LocationEast Asia.
Area9,596,960 sq km (3,705,406 sq miles).
Population1.3 billion (CIA, 2008). Roughly a fifth of the world's population lives in China.
Population Density135.5 per sq km.
CapitalBeijing (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.
GovernmentPeople'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.
LanguageThe official language is Mandarin Chinese. Among the enormous number of local dialects, large groups speak Cantonese, Shanghaiese (also known as Shanghainese), Fuzhou, Hokkien-Taiwanese, Xiang, Gan and Hakka dialects in the south. Inner Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang, which are autonomous regions, have their own languages. Translation and interpreter services are good. English is spoken by many guides and in hotels. Many taxi drivers do not speak English, even in big cities.
ReligionChina 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.
TimeGMT + 8. Despite the vast size of the country, Beijing time is standard throughout China.
Electricity220 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.
Head of GovernmentPremier Wen Jiabao since 2003.
Head of StatePresident Hu Jintao since 2003.
Recent HistoryThe National People's Congress (NPC) is the most powerful organ of state and elects all those with the principal executive functions - the president and vice-president of the People's Republic, the premier and vice-premier of the state council (after nomination by the president), other members of the state council and the heads of individual ministries. The state council reports to the NPC or, when the congress is not sitting, to its standing committee. The NPC is held every five years and attended by some 3,000 delegates drawn from the provincial administrations, the military and various state organs. The NPC membership and all major appointments are ultimately under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, whose 22-member politburo is effectively the country's governing body. Hu Jintao succeeded Jiang Zemin as head of the Communist Party in 2002. As president, he has made the fight against corruption a priority. However, he has rejected Western-style political reforms.
TelephoneCountry code: 86. Public telephones are becoming harder to locate - your best bets are in post offices and at roadside kiosks. There is a three-minute minimum charge for international calls. The cheapest way to call internationally is to buy a pre-paid calling card, available from most convenience stores and in hotels in units of ¥20, 50, 100 and 200.
Mobile TelephoneChina has the most mobile phone users in the world, backed by a very sophisticated mobile communications system that now covers the entire country. Roaming agreements exist with most major international mobile phone companies. Alternatively, you can buy a prepaid GSM SIM card (from China Mobile stores) that allows you to use your mobile like a local phone with a new number. You'll need your passport to register.
InternetThe number of Internet users in China reached 253 million in 2008. Internet cafes can be found in most towns and cities, and Wi-Fi is increasingly available at hotels and cafes in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hangzhou and other major cities. Shanghai is slated to have city-wide Wi-Fi by the World Expo in 2010. Beijing routinely blocks access to sites run by the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong, rights groups and some foreign news organizations. Postings by bloggers are closely monitored.
MediaChina's media is tightly controlled by the country's leadership. The industry has been opened up in the areas of distribution and advertising but not in editorial content. Access to foreign news providers is limited and re-broadcasting and the use of satellite receivers is restricted; shortwave radio broadcasts are jammed and websites are blocked. In general, the press report on corruption and inefficiency among officials, but the media avoids criticism of the Communist Party's monopoly on power. Hong Kong so far has retained its editorially free media. Each city has its own newspaper, usually published by the local government, as well as a local Communist Party daily.
Agreements are in place which allow selected channels (including stations run by AOL Time Warner, News Corp and the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV) to transmit via cable in Guangdong province. In exchange, Chinese Central TV's English-language network is made available to satellite TV viewers in the USA and UK. Beijing says it will only allow relays of foreign broadcasts that do not threaten 'national security' or 'political stability'. All foreign-made TV programs are subject to approval before broadcast.
PostService to Europe takes from between two days and one week. Tourist hotels usually have their own post offices. All postal communications to China should be addressed ‘People's Republic of China'.
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1900.
Press• National newspapers include
The People's Daily and
The Worker's Daily, with many provinces having their own local dailies as well.
• News agencies include the state-run Xinhua and Zhongguo Xinwen She (aimed mainly at overseas Chinese nationals).
• The main English-language daily is the
China Daily.
• Local English-language listings magazines in the bigger cities tend to be more entertaining and a good source of information about local events.
Radio• China National Radio is state run.
• China Radio International is a state-run external broadcaster with programs in more than 40 languages.
Below are listed the Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
20091 Jan New Year.
26-28 Jan Spring Festival, Chinese New Year.
4 Apr Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival.
1-3 May Labor Day.
28 May Dragon Boat Festival.
1-3 Oct National Day.
3 Oct Mid-Autumn Festival.
20101 Jan New Year.
14-16 Feb Spring Festival, Chinese New Year.
5 Apr Qing Ming (Tomb Sweeping) Festival.
1-3 May Labor Day.
16 Jun Dragon Boat Festival.
22 Sep Mid-Autumn Festival.
1-3 Oct National Day.
NoteIn addition to the above, other holidays may be observed locally and certain groups have official Public Holidays on the following dates:
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
4 May National Youth Day.
23 May Tibet Liberation Day.
1 Jun International Children’s Day.
1 Aug Army Day.
Contact Information:China Tibet Tourism Bureau3 Norbulingka Road, Lhasa, Tibet, People's Republic of China
Tel: (891) 683 4315.
Website:
www.xzta.gov.cn/ywwChina Tibet Tourism Bureau Beijing OfficeRoom A28F Oriental Kenzo Plaza, Dongzhimen, Beijing 100027, People's Republic of China
Tel: (10) 8447 7899.
Website:
www.xzta.gov.cn/ywwEmbassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL, UK
Tel: (020) 7299 4049.
Website:
www.chinese-embassy.org.uk Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1700.
Consular and visa section: 31 Portland Place, London W1B 1QD, UK
Tel: (020) 7631 1430 (telephone enquiries: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 and 1400-1600)
or 09001 880 808 (recorded visa and general information; calls cost 60p per minute).
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200.
China National Tourist Office (CNTO) in the UK71 Warwick Road, London SW5 9HB, UK
Tel: (020) 7373 0888
or 09001 600 188 (brochure request and general information; calls cost 60p per minute).
Website:
www.cnto.org.ukEmbassy of the People's Republic of China in the USA2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 328 2500.
Website:
www.china-embassy.orgVisa section: Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 338 6688.
China National Tourist Office (CNTO) in the USASuite 912, 370 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10118, USA
Tel: 1 888 760 8218.
Website:
www.cnto.org
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