| 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
- Hong Kong eyes booking system, fees after campers overrun hotspotsby Danny Mok on February 22, 2026
Hong Kong authorities are looking at implementing a booking system and charging fees for camping hotspots as part of a review of management strategies in response to public concerns about overcrowded beaches and litter during the Lunar New Year holiday. The Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) posted its plan on its Facebook page on […]
- Economy | Ice and snow activities boom during Spring Festival holidayon February 22, 2026
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Many people across China went outdoors and embraced the joy of various ice and snow-themed activities during this year's Spring Festival holiday.
- Chinese museums use technology for immersive Spring Festival experienceson February 22, 2026
YINCHUAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At the foot of the Helan Mountain in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a corridor within the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum has been transformed into a bustling street scene from a millennium ago during the Spring Festival holiday.Actors clad in traditional costumes of the Song (960-1279) […]
- Ride with films: Year of the Horse sees movie-inspired tourism surge in Chinaon February 22, 2026
BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Blockbusters are doing more than leading the holiday box office at the beginning of the Year of the Horse in China -- they are reshaping holiday travel patterns, fueling a nationwide boom in movie-inspired tourism.According to online ticketing platforms, the total Spring Festival box office revenue (including pre-sales) […]
- Economy&Life | Ice and snow activities boom during Spring Festival holidayon February 22, 2026
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Many people across China went outdoors and embraced the joy of various ice and snow-themed activities during this year's Spring Festival holiday.
- CHINA-GUANGDONG-PUNING-YINGGE DANCE (CN)on February 22, 2026
(260222) -- PUNING, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform Yingge dance in Puning, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 22, 2026. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As many shops in Puning chose to open their doors to start […]
- Crosstalk teahouses enjoy rising popularity in China's Tianjinon February 22, 2026
TIANJIN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A traditional crosstalk teahouse in a shopping mall in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin is experiencing one of its biggest crowds of the year during the Spring Festival holiday. Most of the audience consists of out-of-town visitors, and tickets are often sold out quickly.Qianxiangyi, a century-old brand once known as a […]
- Cradle next to a greenhouse: China brings daycare to the fieldson February 22, 2026
by Xinhua writers Zhou Yan and Zhang LiyuanQINGDAO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- In the sprawling tomato greenhouses of Cuijiaji town on the outskirts of Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, farmers start working at daybreak. Some of them had by then already dropped off their toddlers at a vibrant, colorful daycare facility just a few steps […]
- (MICO2026)ITALY-TESERO-OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES-CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING-WOMEN'S 50KM MASS START CLASSICon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- TESERO, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Heidi Weng (R) of Norway and Ebba Andersson of Sweden compete during the cross-country skiing women's 50km mass start classic match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)
- PERU-LIMA-CHINESE TRADITIONAL CULTURE-ACTIVITIESon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- LIMA, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A girl learns to write Chinese calligraphy in Lima, Peru, Feb. 21, 2026. Various activities were held by the Confucius Institute at Ricardo Palma University in Lima to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Saturday. (Photo by Mariana Bazo/Xinhua)
- Designer behind Victoria Harbor fireworks in Hong Kongon February 22, 2026
HONG KONG, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- As more than 30,000 shells soared from barges over the Victoria Harbor on Wednesday night, the sky of Hong Kong was transformed into a luminous canvas, with rippling reflections of the fireworks on the water seamlessly merging with the glittering city skyline.The fireworks show, a much-anticipated event among Hong Kong […]
- "My religious identity shouldn't be mocked": Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Devaswom chairmanshipon February 22, 2026
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 22 (ANI): Union Minister Suresh Gopi inaugurated a special memorial event marking the 50th anniversary of MS Mani, the founder editor of Kala Kaumudi, one of Kerala's most respected publications.He addressed the ongoing religious attacks targeting him, especially in the context of his interest in the Devaswom […]
- Column: From Nobusuke Kishi to Shinzo Abe to Sanae Takaichi: How Japanese militarism is staging a comebackon February 22, 2026
Japan's failure to fully confront its wartime crimes has fueled historical denial, empowered right-wing revisionism, and enabled a dangerous resurgence of militarismby Wen WuAN INCOMPLETE RECKONINGThe failure to thoroughly reckon with Japan's wartime crimes after World War II (WWII) has left militarism dormant, only to erupt some day in the future if going […]
- China's Mandarin-only schooling in East Turkistan sparks fears of Uyghur language erasureon February 22, 2026
Washington DC [US], February 22 (ANI): On International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21 and proclaimed by UNESCO, conversations around linguistic diversity have taken on renewed urgency as concerns mount over education policies affecting Uyghur students in East Turkistan.In a video shared on X, residents of East Turkistan, including a […]
- More advanced maths students needed for science, tech sectors: Hong Kong committee headby William Yiu on February 22, 2026
Hong Kong must more than double the number of secondary school pupils studying advanced maths to ensure a sufficient pipeline of students pursuing science and technology courses at university and careers in those sectors, according to the head of a curriculum review. The government plans to review the admission score calculations for some of the […]
- NEW ZEALAND-WELLINGTON-SPRING FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONSon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- WELLINGTON, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A child performs lion dance during a Spring Festival celebration in Wellington, New Zealand, Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua)
- CHINA-TIANJIN-CROSSTALK TEAHOUSES-RISING POPULARITY (CN)on February 22, 2026
(260222) -- TIANJIN, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People watch crosstalk, or Xiangsheng in Chinese, a popular Chinese comedic performance art, at a crosstalk teahouse in north China's Tianjin, Feb. 19, 2026. TO GO WITH "Economic Watch: Crosstalk teahouses enjoy rising popularity in China's Tianjin" (Xinhua)
- CHINA-SHANDONG-QINGDAO-DAYCARE CENTER (CN)on February 22, 2026
(260222) -- QINGDAO, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Xiuqin plays with a child at the Kangbei Childcare Center in Lyujia Village of Cuijiaji Town, Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 30, 2025. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Cradle next to a greenhouse: China brings daycare to the fields" (Xinhua/Zhang Liyuan)
- CHINA-ZHEJIANG-DEQING-AI VIRTUAL FILM BASE (CN)on February 22, 2026
(260222) -- DEQING, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2025 shows a virtual scene of the main stadium of Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park at Versatile Media's AI virtual film base in Deqing, east China's Zhejiang Province. TO GO WITH "Across China: AI-powered virtual technologies elevate Chinese filmmaking via grand realism, efficiency" […]
- (MICO2026)ITALY-LIVIGNO-OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES-FREESTYLE SKIING-WOMEN'S FREESKI HALFPIPE-FINALon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- LIVIGNO, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Gu Ailing of China reacts during run 2 of the freestyle skiing women's freeski halfpipe final at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)
- Roundup: U.S. major ports seek stability over court ruling against Trump's tariff policyon February 22, 2026
The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against Trump's sweeping tariffs is expected to have a significant impact on two of the nation's busiest trade hubs -- the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles -- which together form the largest gateway for international trade in the United States.by Julia Pierrepont IIILOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Leaders […]
- Hong Kong jewellery sales sparkle amid 13% jump in mainland Chinese visitorsby Oscar Liu on February 22, 2026
Hong Kong recorded a 13 per cent increase in visitors from mainland China during the Lunar New Year holiday against a year ago, with the influx boosting jewellery sales by 10 per cent during the period despite a sharp rise in gold prices. Industry representatives said on Sunday that overall business was better than last year, although the recovery remained […]
- Pokemon cards worth HK$8,000 stolen in Hong Kong shop burglaryby Danny Mok on February 22, 2026
A man has reported the loss of Pokemon trading cards worth about HK$8,000 (US$1,023) after a burglary at a shop in Hong Kong – the second reported criminal case involving the collectibles in two months. Police said they received a report at about 2.50am on Sunday from a 25-year-old man that his 1,000 sq ft shop in Chung Mei Centre on Hing Yip Street, Kwun […]
- "World's supermarket" gallops into Year of Horse with vision, vigoron February 22, 2026
HANGZHOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Under the festive lights of a shop in Yiwu, the eastern Chinese city known as "the world's supermarket," Vivian Li, a veteran exporter of hairpieces, smoothed the strands of a product from her latest line, "Ponytail," and turned it lightly in her hands.Speaking to a longtime Ethiopian client, she elaborated on the cultural […]
- #CHINA-SPRING-RAPESEED FLOWER-SCENERY (CN)on February 22, 2026
(260222) -- BEIJING, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A bee flies over rapeseed flowers in Xinyin Village of Siba Town, Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 20, 2026. (Photo by Wu Yaorong/Xinhua)
- Hong Kong fans were right to bet on lottery picks from K-pop star G Dragonby Lo Hoi-ying on February 22, 2026
Some lucky Hong Kong fans of K-pop star G Dragon pocketed at least HK$320 (US$41) from the record HK$200 million Lunar New Year Mark Six draw after they chose lottery numbers he suggested. G Dragon fans took to social media to share news of their earnings after the winning numbers were announced on Saturday. During a fan meeting earlier this month in Seoul, […]
- Silent suffering: how a domestic helper’s Hong Kong dream became a nightmareby Emily Hung on February 22, 2026
Sanju*, a foreign domestic helper of Nepalese ethnicity, never imagined her Hong Kong dream would turn into a nightmare. The 34-year-old arrived in Hong Kong in 2023, driven by a simple wish to work in the city of her dreams. But she said her first employer paid her 30 per cent below the statutory minimum wage, allowed her only two hours of sleep a day, and […]
- (Hello Africa) Dragon dances and dumplings: Cape Town locals embrace Chinese New Year at vibrant temple fairon February 22, 2026
An annual Chinese New Year temple fair was held in South Africa's legislative capital of Cape Town on Saturday, offering local residents a vibrant feast of Chinese culture and cuisine while highlighting cultural exchange and integration between the Chinese and South African peoples.CAPE TOWN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- An annual Chinese New Year temple fair was […]
- "Rahul Gandhi speaks responsibly, based on facts": Jairam Ramesh on Rijiju's 'dangerous for India's security' remarkson February 22, 2026
New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday came out strongly in defence of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, calling him a responsible parliamentarian and refuting claims made by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju that Gandhi is a 'dangerous person for India's security.''He is a LoP. He speaks responsibly. He doesn't […]
- Europe sees shift from US to Asian travellerson February 22, 2026
BRUSSELS, Belgium: Europe is increasingly looking to Chinese and Indian travellers to sustain tourism growth, as signs emerge of a slowdown in demand from American visitors, according to a survey published on February 18 by the European Travel Commission. International arrivals to Europe are projected to rise 6.2 percent this year, with stronger growth from […]
- CHINA-FUJIAN-FUZHOU-CHINESE NEW YEAR-TOURISM (CN)on February 22, 2026
(260222) -- FUZHOU, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit the historic and cultural city block Three Lanes and Seven Alleys in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 21, 2026. Many visitors flocked to historic blocks in Fuzhou to celebrate the Chinese New Year during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)
- As Ukraine War Enters Fifth Year, Europe Faces Hard Truth On Chinaon February 22, 2026
BRUSSELS --Since the startof Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western policymakershave debatedwhether diplomatic pressure and sanctions could persuade China to curb its support for Moscow.But as the war enters its fifth year, China's support hasdeepened, providing Russia with a vital economic lifeline throughenergy purchases, critical minerals […]
- U.S.-CALIFORNIA-HUNTINGTON LIBRARY-CHINESE NEW YEAR-CELEBRATIONon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- CALIFORNIA, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Kunqu Opera artists perform at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Los Angeles County, California, the United States, on Feb. 21, 2026. The Chinese New Year was celebrated at the Huntington Library with arts and crafts, music and a lion dance performance. […]
- Hong Kong official warns of lower payout if Tai Po fire victims reject buy-back planby Edith Lin on February 22, 2026
The acquisition price for properties damaged in Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po fire will be “far lower” if homeowners reject the government’s buy-back offer and authorities are forced to use legislation to acquire the remaining properties, a senior official has said. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun on Sunday dismissed claims that the […]
- ARGENTINA-BUENOS AIRES-CHINESE NEW YEAR-CELEBRATIONon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Visitors attend a Chinese New Year celebration event in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 21, 2026. A series of activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year were held here on Saturday, attracting large numbers of local residents. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)
- U.S.-NEW YORK-CHINESE NEW YEAR-PARADEon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People watch a lion dance during a Chinese New Year parade in New York, the United States, Feb. 21, 2026. A parade was held here to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
- Chef, 34, arrested for allegedly spraying unknown liquid on 3 women in Hong Kongby Danny Mok on February 22, 2026
A 34-year-old chef has been arrested for allegedly spraying an unknown liquid on three female pedestrians near Hong Kong’s Tai Wai MTR station in separate incidents during the Christmas and Lunar New Year holiday periods. The first incident took place on Christmas morning, when a woman crossing a footbridge on Mei Tin Road felt liquid dripping on her hair […]
- Highlights of Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games Day 15on February 22, 2026
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo cemented his status as a cross-country skiing legend by capturing a record sixth gold medal in the men's 50km mass start at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday, while China battled to the aerials mixed team bronze medal.France's Oceane Michelon stormed to gold in the women's 12.5km […]
- Sandstorms worsen air quality in Beijingon February 22, 2026
BEIJING, 22nd February, 2026 (WAM) -- Beijing Municipality has been hit by strong winds and sandstorms since Saturday afternoon, causing air pollution.The PM10 concentration levels surged, with the city average reaching a light pollution level of 175 micrograms per cubic meter by 2 pm Saturday, according to the meteorological authorities of the city.The […]
- U.S.-CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO-CHINESE NEW YEAR-CELEBRATIONon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- SAN DIEGO, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Staff members distribute gifts to visitors during a Chinese New Year celebration at San Diego Zoo in San Diego, California, the United States, on Feb. 21, 2026. The zoo began a two-day Chinese New Year celebration on Saturday. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua)
- AZERBAIJAN-BAKU-CHINESE OIL EXPLORERS-ENERGY EXPLORATIONon February 22, 2026
(260222) -- BAKU, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Staff members transport food supplies onto a vessel at the Baku Shipyard in Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 10, 2026. TO GO WITH "Feature: 'Caspian' Spring Festival for Chinese oil explorers supporting Azerbaijan's energy exploration" (Xinhua/Chen Junfeng)
- Viral dance challenge lifted Chinese ibuprofen maker’s shares – now they are languishingby Julie Zhang on February 22, 2026
When an ibuprofen dance challenge went viral on the Chinese social media platform Douyin in late 2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic, shares of the country’s leading ibuprofen maker surged more than 200 per cent in two weeks. Now profits at Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical are plunging, and it is not alone, as drug makers are hit by oversupply and weakening […]
- Update: Second volume of book on Xi's visits to people's homes publishedon February 22, 2026
BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The second volume of a book about the interactions between Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and the people during his domestic inspection tours has been published by the China Women Publishing House.The second volume vividly recounts the stories when Xi visited people's homes and […]
- Hong Kong budget must be ‘prudent’, balance social needs and reserves: Paul Chanby Oscar Liu on February 22, 2026
Hong Kong must exercise fiscal prudence, carefully weighing social needs while maintaining adequate reserves to guard against unforeseen circumstances, the finance chief has said as he outlined the principles of the budget he will deliver on Wednesday. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Sunday also revealed the purple cover for the 2026-27 budget, […]
- Board of Peace launched in Washington, Trump pledges $10 billionon February 22, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. President Donald Trump announced at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting on February 19 that the U.S. was pledging US$10 billion to the board, but without any clarity on how the money would be used or where it would come from. Pledging such a large amount requires congressional authorization. Trump also announced that nine members […]












