| 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
- Kremlin details Putin's official visit to Chinaon May 18, 2026
The Russian president will arrive in Beijing on May 19 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing this week with a high-level delegation for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on bilateral ties, trade, energy cooperation, and global […]
- Kremlin details Putins official visit to Chinaon May 18, 2026
The Russian president will arrive in Beijing on May 19 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpartRussian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing this week with a high-level delegation for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping focused on bilateral ties, trade, energy cooperation, and global affairs, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov has said.The May […]
- Beijing shifts to confrontational strategy against Taiwan: Former US Envoyon May 18, 2026
Taipei [Taiwan], May 18 (ANI): China's policy towards Taiwan has become increasingly confrontational, moving away from earlier rhetoric focused on peaceful engagement and towards a strategy centred on coercion, military intimidation, and political pressure, according to former American Institute in Taiwan director William Stanton, as reported by The Taipei […]
- Trump again hits out at US media outlets over Iran war coverage, says they "totally lost their way, gone absolutely crazy"on May 18, 2026
Washington DC [US], May 18 (ANI): Sharpening his rhetoric over the coverage of the war with Iran, US President Donald Trump on Monday once again lashed out at several US media outlets, particularly The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN over their coverage of the ongoing situation with Iran, accusing them of misrepresenting Tehran's military […]
- Hospital body to use 18285 and 18286 phone numbers to help people identify callsby Danny Mok on May 18, 2026
Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority will begin using standard prefixes for telephone numbers to make it easier for people to recognise its calls rather than avoiding them due to scammers and advertisers. Starting next Tuesday, all phone calls made by the authority, which oversees public medical facilities, will display a unified caller ID number beginning with […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-SEYCHELLES-FM-TALKS (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds talks with Barry Faure, minister of foreign affairs and diaspora of Seychelles, in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
- CHINA-BEIJING-WANG HUNING-GEORGIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER-MEETING (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
- Update: China hails Seychelles' move to bar Lai Ching-te's outbound flight: Chinese FMon May 18, 2026
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China highly appreciates Seychelles, together with governments of many friendly countries, for lawfully and openly revoking the outbound flight permits for Lai Ching-te, a representative figure of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.Wang, also a member of the Political […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-LI QIANG-INSPECTION TOUR (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a sci-tech enterprise during an inspection tour in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
- UAE-DUBAI-CRCC-GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONYon May 18, 2026
(260518) -- DUBAI, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Dai Hegen (L), chairman of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC), signs a cooperative agreement with Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group, during the groundbreaking ceremony of a major aviation engineering and maintenance complex in Dubai, […]
- Why Trumps China trip signifies the end of American primacyon May 18, 2026
Washington is no longer confronting Beijing from a position of unquestioned dominationLast week's Trump-Xi summit produced no dramatic declaration or historic treaty - yet its importance may prove far greater than any immediate deliverable. What happened in Beijing was not a breakthrough in policy but a breakthrough in recognition: the United States openly […]
- Why Trump's China trip signifies the end of American primacyon May 18, 2026
Washington is no longer confronting Beijing from a position of unquestioned domination Last week's Trump-Xi summit produced no dramatic declaration or historic treaty - yet its importance may prove far greater than any immediate deliverable. What happened in Beijing was not a breakthrough in policy but a […]
- CIC revamps Sustainable Construction Award to accelerate decarbonisationby Advertising partner on May 18, 2026
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] As Hong Kong pushes towards carbon neutrality by 2050, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) is using its Sustainable Construction Award to drive faster progress in the construction industry. Applications for the 2026 edition close on June 18. Key new elements include a dedicated […]
- A new model for urban regeneration demonstrated in practiceby Advertising partner on May 18, 2026
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Ronald Lu & Partners (RLP Asia) has won first prize of the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) Urban Renewal Design Ideas Competition in the District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok (YMDS). The competition invited cross-disciplinary […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-SHEN YIQIN-SPANISH SECOND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER-MEETING (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin meets with Yolanda Diaz, Spanish Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor and Social Economy, in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)
- CHINA-DING XUEXIANG-INSPECTION TOURS-INTEGRATED COMPUTING NETWORK (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- HOHHOT, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visits a resource scheduling platform in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, May 17, 2026. Ding has called for stronger top-level design and […]
- Update: Lai Ching-te authorities primary source of instability across Taiwan Strait: spokespersonon May 18, 2026
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Lai Ching-te authorities, who are attempting to internationalize the Taiwan question, are the biggest destroyer of the status quo and the primary source of instability across the Taiwan Strait, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday.Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing […]
- (HainanOutlook) CHINA-HAINAN-WENCHANG-OVERSEAS CHINESE CULTURE (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- WENCHANG, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 16, 2026 shows pandan cake at a store in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province. Pandan cake is native to Southeast Asia and was introduced by overseas Chinese. Wenchang in south China's Hainan is a renowned hometown of overseas Chinese, where cultures brought back by overseas Chinese […]
- China hits new milestone in space solar power projecton May 18, 2026
XI'AN, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have taken a major step toward building a space solar power station, a giant power plant in space that could one day send energy back to Earth or to spacecraft.A research team from Xidian University in northwest China's Shaanxi Province has made significant progress on the Sun Chasing project, or "Zhuri" in […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-GLOBAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION SUMMIT 2026 (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Attendees are pictured at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2026 in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. Themed "Connecting the Future Through Innovation," the summit focuses on new requirements outlined in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for developing new quality productive forces, as […]
- Rubu' Qarn theatre participants engage in Digital Theatre Programme in Chinaon May 18, 2026
SHARJAH, 18th May, 2026 (WAM) -- Members of the Rubu' Qarn Centre for Theatre and Performing Arts, part of Rubu' Qarn for Creating Future Leaders and Innovators, are taking part in the international phase of the Digital Theatre Programme in China, scheduled from 18 to 31 May 2026.The programme includes participants from Sajaya Young Ladies of Sharjah, […]
- Hong Kong’s dog-friendly restaurant scheme receives 700 applications on first dayby Lo Hoi-ying on May 18, 2026
A licensing scheme allowing dogs into Hong Kong restaurants has attracted strong initial interest, with 70 per cent of the 1,000-place quota filled on the first day, according to food hygiene authorities. In response to inquiries from the South China Morning Post, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said on Monday it had received about 700 […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-OUTSTANDING DIPLOMAT MEDAL-INAUGURAL CEREMONY (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and minister of foreign affairs, attends the inaugural ceremony for the Outstanding Diplomat Medal and delivers a speech in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Dai Tianfang)
- (SP)CHINA-DONGGUAN-SNOOKER-WORLD WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP-SEMIFINAL(CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- DONGGUAN, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Mink Nutcharut competes during the semifinal between Mink Nutcharut of Thailand and Panchaya Channoi of Thailand of the 2026 World Women's Snooker Championship in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province, May 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Guobao)
- Spared Wang Fuk Court block owners given mid-October to finalise buyback offerby Vivian Au,Kristen Cheung on May 18, 2026
Owners at Wang Chi House, the only block spared in Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court, have until October 15 to finalise the sale of homes under a government buyback scheme – provided more than 75 per cent of them indicate their intention to sell by the end of next month. However, the tight timeline has sparked widespread frustration among […]
- Update: China urges Japan to stop surging forward on path of remilitarizationon May 18, 2026
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China urges Japan to rectify its erroneous remarks and acts regarding the Taiwan region and stop surging forward on the path of remilitarization, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said here on Monday.Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing, adding Japanese right-wing forces are attempting to […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-HAN ZHENG-GLOBAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION SUMMIT 2026 (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addresses the opening ceremony of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2026 in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
- CHINA-SICHUAN-ZIGONG-TRADITIONAL LANTERN (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- CHENGDU, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 14, 2026 shows a view at the 32nd Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival in Zigong, southwest China's Sichuan Province. TO GO WITH "Economic Watch: Traditional lantern lights up China's night economy" (Xinhua)
- BRAZIL-RIO DE JANEIRO-CHINESE BRIDGE-CHINESE PROFICIENCY COMPETITIONon May 18, 2026
(260518) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A contestant competes during the Brazilian final of the 19th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 17, 2026. The Brazilian final of the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students and the […]
- Why world attention is turning eastward as global leaders visit Chinaon May 18, 2026
As war spreads and old institutions stall, Beijing is emerging as the key venue for crisis diplomacy and great-power talksAfter US President Donald Trump's state visit to China, Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive on May 19 to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Given the flurry of visits by foreign leaders to Beijing this year, it is clear […]
- A new home for Chinese Australian stories at Sydney's Chinatown museumon May 18, 2026
by Xinhua writers Xue Yanwen and Zhang ShuhuiSYDNEY, May 18 (Xinhua) -- At Haymarket Chinatown, one of Sydney's most renowned Chinese enclaves, the aroma of Chinese restaurants, the glow of shop signs bearing Chinese characters, and voices carrying dialects from across China fill the air.Amid the hustle and bustle, the Museum of Chinese in Australia (MOCA) […]
- North Atlantic separation: What might follow a NATO divorceon May 18, 2026
Canceled troop deployments and delayed weapons deliveries are signaling the end of the blocs old military orderThe decoupling of the US and European armies within NATO is no longer theoretical - the process is already underway. American troop deployments are being cancelled, and weapons deliveries - delayed.The latest example came in early May, when the US […]
- CHINA-HUBEI-WUHAN-OVC EXPO-OPENING (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- WUHAN, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit the 21st Optics Valley of China International Optoelectronic Exposition (OVC Expo), at the China Optics Valley Convention and Exhibition Center in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on May 18, 2026. Themed "Light Links World, Wisdom Leads Future," the 21st edition of the expo kicked off here on […]
- White House unveils massive US-China accords on trade and Iran, silences Taiwan flashpointon May 18, 2026
Washington, DC [US], May 18 (ANI): The White House has released an official fact sheet charting the significant outcomes of US President Donald Trump's high-stakes recent State visit to China. The detailed document highlights major breakthroughs regarding bilateral trade, cross-border investments and the security gridlock in Iran, but noticeably leaves out […]
- Hong Kong police officer guilty of taking bribes worth HK$1.1m to drop caseby Brian Wong on May 18, 2026
A Hong Kong police chief inspector has admitted accepting more than HK$1.1 million (US$140,463) in cash and gifts from a businessman in exchange for terminating a criminal investigation against him and divulging confidential information about two other cases. Tsuen Wan Court, which is now used to handle District Court cases, on Monday recorded a guilty plea […]
- ‘Several thousand’ ride-hailing licences won’t cover demand, advisory panel saysby Leopold Chen on May 18, 2026
Issuing “several thousand” licences to ride-hailing vehicles under a proposed regulatory framework will be insufficient to meet demand, a Hong Kong government transport advisory body has said, calling for a quota that will not compromise existing services. Speaking after meeting government officials on Monday, Professor Wong Sze-chun, chairman of the […]
- (Economy) Popularity of beef hotpot drives development of its industry in S China's Guangdongon May 18, 2026
CHAOZHOU, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chaoshan region in China's Guangdong Province is renowned nationwide for its beef hotpot, though very few cattle are raised locally. The Chaoshan people have a system of nomenclature for a dozen parts of the beef, which is a reflection of both the exquisite knife skills of the chefs and the pursuit of culinary excellence. […]
- (Economy&Life) Popularity of beef hotpot drives development of its industry in S China's Guangdongon May 18, 2026
CHAOZHOU, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Chaoshan region in China's Guangdong Province is renowned nationwide for its beef hotpot, though very few cattle are raised locally. The Chaoshan people have a system of nomenclature for a dozen parts of the beef, which is a reflection of both the exquisite knife skills of the chefs and the pursuit of culinary excellence. […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-27TH CHINA P&E (CN)on May 18, 2026
(260518) -- BEIJING, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Visitors try a lens at the exhibition area of Fujifilm at the 27th China International Photograph & Electrical Imaging Machinery and Technology Fair (China P&E) at the Beijing Exhibition Center in Beijing, capital of China, May 18, 2026. The 27th China International Photograph & Electrical Imaging […]
- With Qalibaf, Iran Says Beijing Relationship Is A Top Priorityon May 18, 2026
Iran has appointed influential parliament speakerMohammad Baqer Qalibafas its special representative for China affairs, a move analysts say carries a message that extends well beyond bilateral ties, and may be as much about Washington as it is about Beijing.There has been no formal government announcement. The appointment was first reported by Tasnim and […]
- With Qalibaf, Iran Tells Beijing Relationship Is A Top Priorityon May 18, 2026
Iran has appointed influential parliament speakerMohammad Baqer Qalibafas its special representative for China affairs, a move analysts say carries a message that extends well beyond bilateral ties, and may be as much about Washington as it is about Beijing.There has been no formal government announcement. The appointment was first reported by Tasnim and […]
- With New Qalibaf Role, Iran Says Beijing Relationship Is Top Priorityon May 18, 2026
Iran has appointed influential parliament speakerMohammad Baqer Qalibafas its special representative for China affairs, a move analysts say carries a message that extends well beyond bilateral ties, and may be as much about Washington as it is about Beijing.There has been no formal government announcement. The appointment was first reported by Tasnim and […]
- Unemployed man gets suspended jail term for reposting call to boycott Legco pollby Fiona Chow on May 18, 2026
An unemployed man has received a suspended jail sentence for reposting a social media post by a fugitive inciting the Hong Kong public to boycott the Legislative Council election last year. Before suspending the punishment for 24 months, West Kowloon Court on Monday handed down a two-month jail term to Lam Kin-sik, 67, after he admitted to violating the […]
- AUSTRALIA-SYDNEY-MOCAon May 18, 2026
(260518) -- SYDNEY, May 18, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken with a mobile phone on May 4, 2026 shows an interior view of the Museum of Chinese in Australia (MOCA) in Sydney, Australia. TO GO WITH "Feature: A new home for Chinese Australian stories at Sydney's Chinatown museum" (Xinhua/Zhang Shuhui)
- Mentally ill woman spends 2 days in Hong Kong flat with dead mother on sofaby Danny Mok on May 18, 2026
A woman with a chronic illness has been found dead in a Hong Kong public housing flat where her uninjured adult daughter, who suffers from mental illness, had been staying with her for at least two days. Police received a report at about 1.50pm on Monday from a 42-year-old woman who said she could not reach her 66-year-old mother and 34-year-old younger […]











