China travel information

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

Source: The World FactbookMore...

Population: 1,306,313,812 (July 2005 est.)

Capital: Beijing

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 groups entry)

Religions: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 1%-2%, Christian 3%-4% officially atheist (2002 est.)

Government: Communist state

Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

Geography: world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US); Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak

Ethnic groups: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%

Economy: China's economy during the last quarter-century has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment. China has generally implemented reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion. The process continues with key moves in 2005 including the sale of equity in China's largest state banks to foreign investors and refinements in foreign exchange and bond markets. The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than ten-fold increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2005 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income and 150 million Chinese fall below international poverty lines. Economic development has generally been more rapid in coastal provinces than in the interior and there are large disparities in per capita income between regions. The government has struggled to (a) sustain adequate jobs growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) contain environmental damage and social strife related to the economy's rapid transformation. From 100 to 150 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. One demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Another long-term threat to growth is the deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. China has benefited from a huge expansion in computer Internet use, with more than 100 million users at the end of 2005. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable expansion in world trade and has been an important factor in growth of urban jobs. On 21 July 2005 China revalued its currency by 2.1 percent against the US dollar and moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. Reports of shortages of electric power in the summer of 2005 in southern China receded by September-October and did not have a substantial impact on China's economy. More power generating capacity is scheduled to come on line in 2006 as large scale investments are completed. The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2005 approved the draft 11th Five-Year Plan and the National People's Congress is expected to give final approval in March 2006. The plan calls for a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP by 2010 and an estimated 45 percent increase in GDP by 2010. The plan states that conserving resources and protecting the environment are basic goals but it lacks details on the policies and reforms necessary to achieve these goals.

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2005 est.)

GDP real growth: 9.2% (official data) (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate: 4.2% official registered unemployment in urban areas in 2004; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; an official Chinese journal estimated overall unemployment (including rural areas) for 2003 at 20% (2004)

Internet country code: .cn

Dial code: +86

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Cities

Aksu
Golmud
Linzhou
Tunxi
Altay
Guangzhou
Luoyang
Ulan
Anqing
Guilin
Luxi
Wanxian
Ürümqi
Guiyang
Luzhou
Weifang
Bada
Haikou
Manzhouli
Weihai
Bamda
Hailar
Meixian
Wenzhou
Baoshan
Hangzhou
Mianyang
Wu Hai
Baotou
Harbin
Mudanjiang
Wuhan
Beihai
Hefei
Nanchang
Wuxi
Beijing
Hohhot
Nanchong
Wuyishan
Beijing (form. Peking) [Nan Yuan (Nanyuan) Air Base]
Huangyan
Nanjing
Xiamen
Changchun
Jiamusi
Nanning
Xiangfan
Changde
Jiayuguan
Nantong
Xichang
Changsha
Jinan
Nanyang
Xin
Changzhi
Jin'an
Ningbo
Xining
Changzhou
Jingdezhen
Panzhihua
Xuzhou
Chengdu
Jinghong
Qiemo
Yancheng
Chifeng
Jinjiang
Qingdao
Yanji
Chongqing
Jinzhou
Qinhuangdao
Yantai
Dali
Jiujiang
Qiqihar
Yibin
Dalian
Jowz
Region du Tiris Zemmour
Yichang
Dandong
Karamay
Sanya
Yinchuan
Datong
Kashgar
Shanghai
Shanghai
Yining
Daxian
Khotan
Shantou
Yiwu
Diqing
Korla
Shenyang
Yulin
Dongsheng
Kucha
Shenzhen
Zhangjiajie
Dongying
Kunming
Shijiazhuang
Zhanjiang
Dunhou
Lanzhou
Simao
Zhaotong
Dunhuang
Lhasa
Tacheng
Zhengzhou
Enshi
Lianyungang
Taiyuan
Zhijiang
Fuyang
Lijiang City
Tianjin
Zhoushan
Fuzhou
Lincang
Tongliao
Zhuhai
Ganzhou
Linyi
Tongren

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