China Country statistics
area: | 9,596,960 sq km (3,705,386 sq mi) 1,273,050,000 |
capital (population): | Beijing (7,129,500) |
government: | Single-party Communist republic |
ethnic groups: | Han (Chinese) 92%, 55 minority groups |
languages: | Mandarin Chinese (official) |
religions: | The government encourages atheism. People practise Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam |
currency: | Renminbi (yuan) = 10 jiao = 100 fen |
Republic in
e Asia. The People's Republic of China is the world's third largest country (after Russia and Canada). Most people live on the
e coastal plains, in the highlands or the fertile valleys of the rivers
Huang He and
Yangtze, Asia's longest river, at 6380km (3960mi).
Western China includes the bleak Tibetan plateau, bounded by the
Himalayas (the world's highest mountain range).
Everest, the world's highest peak, lies on the Nepal-
Tibet border. Other ranges include the
Tian Shan and Kunlun Shan. China also has deserts, such as the
Gobi on the Mongolian border.
Climate
The capital,
Beijing, in
ne China, has cold winters and warm summers, with moderate rainfall.
Shanghai, in the
e central region, has milder winters and more rain. The
se region has a wet, subtropical climate. In the
w, the climate is more cold and severe.
Vegetation
Large areas in the
w are covered by sparse grasses or desert. The most luxuriant forests are in the
se, such as the bamboo forest habitat of the rare giant panda.
History and Politics
The first documented dynasty was the
Shang (
c.1523–
c.1030 bc), when bronze casting was perfected. The
Zhou dynasty (
c.1030–221 bc) was the age of Chinese classical literature, in particular
Confucius and
Lao Tzu. China was unified by
Qin Shihuangdi, whose tomb near
Xian contains the famous terracotta army. The
Qin dynasty (221–206 bc) also built the majority of the
Great Wall. The
Han dynasty (202 bc–ad 220) developed the empire, a bureaucracy based on
Confucianism, and also introduced
Buddhism. China then split into three kingdoms (Wei, Shu, and Wu) and the influence of Buddhism and
Taoism grew. The
T'ang dynasty (618–907) was a golden era of artistic achievement, especially in poetry and fine art.
Genghis Khan conquered most of China in the 1210s and established the
Mongol empire.
Kublai Khan founded the
Yüan dynasty (1271–1368), a period of dialogue with Europe. The
Ming dynasty (1368–1644) reestablished Chinese rule and is famed for its fine porcelain. The Manchu
Qing dynasty (1644–1912) began by vastly extending the empire, but the 19th century was marked by foreign interventions, such as the
Opium War (1839–42), when Britain occupied
Hong Kong. Popular disaffection culminated in the
Boxer Rebellion (1900). The last Emperor ( Henry
Pu Yi) was overthrown in a revolution led by
Sun Yat-sen and a republic established.
China rapidly fragmented between a Beijing government supported by warlords, and Sun Yat-sen's nationalist
Kuomintang government in
Guangzhou. The Chinese
Communist Party initially allied with the Kuomintang. In 1926, the Kuomintang, led by
Chiang Kai-shek, emerged victorious and turned on their communist allies. In 1930 a rival communist government was established, but was uprooted by Kuomintang troops and began the
Long March (1934). Japan, taking advantage of the turmoil, established the puppet state of
Manchukuo (1932). Chiang was forced to ally with the communists. Japan launched a full-scale invasion in 1937, and conquered much of
n and
e China. From 1941 Chinese forces, with Allied support, began to regain territory. At the end of World War II, civil war resumed: nationalists supported by the USA and communists by Russia. The communists, with greater popular support, triumphed and the Kuomintang fled to
Taiwan.
Mao Zedong established the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. In 1950 China seized Tibet. Domestically, Mao began to collectivize agriculture and nationalize industry. In 1958 the
Great Leap Forward planned to revolutionize industrial production. The
Cultural Revolution (1966–76) mobilized Chinese youth against bourgeois culture. By 1971 China had a seat on the UN Security Council and its own nuclear capability. Following Mao's death (1976), a power struggle developed between the
Gang of Four and moderates led by
Deng Xiaoping; the latter emerged victorious. Deng began a process of modernization, forging closer links with the West. Despite economic reforms, the party often supressed political, cultural and intellectual pluralism. In 1989 a pro-democracy demonstration was crushed in
Tiananmen Square. In 1997 Jiang Zemin succeeded Deng as paramount leader and in 2002 was succeeded by Hu Jintao. In 2003, China successfully launched its first human space flight.
Economy
In 1979 special economic zones were created to encourage inward investment.
China has one of the world's largest economies (2000 GDP per capita, US$3600) and enjoys most-favoured nation status with the USA. In 1997
Hong Kong was returned and
Macao in 1999. Agriculture employs
c.70% of the population. It has vast mineral resources and a huge steel industry.
Political map
Physical map
Websites
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng; http://www.cnto.org.au
