China – country information

Country name	China
Official name	People’s Republic of China
Capital	Peking
Continent	Asia
Area	9,640,820 km2
Population	1,363,350,000 (2014)
The highest mountains	Mount Everest 8848 m (according to measurements in 2005 – 8844 m), Chchokori (K2) 8611 m
Longest rivers	Chang-t’iang (Yang-c’-t’iang) 5900 km, Huang-he (Yellow River) 5464 km
State system	a republic with a one political party system and a unicameral parliament
The biggest cities	Shanghai 12,650,000, Beijing (Capital) 10,125,000, Tianjin 8,050,000
Official language	Chinese
Ethnicity/National Composition	Han (Chinese) 92%, Zhuang 1.4%, Manchu 0.9%, Hui 0.8%, Miao 0.7%, Uyghur 0.6%, Chu-t’ia 0.5%, Mongol 0, 4%, Tibetans 0.4%, others 2.3%
Religious affiliation	no religion and atheists 58%, Chinese traditional religions 30%, Buddhists 8%, Muslims 2.5%, Christians 0.5%, other 1%
Currency	1 yuan = 10 t’iao = 100 fen
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$9,055 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	72.58 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 25%, mining and industry 41%, construction 5.5%, services 28.5%

China – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
Afghanistan	Kabul	652,090 km2	25,500,100
Burma (Myanmar)	Naypyidaw	676,578 km2	53,259,000
Bhutan	Thimphu	47,000 km2	745,200
India	Delhi	3,287,260 km2	1,241,610,000
Kazakhstan	Astana	2,724,900 km2	17,186,000
Kyrgyzstan	Bishkek	199,900 km2	5,663,133
Laos	Vientiane	236,800 km2	6,580,800
Mongolia	Ulaanbaatar	1,564,120 km2	2,931,300
Nepal	Kathmandu	147,181 km2	26,494,504
Pakistan	Islamabad	796,095 km2	185,914,000
Russia	Moscow	17,098,200 km2	143,700,000
North Korea	Pyongyang	120,538 km2	24,895,000
Tajikistan	Dushanbe	143,100 km2	8,160,000
Vietnam	Hanoi	331,689 km2	89,708,900

Country overview

China is the third largest country in the world by area. It occupies almost 1/4 of the Asian landmass and is bordered by 14 states. It is also the country with the largest population, with about 1/5 of the world’s population living here. China boasts one of the oldest civilizations, dating back five thousand years, as well as many important scientific and technical discoveries.

In the 20th century, the country went through major political and economic changes, which were often rather destructive in nature, yet much of its past has been preserved, including a large number of artistic and literary monuments.

Country data

Location: Asia

Time zone: CET + 7 (during summer time: CET + 6)

Total area: 9,596,960 km²

Land area: 9,326,410 km²

Water area: 270,550 km²

Length of the state border: 22,457 km

Bordering countries:
Afghanistan: 91 km
Bhutan: 477 km
Hong Kong: 33 km
India: 2,659 km
Kazakhstan: 1,765 km
Kyrgyzstan: 1,063 km
Laos: 475 km
Macau: 3 km
Mongolia: 4,630 km
Myanmar: 2,129 km
Nepal: 1,389 km
North Korea: 1,352 km
Pakistan: 438 km
Russian Federation: 4,179 km
Tajikistan: 477 km
Vietnam: 1,297 km

Coastline: 14,500 km

Capital: Beijing

Provinces: 32
Anhui, Beijing, Chongqing, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanghai, Shanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin, Xinjiang, Xizang (Tibet), Yunnan, Zhejiang

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 86

Highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

Population

Population: approx. 1.36 billion residents

Population growth: 0.4% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 142

Life expectancy: 73 (male), 77 (female)

Official language: Standard Chinese (Mandarin)

Religions:

• 18% Buddhists
• 5% Christians
• 2% Muslim
• 75% other

Climate

Due to the size of the country there are different climate zones.

In the north, the daytime temperature is around 22 ° C in summer and around -15 ° C in winter. The summer months are characterized by intense heat and high humidity. Occasionally there are very heavy rains. In winter there is a lot of snow (especially in the higher regions).

In the middle of the country it is very hot in summer (over 30 ° C) and there is often heavy rainfall. The humidity is extremely high, especially in July and August. The months from December to March bring a pleasant cooling down. The temperature is between 0-10 ° C. However, a lot of rain also falls during this time.

Southern China has a subtropical climate. In summer it is also very hot here (over 30 ° C) and in winter the temperature does not drop below 10 ° C. The humidity is very high all year round, although there is little rain in winter.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Renminbi (CNY)

Classification: 1 Renminbi = 10 Jiǎo = 100 Fēn

ATMs: only in tourist centers and in the capital.

International credit cards: Accepted in major cities and travel centers. Otherwise cash payment is usual.

Regulations: The national currency can be imported up to an amount of 5,000 renminbi and exported up to an amount of 20,000 renminbi. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. However, a corresponding declaration is required from an equivalent value of over 5,000 US dollars. The export is allowed in the amount of the declared import (minus the exchanged amounts).

You should keep all exchange receipts until you leave the country!

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 400 cigarettes
• 2 bottles of spirits (each up to a maximum of 0.75 liters)
• small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Audio and video tapes, narcotics, drugs, radios, weapons, and magazines are not allowed into China.

If you take medication with you for your own needs, which could be classified as narcotics / drugs, you should definitely have an English-language certificate from your doctor with you.

The export of antiques, precious metals of all kinds and products made of ivory is prohibited.

Travel advice

In order to visit Tibet, a special permit is required in addition to the visa. The Tibetan capital Lhasa may only be entered by foreign visitors in the company of an official tour guide.

Foreigners over the age of 16 must be able to identify themselves at all times with a passport with a valid Chinese visa. You should always have it with you.

It is advisable to keep a copy of the passport (including a visible entry visa) in the hotel.

Behavioral advice

Numbers and symbols play an important role in China. The number four should be avoided if possible because it represents death.

On the other hand, the number two is perceived as more positive. For gifts, you should therefore pay attention to an even number.

Economy

With up to 10% per year in some cases, China has assumed the strongest economic growth in recent years.

This is possible because many large companies remain in state ownership, but the leadership is no longer co-determined by the government, but that the companies themselves can decide about themselves according to capitalist criteria.

Industries: mining, chemistry, household goods, food production, mechanical engineering, textiles

Natural resources: iron ores, natural gas, coal, hydropower

Land use:

• Usable land: 10%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 43%
• Forests: 14%
• other: 33%

Plants

China has almost everything of the plant and tree species found on earth. In the south of the country, in the vicinity of the large rivers, the flora and fauna are particularly diverse.

Animals

The number of different animal species is also very high in China. Especially in the forest areas in the south of the country there are still many antelopes, elk, elephants, leopards, rhinos and tigers.

But even animals that have become rare can still be found here occasionally. There are only a few Chinese alligators and giant salamanders, as well as panda bears.