| 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 vows "constructive role" in Middle East peace after Trump credits Beijing for Iran breakthroughon April 8, 2026
Beijing [China], April 8 (ANI): The Chinese government has reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability following acknowledgements of its role in facilitating diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East, as reported by China Daily. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Beijing remains dedicated to fostering a peaceful resolution to […]
- Opening Diamond League meet in Doha postponed due to Middle East waron April 8, 2026
(Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)The scheduled opening event of the Diamond League season in Doha, Qatar has been postponed until at least June due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, the track and field league announced Wednesday.The meet was scheduled to open the 2026 season on May 8 but is now scheduled to be contested on June 19 'should […]
- Iran has prevailed, and the Middle East has changedon April 8, 2026
Five lessons from a war Tehran didnt loseUS President Donald Trump has, in the end, found a way out of the situation he created by embarking on a reckless war against Iran. The threat of destroying an entire civilization provided him with the pretext to step back.Indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington, conducted through intermediaries, […]
- Motorcycle win ignites film calls for China's "real-life Pegasus"on April 8, 2026
by Xinhua writers Zhang Yunlong, Xun Wei, and Zhao JiantongBEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese motorcycle startup's shock double victory at the Superbike World Championship has triggered an unlikely cultural moment: widespread calls for its founder's improbable rise to drive the next installment of one of China's highest-grossing racing film […]
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University celebrates 130th anniversaryon April 8, 2026
SHANGHAI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) celebrated its 130th anniversary with a ceremony held at its Minhang campus on Wednesday.
- CHINA-ZHEJIANG-JIAXING-YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- JIAXING, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Citizens rest at a bakery garden in Yuxin Town, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. The site attracts many visitors with its innovative integration of coffee and rural landscape, offering a unique leisure experience. In recent years, Nanhu District of Jiaxing City has […]
- LAOS-CHINA-SOLAR PROJECT-OPERATIONon April 8, 2026
(260408) -- OUDOMXAY, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 29, 2025 shows a 1,000-MW photovoltaic project developed by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGNPC) in Oudomxay province, Laos. TO GO WITH "China-developed 1,000-MW solar project enters operation in Laos" (CGNPC/Handout via Xinhua)
- China unveils large model for carbon emission accountingon April 8, 2026
SHANGHAI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China unveiled a new large model for carbon emission accounting on Wednesday, marking a major technological breakthrough in the global field of carbon accounting.Carbon emission accounting is a crucial basis for international climate compliance, a cornerstone of global carbon pricing, and an essential prerequisite for meeting […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-HAN ZHENG-PORTUGUESE PARLIAMENT-SPEAKER-MEETING (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- BEIJING, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese parliament, in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
- Update: KMT chairwoman pays homage to Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjingon April 8, 2026
NANJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a KMT delegation on Wednesday morning to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province.Sun was a founding figure of the KMT. Paying homage to his mausoleum has long been an important part of KMT chairpersons' […]
- CHINA-SHANGHAI-CHENG LI-WUN-KMT DELEGATION-MEITUAN-DRONE DELIVERY SERVICE (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- SHANGHAI, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A delivery drone of Meituan, an on-demand delivery platform, prepares to land in Shanghai, east China, April 8, 2026. Cheng led a KMT delegation to visit the Meituan headquarters in Shanghai on Wednesday and experienced the drone delivery service. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
- Xinhua Headlines: Transatlantic rifts highlight NATO at crossroadson April 8, 2026
* The backdrop to Washington's fury is a near-unanimous refusal by European NATO members to be drawn into a war they had no role in starting.* Analysts said the standoff illustrated a wider gap in political and strategic thinking across the Atlantic.* The latest dispute has also revived debate in Europe over whether the alliance can endure only if its […]
- Taiwan's opposition leader calls for reconciliation, regional stability during rare China visiton April 8, 2026
Nanjing [China], April 8 (ANI): Taiwan's opposition leader and Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun on Wednesday called for reconciliation and regional stability during a rare visit to China, as she paid tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen at his mausoleum in Nanjing, China, Focus Taiwan reported.According to Focus Taiwan, during her visit, Cheng highlighted the […]
- India won't be a US ally against China - former vice presidenton April 8, 2026
Expectations that New Delhi will stand with Washington to offset Beijing are "not realistic," Hamid Ansari told RT India c India will not be an ally of the United States against China, former Vice President Hamid Ansari has told RT India. In the latest episode of In Conversation with Salman Khurshid, Ansari […]
- India wont be a US ally against China former vice presidenton April 8, 2026
Expectations that New Delhi will stand with Washington to offset Beijing are not realistic, Hamid Ansari told RT IndiacIndia will not be an ally of the United States against China, former Vice President Hamid Ansari has told RT India.In the latest episode of In Conversation with Salman Khurshid, Ansari said he did not think it was "realistic" for India to […]
- CHINA-SHANGHAI-JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY-130TH ANNIVERSARY (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- SHANGHAI, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Alumni of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) pose for photos at SJTU's Minhang campus in Shanghai, east China, April 8, 2026. The SJTU celebrated its 130th anniversary with a ceremony held at its Minhang campus on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
- (ZhejiangPictorial) CHINA-ZHEJIANG-ANJI-WHITE TEA (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- ANJI, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A worker picks tea leaves at a tea garden in Anji County, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 8, 2026. The white tea in Anji County has currently entered its harvest season. In 2025, the output of white tea in Anji reached 2,630 tonnes, with an annual output value of the tea industrial chain exceeding 7 billion […]
- Tai Po blaze: no fire safety system checks before firm sent 85 shutdown noticesby Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen on April 8, 2026
A fire services company did not conduct any on-site inspections and merely acted as a “rubber stamp” in submitting 85 notices to shut down the hose reel system of a housing estate hit by Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades, an inquiry has heard. Separate testimony from a Fire Services Department official also noted that another contractor failed to […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-NATIONAL CONFERENCE-SERVICE SECTOR (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- BEIJING, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attend a national conference on the service sector in Beijing, capital of China. An instruction of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also […]
- MOZAMBIQUE-MAPUTO-CHINESE MEDICAL TEAM-CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE-FREE CLINICon April 8, 2026
(260408) -- MAPUTO, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Doctors from the 25th Chinese medical team in Mozambique provide free clinic at the Confucius Institute of Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique, April 6, 2026. TO GO WITH "Chinese medical team offers free clinic, promotes health awareness in Mozambique" (Photo by Mendes Mondlane/Xinhua)
- China bides its time, watching Trump's volatile policieson April 8, 2026
Hong Kong, April 8 (ANI): Beijing, along with the rest of the world, is presumably watching with dropped jaws as America's political leadership behaves like a bull in a china shop. Washington DC's foreign policy is unpredictable in nature, as President Donald Trump continues to prosecute his war against Iran.It was ironic that Trump even called on China, […]
- China's covert push into Taiwan expands to grassroots military targetson April 8, 2026
Taipei [Taiwan], April 8 (ANI): China's efforts to penetrate Taiwan's defences are becoming more structured, deliberate, and sharply focused, with a notable shift towards recruiting lower-ranking military personnel, according to Tsai Ming-yen, Director-General of Taiwan's National Security Bureau.Speaking at a legislative session, Tsai highlighted the […]
- China bides its time, watching Trump's violatile policieson April 8, 2026
Hong Kong, April 8 (ANI): Beijing, along with the rest of the world, is presumably watching with dropped jaws as America's political leadership behaves like a bull in a china shop. Washington DC's foreign policy is unpredictable in nature, as President Donald Trump continues to prosecute his war against Iran.It was ironic that Trump even called on China, […]
- Color-hunting walk gets trendy in China as low-cost emotional fixon April 8, 2026
NANNING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- On a spring weekend, Zhong Zimeng decided on pink before heading out to play a color-hunting game called ColorWalk, scanning for everything pink as she wandered.After an hour of walking at a riverside park in Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in south China, pink blossoms, pink benches and a visitor's pink […]
- Xi's Album | Xi stresses deepening political rectification at training session for military officialson April 8, 2026
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged efforts to deepen political rectification in the military to maintain the purity and glory of the people's armed forces.Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when he addressed a […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-XI JINPING-HIGH-RANKING MILITARY OFFICIALS-TRAINING SESSION-ADDRESS (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- BEIJING, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a training session for high-ranking military officials in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. The training session opened at the National […]
- China overtakes US as Indias largest trading partneron April 8, 2026
Bilateral trade between the two Asian nations hit $137 billion in 2025-26, ahead of $127.8 billion with AmericaChina became India's largest trading partner in the 2025-26 financial year, overtaking the US, Beijing's embassy in New Delhi has said.Bilateral trade between India and China reached $137 billion in the period between April 2025 and February 2026, […]
- China overtakes US as India's largest trading partneron April 8, 2026
Bilateral trade between the two Asian nations hit $137 billion in 2025-26, ahead of $127.8 billion with America China became India's largest trading partner in the 2025-26 financial year, overtaking the US, Beijing's embassy in New Delhi has said. Bilateral trade
- Easter box office takings twice that of 2025 break despite exodus of Hongkongersby Theodora Yu on April 8, 2026
Cinema box office takings in Hong Kong over the first four days of the Easter break more than doubled year on year, reaching HK$25.93 million (US$3.31 million) compared with HK$12.75 million over the same period in 2025, despite a holiday exodus. According to the Immigration Department, residents made around 2.13 million outbound and 1.81 million inbound […]
- Update: China welcomes ceasefire arrangement on Iran conflict: spokespersonon April 8, 2026
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes the announcement by relevant parties of reaching a ceasefire arrangement on the Iran conflict, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday, expressing support for the mediation efforts made by countries such as Pakistan.Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than […]
- Hong Kong car owner loses HK$500,000 in fuel membership card scamby Danny Mok on April 8, 2026
A Hong Kong car owner has lost HK$500,000 (US$63,800) to scammers posing as petrol company staff who exploited surging fuel prices by offering bogus top-up deals for membership cards, police have said. The victim received unsolicited WhatsApp messages from fraudsters claiming to represent a fuel company, according to a post on the force’s CyberDefender […]
- Update: Wang Yi to visit DPRKon April 8, 2026
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and minister of foreign affairs, will visit the DPRK from April 9 to 10, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson announced on […]
- Update: China, Afghanistan, Pakistan hold meeting in Urumqi from April 1 to 7on April 8, 2026
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held an informal meeting from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.Mao told a regular press briefing that members of the three delegations were from their countries' […]
- China's smart breeding industry blossoming in glow of AI-driven techon April 8, 2026
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- AI-driven technologies are invigorating China's smart breeding sector, propelling the digital and intelligent transformation of the seed industry.During the ongoing spring farming season, a surge of AI-driven innovative applications has emerged. The Nanfan smart breeding platform, which focuses on breeding data processing, […]
- HSBC’s HK$5 billion headquarters opens in Hong Kong in 1986 – SCMP archiveby SCMP on April 8, 2026
This article was first published on April 8, 1986. Billion dollar brilliance by Staff Reporters The new $5.2 billion headquarters of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpn was formally opened last night (April 7, 1986) when the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, snipped a simple ribbon. The building, every light ablaze, was a symbol of the bank’s faith in the […]
- Hooves and hopes -- how northwest China is grooming a new generation for booming equine industryon April 8, 2026
HOHHOT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- In the farriery workshop at the Vocational and Technical College of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, the crisp clang of a hammer striking a horseshoe fills the air.Zhao Xu, 33, crouched steadily beside a sport horse, holding up its hind hoof while carefully filing the hoof wall with a rasp. Sparks flew, and the smell of […]
- "No civilisation ends on one person's wish": Manoj Jha hits out at Trump while hailing Iran ceasefireon April 8, 2026
New Delhi [India], April 8 (ANI): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, stating that it sends a strong message to the American establishment that the rhetoric of 'regime change' or 'ending a civilisation' does not work in the modern world.Speaking to ANI, Jha expressed […]
- Police arrest man on suspicion of stealing personal data of 56,000 patients, 1,000 staffby Danny Mok on April 8, 2026
Hong Kong police have arrested an employee of a systems maintenance contractor hired by the Hospital Authority on suspicion of stealing the personal data of more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members. The arrest of a 30-year-old local man came just days after the authority reported on Saturday a suspected data leak involving patients in the Kowloon […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-YIN LI-FRENCH-SPEAKING REFORMIST MOVEMENT-DELEGATION-MEETING (CN)on April 8, 2026
(260408) -- BEIJING, April 8, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, meets with a delegation led by Georges-Louis Bouchez, president of Belgium's French-speaking Reformist Movement and a member of the Belgian Chamber of […]
- HKUST launches 5-year study into long lifespans of Chinese peopleby Emily Hung on April 8, 2026
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has launched a five-year study into why Chinese people often enjoy long lifespans, and aims to recruit 500 residents aged 90 or older for biomarker analysis using advanced blood testing technologies. HKUST president Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, who is leading the research, said Hong Kong urgently needed […]
- A group of Wang Fuk Court residents float ‘profit-making’ in-situ rebuilding planby Edith Lin,Emily Hung on April 8, 2026
A redevelopment proposal representing the interests of more than 400 fire-displaced residents has been submitted to the Hong Kong government, claiming that a partial redevelopment of Wang Fuk Court could generate a HK6.4 billion (US$816.7 million) surplus. The 47-page proposal, alongside two letters, was sent to the Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Deputy […]
- Court to hold hearing in July on confiscating Jimmy Lai’s propertiesby Fiona Chow on April 8, 2026
Hong Kong authorities are proceeding with legal action to confiscate property linked to crimes committed by former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, with a hearing on the matter set to be held in three months. According to a court document seen by the South China Morning Post on Wednesday, the secretary for justice filed an application with the Court of First […]
- 24% of Hong Kong firms to widely adopt AI, with smaller headcounts expected: KPMGby Oscar Liu on April 8, 2026
Nearly a quarter of Hong Kong companies are expected to widely adopt AI this year, a threefold increase from a year ago, while a growing number of business leaders believe the technology will result in smaller headcounts, a survey has revealed. Professional services firm KPMG released the Hong Kong Employment Outlook 2026 on Wednesday, with the poll showing […]
- Hong Kong immigration chief granted service extension past retirement ageby Edith Lin on April 8, 2026
Hong Kong’s director of immigration will have his service extended beyond the retirement age until June next year, authorities have announced. The announcement to extend the term of Benson Kwok Joon-fung was made on Wednesday, a day before he reached the retirement age of 57. “The purpose of granting director Kwok’s service extension is to ensure a […]
- Smart Hong Kong Pavilion at InnoEX 2026by Advertising partner on April 8, 2026
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates worldwide, Hong Kong is sharpening its focus on applying AI technologies across various domains to make life easier, more efficient and more connected for citizens and businesses alike. Building on Hong Kong’s smart city […]













