China

Area Total 9,596,960 sq km
Climate extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Natural Resources coal, iron ore, helium, petroleum, natural gas, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, cadmium, ferrosilicon, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, lithium, mercury, tantalum, tellurium, tin, titanium, tungsten, antimony, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, rare earth elements, uranium, hydropower potential (world’s largest), arable land
Imports South Korea 9.7%, Japan 9.1%, US 8.5%, Germany 5.3%, Australia 5.1% (2017) – electrical and other machinery, including integrated circuits and other computer components, oil and mineral fuels; optical and medical equipment, metal ores, motor vehicles; soybeans
Government communist party-led state
Capital Beijing
Population 1.4 billion (July 2018 est.)
Ethnicity Han Chinese 91.6%, Zhuang 1.3%, other (includes Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities) 7.1% (2010 est.)
Language Standard Chinese or Mandarin (official; Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)
Exports US 19%, Hong Kong 12.4%, Japan 6%, South Korea 4.5% (2017) – Exports – commodities field listing
electrical and other machinery, including computers and telecommunications equipment, apparel, furniture, textiles

News about China

  • Xinhua Headlines: From Tehran to Aichi-Nagoya, 52 years of China's rise through Asian Games
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- NAGOYA, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This file photo shows the opening ceremony of the 11th Asian Games in Beijing, capital of China, on Sept. 22, 1990. TO GO WITH "Xinhua Headlines: From Tehran to Aichi-Nagoya, 52 years of China's rise through Asian Games" Xinhua

  • CHINA-GUANGXI-NANNING-CHINA-ASEAN EXPO-ROBOTS(CN)
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- NANNING, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A robot band performs at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 18, 2026. Multiple intelligent robots were showcased and demonstrated a variety of skills at the China-ASEAN Expo. (Xinhua/Zhang Ailin)

  • CHINA-HUBEI-SHISHOU-GRASS-INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS (CN)
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- SHISHOU, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Sept. 13, 2026 shows a papermaking workshop using Miscanthus lutarioriparius to produce specialty paper in Shishou City, central China's Hubei Province. TO GO WITH "Across China: Chinese entrepreneur shapes low-carbon future via Yangtze plant" (Xinhua)

  • CHINA-SICHUAN-CHENGDU-GIANT PANDA-ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT (CN)
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- CHENGDU, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Giant panda Beixia is pictured at the West China Hospital of Stomatology of Sichuan University in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province in January 2026. TO GO WITH "First-ever orthodontic treatment restores giant panda's normal bite in China" (Xinhua)

  • InPics | Explore the mysteries at newly opened Gold Museum in NE China's Jilin
    on September 19, 2026

    HUADIAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Gold Museum, jointly developed by northeast China's Jilin Province and China National Gold Group Co., Ltd., officially opened to the public on Saturday. Located at the Jiapigou Gold Mine, the museum draws on the mine's rich history and combines historical collections with cultural displays, offering visitors an immersive […]

  • ChineseToday | Young baker pursues craftsmanship in baking in Suzhou
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- SUZHOU, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Hou Jinchen put freshly-baked bread on a shelf at Suzhou Wuzhong Technician College in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Aug. 27, 2026. Born in 2005, Hou Jinchen studies culinary arts at Suzhou Wuzhong Technician College. He began learning to bake at the age of 12, and his passion for it has grown ever […]

  • Opinion: Why U.S. AI giants need to hit the brakes first
    on September 19, 2026

    BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Google's Gemini hacked into other companies during a cybersecurity test, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, raising fresh concerns about security risks posed by U.S. AI systems.This is not the first cybersecurity incident caused by an AI model. From an autonomous OpenAI agent escaping its sandbox to breach Hugging Face, […]

  • Asian Games 2026: A look at some of India's top medal prospects
    on September 19, 2026

    New Delhi [India], September 19 (ANI): Since its inception in 1951, the Asian Games has been one of the biggest sporting stages in the world, where some of the all-time greats have shaped their legacies as the legends of the sport, and several up-and-coming talents have used the platform as a launching pad for something much bigger and grander. With the […]

  • In China's mountain orchards, oranges are taking flight
    on September 19, 2026

    WUHAN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- On a steep hillside in the Three Gorges region along the Yangtze River, drones glide over rows of citrus trees, spraying pesticides across the orchard.It is one of the many jobs drones now do in Zigui, a mountainous county in central China's Hubei Province. During the November harvest, they also carry freshly picked navel oranges […]

  • Scars, love, and message of peace carried by Japanese war orphans
    on September 19, 2026

    SHENYANG, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Not until 1986 did Katsu Takahashi, then 43, learn that she was a Japanese war orphan. Growing up in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, she was treated as her father's favorite child, always the first in the family to wear new clothes and shoes and the one who received the largest share of candy.In 1945, when Japan […]

  • National Security Advisor Ajit Doval calls graduates 'luckiest generation' during IIT Roorkee convocation; recalls early career challenges
    on September 19, 2026

    Haridwar (Uttarakhand) [India], September 19 (ANI): National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Saturday attended the convocation as the chief guest of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, calling the graduates the luckiest generation in a millennium, entering a transformed world powered by unprecedented opportunities and technological […]

  • "Been awake, but I still have so much energy because of this...": Kabaddi star Pawan on being named as flag-bearer for India at Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony
    on September 19, 2026

    Nagoya [Japan], September 19 (ANI): After being announced as the Indian contingent's male flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony, Indian kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat expressed happiness at the moment, pointing how despite all the fatigue and lack of sleep, he feels energised by the thought of carrying the national flag in his hand during the […]

  • Customs seizes record HK$125 million worth of marijuana shipped by sea, arresting 3
    by Connor Mycroft on September 19, 2026

    Customs has made the largest seizure of drugs shipped by sea in Hong Kong’s history, discovering HK$125 million (US$15.93 million) worth of marijuana in a 40-foot container and arresting three people. The Customs and Excise Department revealed on Saturday that it had selected a seaborne container at the Kwai Chung Customhouse Cargo Examination Compound […]

  • Cathay Pacific retains third-best airline title, wins cabin crew and lounge awards
    by Connor Mycroft on September 19, 2026

    Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has been ranked the world’s third-best airline for the second consecutive year, while also taking top awards for best cabin crew and first-class lounge in new industry rankings. Singapore Airlines reclaimed the top spot in the British-based Skytrax World Airline Awards, moving up from second place last year […]

  • Hong Kong police arrest 3, seize HK$23 million of Ice in Fanling bust
    by Cannix Yau on September 19, 2026

    Police have arrested three people and broken up a large-scale drug production factory in northern Hong Kong, seizing HK$23 million (US$3 million) worth of suspected methamphetamine, or Ice. The force said on Saturday that two men and a woman, aged 49 to 56, were arrested on Thursday night. Police in Fanling first intercepted one of the men, who was holding […]

  • CHINA-JILIN-HUADIAN-GOLD MUSEUM (CN)
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- HUADIAN, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit the Gold Museum in Huadian, northeast China's Jilin Province, Sept. 19, 2026. The Gold Museum, jointly developed by Jilin Province and China National Gold Group Co., Ltd., officially opened to the public on Saturday.   Located at the Jiapigou Gold Mine, the museum draws on the mine's rich […]

  • World Insights: Greater BRICS expands cooperation, amplifies Global South voice
    on September 19, 2026

    BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Twenty years after its inception, BRICS has grown from an economic grouping into a broader platform for cooperation, with an expanding membership and a widening agenda spanning development, technology and global governance.Following the recently concluded BRICS Summit in New Delhi, scholars said the grouping is opening up more […]

  • (Hello Africa) Chinese naval hospital ship brings medical care closer to Mauritanian residents
    on September 19, 2026

    "The Chinese doctor didn't just give me something for my back pain. He showed me how to protect my back at work. That helps my whole family," said Zayed, a Mauritanian construction worker who was among more than 200 locals examined by a medical team from the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy hospital ship.NOUAKCHOTT, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Years of […]

  • (SP)JAPAN-NAGOYA-ASIAN GAMES-OPENING CEREMONY
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- NAGOYA, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrive before the opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

  • CHINA-ZHEJIANG-TAIZHOU-LARGE YELLOW CROAKER-INDUSTRY-DEVELOPMENT (CN)
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- TAIZHOU, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 17, 2026 shows a large yellow croaker farm open to tourists in Jiaojiang District of Taizhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province. In recent years, Jiaojiang District of Taizhou City has been developing its large yellow croaker industry by establishing standards for the […]

  • Repeated safety incidents raise alarm over U.S. AI
    on September 19, 2026

    CNN reports that in spring 2026, false AI-assisted intelligence nearly led the U.S. military to intercept a Chinese ship over claims it carried nuclear weapons components. One source said it was "entirely false" and "almost started a war."US-developed AI models have repeatedly exposed safety gaps. OpenAI acknowledged that its models breached Hugging Face in […]

  • China's sea-based rocket launches advance as Haiyang builds full industrial chain
    on September 19, 2026

    HAIYANG, Shandong, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- For Song Wenfeng, deputy chief designer of the structural system for China's Gravity-1 rocket, the most anxious moment came before liftoff, not during it."The ship was rocking noticeably. We were very nervous during the high-altitude operation," Song said, recalling the work to remove the rocket's protective cover at […]

  • TANZANIA-ZANZIBAR-PRESIDENT-CHINESE MEDICAL TEAM-COMMENDATION
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- ZANZIBAR, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi presents plaques of appreciation to a representative of the institutions that dispatched Chinese doctors in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on Sept. 17, 2026. TO GO WITH "Tanzania's Zanzibar president commends 35th Chinese medical team as mission concludes" (The 35th […]

  • ISRAEL-RAMLA-ZHONGTONG BUS-TRAINING
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- RAMLA, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on June 4, 2026 shows a Chinese engineer of Zhongtong Bus (4th R) explaining maintenance techniques to local technicians in Ramla, Israel. Zhongtong Bus has provided training for overseas drivers and maintenance personnel, helping local operators build skills in vehicle operation and […]

  • Trump signs new Russia sanctions bill
    on September 19, 2026

    Moscow has warned that the measure could complicate Ukraine peace efforts and drive US fuel prices higherUS President Donald Trump has signed sweeping legislation expanding the sanctions on Russia and authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy. Moscow warned that additional sanctions would complicate efforts to settle the Ukraine […]

  • Smart gears open new possibilities in China's fields
    on September 19, 2026

    CHANGCHUN, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- As cornfields in northeast China's Jilin Province turn golden for the autumn harvest, bringing in the crop now requires just a few taps on a touchscreen.Inside a corn harvester at Mushen Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. in Songyuan, a major corn-producing area, an electronic control system allows the operator to manage every […]

  • Hong Kong hopes to begin Victoria Park Tennis Centre redevelopment by 2030
    by Eric Jiang on September 19, 2026

    The Hong Kong government hopes to begin redeveloping the Victoria Park Tennis Centre by 2030, the sports minister has said, stressing the city needs to host higher-tier tournaments and create another multi-purpose venue. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Saturday that authorities were conducting feasibility studies on […]

  • KYRGYZSTAN-BISHKEK-CHINESE VEHICLE-GREEN TRANSPORTATION
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- BISHKEK, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Aug. 31, 2026 shows Zhongtong buses used for public transport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During the past years, Kyrgyzstan has purchased Chinese Zhongtong buses powered by natural gas to gradually replace fuel-powered buses. (Zhongtong Bus/Handout via Xinhua)

  • "A heartwarming feeling": Manu Bhaker on being chosen as India's flag-bearer for Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony
    on September 19, 2026

    Nagoya [Japan], September 19 (ANI): Indian double Olympic medalist and Asian Games gold medalist shooter Manu Bhaker expressed happiness at being one of the flag-bearers for the Indian contingent for the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony, saying that it feels 'heartwarming'. The star shooter also recalled some special memories attached with opening […]

  • Hong Kong to open waters to Guangdong yachts under southbound scheme from October
    by Cannix Yau on September 19, 2026

    A southbound scheme allowing Guangdong-registered yachts to sail in Hong Kong waters is expected to launch in October, the transport minister has said, with the city continuing preparations and discussions with provincial authorities. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan revealed the plan on Saturday after the annual policy address and the […]

  • Top Hong Kong officials, business leaders mourn Tung Chee-hwa – as it happened
    by SCMP Reporters on September 19, 2026

    Hong Kong mourned the loss of its first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, in a vigil on Saturday, with tributes pouring in from political and business heavyweights as well as members of the public. Tung, who died at the age of 89 on September 8, led Hong Kong through ups and downs – the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the Sars outbreak in 2003 and a […]

  • Austrian parliament speaker calls for mutual learning, fair cooperation between Europe, China
    on September 19, 2026

    VIENNA, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Europe should abandon an anxious mindset toward China's development and instead pursue mutual learning and fair cooperation, said Walter Rosenkranz, president of Austria's National Council, or the lower house of Parliament.In an interview with Xinhua, Rosenkranz said China has achieved leaps and bounds in many fields, notably in […]

  • Hong Kong leader says firms must strive to survive despite government support
    by Lo Hoi-ying on September 19, 2026

    Hong Kong’s leader has defended measures in his policy address to boost the economy and improve livelihoods, stressing that businesses must also do their part to remain competitive and survive, even with government aid. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Saturday that the section on livelihoods was the longest and broadest in scope in his policy […]

  • Economic Watch: AI takes spotlight at China-ASEAN Expo
    on September 19, 2026

    NANNING, China, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- When Vietnamese visitor Doan Minh Thao stepped into an exhibition hall of the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo here on Friday, he got interested in an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered eyewear that can provide real-time translation in over 40 languages, including Vietnamese.With the help of this gadget, developed by a Chinese […]

  • Patriot dedicated to Hong Kong: business heavyweights remember Tung Chee-hwa
    by SCMP Reporter on September 19, 2026

    This weekend, Hong Kong mourns the loss of former chief executive and elder statesman Tung Chee-hwa. The shipping tycoon who became the city’s first leader after its transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997 died on September 8 at the age of 89, leaving a legacy of determined stewardship and dedicated public service. This weekend, a state funeral will be […]

  • Chinese AI-driven telescope earns place in Stanford AI Index Report
    on September 19, 2026

    BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's StarWhisper Telescope has been cited in Stanford University's AI Index Report 2026 as a leading 2025 example of AI agents in physics, astronomy, chemistry and materials science, signaling growing international recognition for the country's AI-driven observation efforts.Led by the National Astronomical Observatories of […]

  • Geotourism gains ground as travelers seek more than scenery
    on September 19, 2026

    LANZHOU, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At the Zhangye Colorful Danxia Scenic Spot in northwest China, middle school student Xu Yan held up an English textbook and watched as the image on its cover aligned almost perfectly with the colorful, layered hills before him."Seeing it in person gave me a much deeper understanding of this kind of Danxia landform," said Xu, […]

  • OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to brief UNSC amid growing calls for AI safeguards
    on September 19, 2026

    New York [US], September 19 (ANI): Amid growing global calls for stronger safeguards and a coordinated approach to the rapid development of artificial intelligence, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is set to brief the United Nations Security Council next week on AI and international security, with his remarks expected to focus on international coordination, shared […]

  • Friend, leader, mentor: how political veterans remember Tung Chee-hwa
    by SCMP Reporter on September 19, 2026

    This weekend, Hong Kong mourns the loss of former chief executive and elder statesman Tung Chee-hwa. The shipping tycoon who became the city’s first leader after its transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997 died on September 8 at the age of 89, leaving a legacy of determined stewardship and dedicated public service. He is remembered for steering Hong Kong […]

  • AI-generated false intelligence nearly triggered US-China military confrontation: Reports
    on September 19, 2026

    Washington DC [US], September 19 (ANI): A false intelligence report generated with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) reportedly came close to triggering a US military operation against a Chinese vessel in West Asia during the war with Iran, according to a CNN report citing multiple sources familiar with the episode.According to CNN, the intelligence […]

  • Asian Games 2026: Pawan Sehrawat replaces Tajinderpal Singh Toor as India's male flag-bearer for opening ceremony
    on September 19, 2026

    By Vipul KashyapNagoya [Japan], September 19 (ANI): Indian shot put athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor will be replaced by kabaddi star Pawan Sehrawat as the male flag-bearer for the Asian Games opening ceremony on Saturday. As per the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), due to technical issues, two-time Asian Games champion Tajinder will no longer be the […]

  • ‘In hard times, your honour shines’: Jack Ma pays tribute to Tung Chee-hwa
    by SCMP Reporter on September 19, 2026

    Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma reflects on his ties to Hong Kong’s first chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa. Those connections spanned both business and philanthropy, encompassing Tung’s eight years on Alibaba’s board of directors and his inspirational role in Ma’s youth entrepreneurship foundation for local youths. Ma’s reflections are part of the […]

  • China Sports Weekly (9.13-9.19)
    on September 19, 2026

    BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:1. Wu, Zhang inspire China to comeback win over DPR Korea at Asian GamesWu Xi and Zhang Yuning set up a goal for each other as China came from behind to beat DPR Korea 2-1 in its opening men's football Group B match at the 2026 Asian Games on September 16.China […]

  • (SP)JAPAN-NAGOYA-ASIAN GAMES-BASKETBALL-WOMEN'S GROUP A-THA VS CHN
    on September 19, 2026

    (260919) -- NAGOYA, Sept. 19, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Liu Yutong (C) of China vies with Priscilla Jensen (R) of Thailand during the women's group A basketball match between Thailand and China at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in Nagoya, Japan, Sept. 19, 2026. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)

  • Haihai and Meimei's Travels | Visit the legendary Terracotta Warriors
    on September 19, 2026

    BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Discovered in 1974, the Terracotta Warriors army was built by Emperor Qinshihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207 B.C.), who unified China for the first time. The site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.So far, thousands of life-size clay warriors and numerous weapons have been unearthed from three pits […]

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