| 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
- China's micro-drama boom meets AI as industry shifts toward qualityon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China's fast-growing micro-drama industry is entering a new phase as AI begins to challenge a production model built on speed, low cost and tightly packed studio sets.In recent years, clusters of compact filming bases have emerged across the country, especially in second and third-tier cities. Built around vertical-screen […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-HE LIFENG-GE HEALTHCARE-CEO-MEETING (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- BEIJING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Peter J. Arduini, president and CEO of GE HealthCare, in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
- Update: China, Mozambique upgrade ties as Xi, Chapo hold talkson April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo held talks in Beijing on Tuesday, and the two heads of state agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a China-Mozambique community with a shared future in the new era.Noting that the time-honored friendship between China and Mozambique has set an example […]
- INDONESIA-JAKARTA-CHINA-SUPPLY CHAIN EXPO-ROADSHOWon April 21, 2026
(260421) -- JAKARTA, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Anindya Novyan Bakrie, chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), speaks during a roadshow of the fourth China International Supply Chain Expo in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 21, 2026. The fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) Indonesia roadshow was held here on Tuesday […]
- #CHINA-HEILONGJIANG-WAXING CRESCENT MOON (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- HARBIN, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A waxing crescent moon is seen in the sky over Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 21, 2026. (Photo by Zhang Shu/Xinhua)
- CHINA-GUIZHOU-ZHAOXING DONG VILLAGE-TOURISM (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- LIPING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A girl from the Dong ethnic group arranges cups at a homestay in Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 20, 2026. As one of China's largest villages primarily inhabited by Dong ethnic residents, Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County was once economically […]
- #CHINA-GUIZHOU-ZHAOXING DONG VILLAGE-TOURISM (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- LIPING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on April 18, 2026 shows a night view of the Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County, southwest China's Guizhou Province. As one of China's largest villages primarily inhabited by Dong ethnic residents, Zhaoxing Dong Village of Liping County was once economically underdeveloped due to […]
- Egyptian-Chinese art performance marks UN Chinese Language Day in Cairoon April 21, 2026
CAIRO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A lively Egyptian-Chinese cultural performance was held in Cairo on Monday to mark this year's United Nations Chinese Language Day.The event took place at the British University in Egypt and was attended by about 100 guests. Egyptian and Chinese students performed a mix of music and dance, combining traditional, classical, […]
- War on Iran sparks gas theft epidemicon April 21, 2026
Incidents of driving off without paying in Britain are up 27%, while Americans report their fuel tanks being drilledA wave of "fill up and flee" crime is sweeping petrol stations across the UK, while American drivers are waking up to drilled-through tanks and drained fuel as the US-Israeli war on Iran has sparked a spike in oil and gas prices across the […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-LI QIANG-MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT-MEETING (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- BEIJING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with President of the Republic of Mozambique Daniel Francisco Chapo, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
- Xi's Album | Xi holds talks with Mozambican presidenton April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Mozambique Daniel Francisco Chapo in Beijing on Tuesday.
- CHILE-PUNTA ARENAS-INT'L CHINESE LANGUAGE DAY-CELEBRATIONon April 21, 2026
(260421) -- PUNTA ARENAS, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People participate in an event celebrating the International Chinese Language Day at the Confucius Institute of University of Magallanes in Punta Arenas, Chile, April 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhou Jiayi)
- UN-CHINESE LANGUAGE DAY-CULTURAL EVENTon April 21, 2026
(260421) -- UNITED NATIONS, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A girl learns to make a paper cutting work during a cultural event marking the seventh United Nations Chinese Language Day at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
- FOCUS | New batch of Chinese martyrs' remains from Korean War to be returned Wednesdayon April 21, 2026
(260421) -- SHENYANG, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on April 21, 2026 shows a billboard welcoming the return of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs' remains from the Republic of Korea (ROK) in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. The remains of 12 CPV martyrs killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) […]
- Xi's Album | Xi meets special envoy of Lao leader Thonglounon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Saleumxay Kommasith, who is the special envoy of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, in Beijing on Tuesday.
- Number of Hong Kong school leavers seeking education elsewhere hits 14-year lowby William Yiu on April 21, 2026
The number of Hong Kong secondary school leavers pursuing higher studies outside the city fell to a 14-year low in 2025, with an expert attributing the trend to a surge in mainland Chinese students targeting local universities. Only 2,671 students, or 6.5 per cent of 40,948 Form Six graduates pursuing full-time courses, chose to study outside Hong Kong last […]
- China boosts digital technology in push for modernizationon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- More than 100 humanoid robots competed in 2026 Beijing E-Town half-marathon on Sunday, with the winner outpacing all human competitors. In the area where the race took place, service robots offering moxibustion and massage are already being used to care for the elderly.The scenes underscored China's accelerating push to […]
- Update: China deplores Japan's negative moves regarding Yasukuni Shrine: spokespersonon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes and strongly condemns Japan's latest negative moves related to Yasukuni Shrine and has lodged strong representations and protests with the Japanese side, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said here on Tuesday.Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing, after Japanese Prime […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-LAOS-DEPUTY PM-MEETING (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- BEIJING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, who is visiting China as special envoy of Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) […]
- Mideast in Pictures: Int'l Chinese Language Day marked in MENA countrieson April 21, 2026
CAIRO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- International Chinese Language Day, established by the United Nations in 2010, was observed on Monday to promote multilingualism, the equal use of the United Nations' six official working languages, and cultural diversity.Events, featuring calligraphy, workshops, and cultural performances, were held in several Middle Eastern and […]
- Former Hong Kong trade office chief contesting UK local elections for Reformby Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin on April 21, 2026
A former director of Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) in Jakarta and Bangkok is standing in the United Kingdom local elections for the right-wing Reform UK party. Lee Sheung-yuen, who left government in 2023 after serving as the first director of the Bangkok ETO and concurrently served as director general of its Jakarta office, is now […]
- Hong Kong aiming to curb illicit fuel trade with tougher penalties: sourceby Theodora Yu on April 21, 2026
Buyers of illicit fuel in Hong Kong could face a maximum penalty of HK$1 million (US$127,687) and one year in prison under proposed legal amendments aimed at curbing illegal refuelling amid surging global oil prices, the South China Morning Post has learned. According to a government source, the Security Bureau has also proposed tougher penalties for […]
- Update: New batch of Chinese martyrs' remains from Korean War to be returned Wednesdayon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) will be returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs.A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft will carry the fallen […]
- Update: Xi meets special envoy of Lao leader Thonglounon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Saleumxay Kommasith, who is the special envoy of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, in Beijing on Tuesday.Xi pointed out […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-XI JINPING-MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT-TALKS (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- BEIJING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan pose for a group photo with President of the Republic of Mozambique Daniel Francisco Chapo and his wife Gueta Chapo ahead of the talks between Xi and Chapo at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2026. Xi held talks with […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-XI JINPING-SPECIAL ENVOY OF LAO LEADER THONGLOUN-MEETING (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- BEIJING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, meets with Saleumxay Kommasith, who is the special envoy of General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, at the Great Hall of the […]
- Poster | New batch of Chinese martyrs' remains from Korean War to be returnedon April 21, 2026
The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) will be returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday. A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft will carry the fallen heroes to Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, home to the CPV […]
- Iran will not budge on talks during US blockade - envoy in Chinaon April 21, 2026
The Iranians complied with the IAEA framework while the US exited the JCPOA unilaterally, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told RT India Iran will not budge on talks while the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues, Tehran's envoy to Beijing, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, has said. Iran complied with t
- AZERBAIJAN-BAKU-INT'L CHINESE LANGUAGE DAYon April 21, 2026
(260421) -- BAKU, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Participants experience the making of traditional Chinese round fans during an event marking the International Chinese Language Day in Baku, Azerbaijan, April 20, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)
- TANZANIA-DAR ES SALAAM-CHINESE SONG COMPETITIONon April 21, 2026
(260421) -- DAR ES SALAAM, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A contestant sings a Chinese song at a singing competition in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, April 20, 2026. Tanzanian students gathered on Monday at the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam to mark the United Nations (UN) Chinese Language Day through a vibrant singing competition showcasing […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-HAN ZHENG-BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY-DELEGATION-MEETING (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- BEIJING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with a high-ranking cadre delegation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary-general of the Party and minister of local government, rural development and cooperatives, in Beijing, capital of China, April 21, 2026. […]
- First AI driverless trucks deployed to tackle Hong Kong port labour shortageby Ambrose Li on April 21, 2026
Hutchison Port Holdings Trust has deployed Hong Kong’s first AI-powered driverless trucks, a move the container terminal operator said could help tackle a chronic manpower shortage and improve efficiency. The trust, affiliated with Hutchison Ports – a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family – on Tuesday […]
- Tai Po blaze probe: temporary removal of fireproof windows ‘complied with rules’by Brian Wong,Leopold Chen on April 21, 2026
A Labour Department official has told an inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po inferno that the temporary removal of fireproof windows from emergency passages in the blaze-hit estate complied with occupational safety protocols, triggering questions on whether the interests of workers and residents are at odds. The inquiry also heard on Tuesday that a […]
- Pop star Fujii Kaze pulls plug on Hong Kong show as Japanese acts shun cityby Danny Mok on April 21, 2026
Pop star Fujii Kaze has become the latest Japanese act to cancel a show in Hong Kong, which was scheduled as part of his world tour this year. Without offering a reason, Kaze’s official website on Tuesday stated: “Show in Hong Kong has been cancelled”. Hong Kong was originally listed as one of the stops in his “Prema World Tour” last year. The […]
- Hong Kong property investment soars on lower funding costs, rising demandby Cheryl Arcibal on April 21, 2026
Hong Kong’s commercial property market attracted US$1.6 billion in investment in the first quarter, up 41 per cent from a year earlier, as demand for office, retail and hotel assets picked up amid improving liquidity, according to JLL. Investment volumes could receive a further boost from global investors looking to redeploy their capital amid the […]
- Festive tunes echo between China and Brazil amid ethnic celebrationson April 21, 2026
NANNING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese folk song echoed across the stage, its melody carrying through the air. Drawn in by the rhythm, Brazilian musicians began to dance, while Chinese participants stepped closer to the stage. Within moments, a circle formed, and the crowd swayed together to the same beat.The scene unfolded in Nanning, capital of Guangxi […]
- Air China to resume Beijing-Delhi flights as India-China air connectivity expandson April 21, 2026
Beijing [China], April 21 (ANI): Direct air connectivity between India and China is set to improve further as Air China resumes its Beijing-Delhi service, according to a news report by Global Times. The airline will restart its direct route between Beijing and Delhi from Tuesday, marking the second route to India to resume by Chinese carriers this month. As […]
- SCMP’s ‘original’ finance reporting honoured at State Street Institutional Press Awardsby SCMP Reporter on April 21, 2026
The South China Morning Post received six honours at the State Street Institutional Press Awards Asia-Pacific 2025 on Tuesday. The awards, which recognise outstanding news reporting on institutional finance across Asia-Pacific (APAC), drew a record 246 submissions this year from eight economies – mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, […]
- Chinese food, beverage brands expand footprint in Latin Americaon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- For many Chinese food and beverage companies, overseas expansion was once a cautious choice, especially in distant markets with different cultures and consumer habits. In recent years, however, Latin America has emerged as an increasingly attractive destination as Chinese brands seek new avenues for growth.Among the latest […]
- Hong Kong seeks to seize HK$56.5 million, 17 companies from jailed Jimmy Laiby Brian Wong on April 21, 2026
The Hong Kong government is seeking to confiscate HK$56.5 million (US$7.2 million) from former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s bank accounts and all of the shares in his 17 companies after he was jailed for 20 years under the national security law, court documents show. The secretary for justice applied to the High Court earlier this month to seize […]
- Premium for mainland China shares erodes – or flips – as capital flows to Hong Kongby Yulu Ao on April 21, 2026
A long-standing pricing gap between the mainland China-listed and Hong Kong shares of dual-listed companies has narrowed – and in some cases reversed – as global investors re-rate China’s technology companies. The Hang Seng AH Premium Index, a widely watched gauge of the valuation gap between dual-listed companies’ A shares trading on mainland […]
- Hong Kong braces for 9-degree temperature drop, thunderstorms later this weekby Oscar Liu on April 21, 2026
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong will face squally thunderstorms and a nine-degree plunge in temperature later this week as a cold front sweeps across the South China coast, with the mercury expected to dip to 21 degrees Celsius (69.8 […]
- Tech advancements underpin China's Q1 industrial economyon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China's industrial economy posted steady growth in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, with technological innovations unleashing more growth potentials and the advanced manufacturing sector witnessing accelerated growth, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.The following are some facts and figures […]
- Rising young, versatile tech innovators power China's new productivity engineon April 21, 2026
BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A 26-year-old graduate from a non-elite university founded what is now one of China's most valuable robotics firms. His story is the stuff of legend, but he is not alone. In China's new wave of innovation, this narrative is playing out at breakneck speed.Ten years ago, Wang Xingxing made a decision that seemed, to many of his […]
- CHINA-GUANGXI-NANNING-BRAZILIAN MUSICIAN (CN)on April 21, 2026
(260421) -- NANNING, April 21, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Members of the Copacabana Fort Orchestra dance to music during a performance in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 17, 2026. TO GO WITH "Across China: Festive tunes echo between China and Brazil amid ethnic celebrations" (Xinhua/Zhao Huan)













