
15.4 |
20.0 |
22.6 |
23.3 |
22.9 |
20.2 |
15.4 |
10.2 |
8.7 |
15.2 |
| Harbin |
-20.2 |
-14.2 |
2.5 |
6.0 |
14.7 |
21.3 |
22.2 |
19.8 |
14.3 |
4.1 |
-5.5 |
-12.7 |
3.9 |
| Hangzhou |
4.3 |
4.5 |
9.7 |
15.2 |
21.3 |
24.5 |
28.4 |
27.8 |
22.5 |
16.9 |
11.8 |
7.1 |
16.2 |
| Hefei |
3.1 |
3.7 |
9.6 |
15.7 |
22.2 |
25.0 |
26.6 |
27.1 |
22.7 |
16.2 |
9.8 |
4.5 |
15.5 |
| Hohhot |
-11.0 |
-9.5 |
-0.3 |
7.7 |
18.1 |
21.1 |
22.7 |
20.8 |
14.2 |
6.1 |
-4.6 |
-10.0 |
6.3 |
| Hong Kong |
15.9 |
14.7 |
17.6 |
22.6 |
25.9 |
28.0 |
28.5 |
29.0 |
27.8 |
25.0 |
20.6 |
17.7 |
22.8 |
| Jinan |
-0.1 |
0.9 |
9.1 |
16.5 |
22.8 |
27.0 |
28.2 |
25.6 |
22.3 |
14.2 |
7.3 |
1.2 |
14.6 |
| Kunming |
7.5 |
10.0 |
12.3 |
16.3 |
19.0 |
20.5 |
18.8 |
18.7 |
16.6 |
14.0 |
11.6 |
9.0 |
14.5 |
| Lanzhou |
-4.9 |
-1.2 |
4.2 |
11.5 |
18.0 |
18.8 |
21.4 |
20.9 |
16.7 |
10.2 |
1.6 |
-3.0 |
9.5 |
| Lhasa |
-0.4 |
1.2 |
4.9 |
7.2 |
11.8 |
17.3 |
16.7 |
15.5 |
12.5 |
6.0 |
2.1 |
-0.7 |
7.8 |
| Nanchang |
5.9 |
6.7 |
10.9 |
17.0 |
23.9 |
25.7 |
29.0 |
28.9 |
24.5 |
18.4 |
12.1 |
8.4 |
17.6 |
| Nanjing |
2.4 |
3.0 |
8.7 |
14.6 |
21.1 |
24.6 |
26.7 |
26.9 |
22.3 |
15.8 |
9.8 |
4.5 |
15.0 |
| Nanning |
13.7 |
12.9 |
18.3 |
23.2 |
25.9 |
27.6 |
28.1 |
28.7 |
26.9 |
22.7 |
18.0 |
16.8 |
21.9 |
| Shanghai |
3.3 |
4.1 |
8.7 |
13.8 |
19.9 |
24.1 |
27.5 |
27.4 |
22.6 |
17.3 |
12.7 |
7.0 |
15.7 |
| Shenyang |
-11.9 |
-7.5 |
2.6 |
9.7 |
17.0 |
22.2 |
23.2 |
22.3 |
17.0 |
8.4 |
0.1 |
-5.8 |
8.1 |
| Shijiazhuang |
-1.9 |
-0.6 |
7.7 |
15.4 |
21.3 |
26.4 |
26.5 |
24.7 |
20.7 |
11.9 |
4.4 |
-0.5 |
13.0 |
| Suzhou |
3.5 |
4.0 |
8.5 |
12.8 |
18.0 |
24.1 |
27.0 |
27.1 |
21.7 |
16.8 |
13.0 |
6.9 |
15.3 |
| Taipei |
14.9 |
14.0 |
17.1 |
22.1 |
25.1 |
27.5 |
29.0 |
29.2 |
26.7 |
24.1 |
21.1 |
17.9 |
22.4 |
| Taiyuan |
-5.2 |
-4.3 |
4.3 |
11.5 |
18.8 |
22.3 |
23.7 |
29.0 |
16.4 |
8.7 |
1.0 |
-0.3 |
10.5 |
| Tianjin |
-3.2 |
-1.3 |
6.4 |
15.1 |
20.7 |
25.0 |
25.9 |
25.2 |
21.2 |
12.4 |
4.6 |
-0.9 |
12.6 |
| Urumqi |
-11.7 |
-11.6 |
-0.9 |
8.5 |
17.5 |
20.0 |
24.9 |
22.4 |
17.5 |
6.7 |
-3.7 |
-10.2 |
6.6 |
| Wuhan |
2.7 |
5.2 |
10.6 |
16.4 |
21.2 |
25.7 |
29.5 |
27.9 |
22.9 |
16.6 |
11.4 |
5.6 |
16.4 |
| Xi'an |
1.4 |
2.1 |
7.9 |
14.4 |
20.7 |
24.8 |
26.6 |
25.1 |
20.5 |
12.9 |
5.9 |
1.6 |
13.7 |
| Xining |
-7.0 |
-3.9 |
1.3 |
7.0 |
13.4 |
14.4 |
16.9 |
15.8 |
12.3 |
7.0 |
-3.0 |
-5.3 |
5.9 |
| Yinchuan |
-7.1 |
-5.2 |
1 8 |
10.1 |
19.1 |
21.2 |
23.3 |
20.9 |
15.7 |
8.3 |
-0.4 |
-6.1 |
8.5 |
| Zhengzhou |
0.8 |
1.1 |
8.3 |
15.9 |
21.9 |
26.7 |
27.4 |
25.6 |
20.6 |
13.6 |
6.9 |
1.9 |
14.2 |
|
Languages:
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese),
Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic divisions entry)
Religions:
China is a country with several religions, of which the major ones are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam and
Christianity. It also has the Orthodox Eastern
Church, as well as some specific religions and folk
beliefs held by the minority ethnic groups.
Chronology:
Dynasty
Year
Xia..............................................21st
- 16th century B.C.
Shang............................................17th
- 1st century B.C.
Western Zhou............................. 11th century
- 771 B.C.
Eastern Zhou............................................770
- 256 B.C.
Spring and Autumn Period........................770 - 476
B.C.
Warring State Period................................475 - 221 B.C.
Qin..........................................................221 - 206 B.C.
Western Han.....................................206 B.C. - A.D. 24
Eastern
Han...............................................25 - A.D. 220
Three
Kingdoms (Wei, Shu, Wu)......................220 - 280
Western Jin......................................................265
- 316
Eastern Jin........................................................317
- 420
Southern Dynasties...........................................420
- 589
Northern Dynasties.......................................... 386
- 581
Sui...................................................................581
- 618
Tang................................................................618
- 907
Five Dynasties..................................................907
- 960
Song..............................................................960
- 1279
Liao...............................................................916
- 1125
Kin..............................................................1115
- 1234
Yuan............................................................1271
- 1368
Ming............................................................1368
- 1644
Qing.............................................................1644
- 1911
Republic of China.........................................1912
- 1949
P. R. China...............................................1949
- present
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