Picture choosen by: MissWang Yenyan Key Facts of China Location
East Asia.
Time
GMT + 8. Despite the vast size of the country, Beijing time is standard throughout China.
Area
9,596,960 sq km (3,705,406 sq miles).
Population
1.3 billion (CIA, 2008). Roughly a fifth of the world's population lives in China.
Population Density
135.5 per sq km.
Capital
Beijing (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.
Geography
China is bordered to the north by Russia and Mongolia; to the east by Korea (Dem Rep), the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea; to the south by Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan and Nepal; and to the west by India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. China has a varied terrain ranging from high plateaux in the west to flatlands in the east; mountains take up almost one-third of the land. The most notable high mountain ranges are the Himalayas, the Altai Mountains, the Tian Shan Mountains and the Kunlun Mountains. On the border with Nepal is the 8,848m (29,198ft) Mount Qomolangma (Mount Everest). In the west is the Qinghai/Tibet Plateau, with an average elevation of 4,000m (13,200ft), known as ‘the Roof of the World'. At the base of the Tian Shan Mountains is the Turpan Depression or Basin, China's lowest area, 154m (508ft) below sea level at the lowest point. China has many great river systems, notably the Yellow (Huang He) and Yangtze River (Chang Jiang, also Yangtze Kiang). Only 10% of all China is suitable for agriculture.
Government
People'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.
Head of State
President Hu Jintao since 2003.
Language
The official language is Mandarin Chinese. Among the enormous number of local dialects.English is spoken by many guides and in hotels. Many taxi drivers do not speak English, even in big cities.
Religion
China is officially Atheistic, but the stated religions and philosophies are Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism.
Electricity
220 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.
Social Conventions
A few basic guidelines and tips can help you avoid faux pas in China.
Tipping: is not necessary and sometimes considered an inappropriate gesture, but under certain rare circumstances — such as a doorman allowing you into a building at a late hour — a tip is welcome. Staff in small eateries do not expect tips. They would find it very strange to get 100 and be told to keep the change. Leave a few yuan on the table and their most likely reaction would be to chase you down the street to return it.
Business Cards: When presenting a business card or any other important piece of paper, it is always considered polite to hand it with both hands at the same time, with the thumbs and index fingers holding either side of the document. Accept one the same way. It's also polite to spend a quick minute reading it over.
Visitation: A small gift taken to a host's home is always very welcome.
Hosting meals: If inviting Chinese friends for a meal, be sure to order too much food as ordering "just enough" will make you seem stingy in the eyes of the Chinese. Likewise, if invited for a meal, finishing your food will usually be taken to mean that you are still hungry and will usually prompt your hosts to order more food. If you do not wish to waste food, be sure to tell your hosts explicitly that you are full.
Dining: It is usually best to place the bones found in food directly on the table or a small plate for such purpose, or skillfully take them out with your chopsticks and place them there, rather than using your fingers. This may be totally unacceptable to most people from other countries but it is the rule in China. Sticking your chopsticks into your rice and leaving them there is considered taboo, as it is reminiscent of sticks of incense burning at a shrine or funeral and therefore you are seen to be wishing death upon the people at the table. While many locals do it, making slurping or similar noises is considered to be uncivilised, and would definitely not portray you in a positive light. Also, if someone clears his/her throat and spits on a restaurant floor, accept it, as it is also very common indeed throughout most of the country.
Drinking: If offered a drink and you do not wish to do so, you can politely, but firmly, refuse and wave your hand. Alternately, you turn your "wine" cup upside down (if it is empty!) and place it on the table in such manner, but do this with a smile. When toasting, it is best to look directly in the eyes of those with whom you are toasting. Keep in mind that although the Chinese love to drink copious amounts of alcohol, public drunkenness is frowned upon. If you see some people getting or being obnoxiously drunk in public, by no means think that it is OK - it isn't.
Tobacco: If you smoke (and even if you don't), it is always considered polite to offer a cigarette to those you meet, as long as they are of adult age. This rule applies almost exclusively to men, but under certain circumstances, such as a club, bar or tea house, it is OK to apply the rule toward women, particularly in the larger, more cosmopolitan cities. If someone offers you a cigarette and you don't smoke, you can turn it down by politely and gently waving your hand.
Staring: As a traveler, you may find that your language, color of hair and skin, behavior, and manner of dress will draw long and sustained stares, especially in rural areas or outside the major cities. While there is a great deal of diversity in China, it is also true that in some areas people have little or no contact with people outside of their village or social circle. Do not be put off by this fact or you may spoil your own time in China. It is tempting to find this irritating, but far preferable to give folks a big grin and wave of the hand.
Saving Face: The Chinese tend to be very concerned about correct behavior and "saving face", and also tend to be very conscious of social status. Pointing out mistakes or failings, even for innocent and/or justified reasons, may cause intense humiliation and embarrassment for the person on the receiving end. This does not mean that you have to accept a significant error or mistake that has a negative effect on you; it means that if you must point out a problem or give criticism, do so in the most polite (but firm) manner that you can.