| 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 sanctions Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya over Taiwan visiton April 3, 2026
Tokyo [Japan] April 3 (ANI): China on Monday announced sanctions against Japanese lawmaker Keiji Furuya following his visits to Taiwan amid escalating tensions between Beijing and Tokyo after months of diplomatic strain, according to a report by Uyghur Times (UT).Ties between China and Japan have worsened since November, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae […]
- Tibet Museum exhibits old documents from 1947 to prove Independent status of Tibeton April 3, 2026
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], April 3 (ANI): The Tibet Museum of the Tibetan government in-exile inaugurates an exhibition 'Frontier Diplomacy: Britain, Tibet and Sir Basil Gould', to prove the independent status of Tibet. The museum exhibits two letters written by the 14th Dalai Lama on the 25th day of 8th Month Fire Pig of Tibetan Lunar Calendar […]
- #CHINA-QINGMING HOLIDAY-TRAVEL RUSH (CN)on April 3, 2026
(260403) -- BEIJING, April 3, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Passengers are seen at a platform of Hefei Railway Station in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, April 3, 2026. China is likely to see 90.5 million railway passenger trips from Friday to next Tuesday during the upcoming Qingming Festival holiday travel rush, according to the national railway operator. […]
- World Insights: Countries explore options as Hormuz safe passage remains elusiveon April 3, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is disrupting global energy flows and trade, driving up prices and exposing divisions among major powers, while raising the risk of a broader economic and geopolitical fallout.BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A virtual meeting led by Britain on the Strait of Hormuz concluded on Thursday with over 30 countries participating, although […]
- How Russia fits into Indias plan to secure LPG supplies from Hormuzon April 3, 2026
With 90% of imported cooking gas running through the Irancontrolled chokepoint and only 15 days of storage, New Delhi is testing Baltic and Pacific routesThe liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shortages that India faces as a result of the Middle East conflict have highlighted the need to strengthen the resilience of the nation's most politically sensitive […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-HE LIFENG-CANADIAN FINANCE MINISTER-MEETING (CN)on April 3, 2026
(260403) -- BEIJING, April 3, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, China's lead person in the China-Canada Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue, meets with Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, the Canadian co-leader of the dialogue, in Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)
- Hong Kong customs seizes HK$3.4 million worth of suspected drugs, arrests 2 menby Ng Kang-chung on April 3, 2026
Hong Kong customs officers have seized 6.5kg of suspected drugs worth about HK$3.4 million (US$433,800) and arrested two men in separate cases earlier this week. The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that the first arrest occurred two days earlier at Hong Kong International Airport, when officers found 3.1kg (6.8lbs) of suspected ketamine in the […]
- Protests erupt across China amid rising public discontent; authorities tighten security controlson April 3, 2026
Beijing [China], April 3 (ANI): A wave of protests and clashes between residents and police has erupted across multiple regions in China, reflecting growing public frustration over environmental concerns, land disputes, and governance issues, according to a report by The Epoch Times (TET).The unrest has also prompted authorities to step up security […]
- Chinese scientists inject AI power to advance understanding on snow coveron April 3, 2026
LANZHOU, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have injected artificial intelligence (AI) power into AI-driven snow monitoring research by establishing a large-scale, standardized dataset for nationwide fractional snow cover (FSC), according to its developer.The dataset, named ChinaAI-FSC, has established systematized construction procedures and scientific […]
- China steps up long-term care insurance to address aging challengeson April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- In China, eldercare, which has long been a family responsibility, is shifting to a more structured network of support that involves both the state and society at large, thanks to the expansion of long-term care insurance.This marks a further improvement of the social security network as the country strives to cope with an aging […]
- China ramps up child-friendly push, starting at "one meter high"on April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- On a recent weekday in Shanghai, a small boy walked through a subway gate without ducking or squeezing. The turnstile, redesigned as a rounded arch at a child's height, allowed him to pass through upright smoothly."It's a really thoughtful touch, very convenient," said his parents.The small adjustment reflects a broader shift […]
- Xinhua Commentary: Playing with fire on Taiwan question comes at cost for Japanon April 3, 2026
The Taiwan question lies at the very core of China's core interests and is a red line that must not be crossed.BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Monday countermeasures against Keiji Furuya, a member of Japan's House of Representatives, for his egregious moves, including collusion with "Taiwan independence" separatist […]
- Asia-Pacific Community: Cambodian children with congenital heart disease get new lease on life via China-backed Mekong projecton April 3, 2026
KAMPOT, Cambodia, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Phou Lika, a 10-year-old primary school student here in southwestern Cambodia, was a bit shocked on Thursday after doctors from the China-backed Mekong children's heart care project conducted a heart diagnosis mission at her school and found that she had congenital heart disease (CHD) from birth.Dressed in a common […]
- China's covert political penetration of Taiwan raises alarm over systemic loopholeson April 3, 2026
Taipei [Taiwan] April 3 (ANI) China is increasingly using Taiwan's existing business, cultural, and exchange frameworks as a cover to quietly expand its political influence, according to a Taiwanese academic. These activities, he stated, are carefully disguised as routine interactions, making them harder to detect and counter, as reported by The Taipei […]
- CAMBODIA-KAMPOT-CHINA-AIDED HEART CARE PROJECT-CHILDRENon April 3, 2026
(260403) -- KAMPOT, April 3, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Health workers check heart's health for students at a primary school in Kampot, Cambodia, April 2, 2026. TO GO WITH "Asia-Pacific Community: China-aided Mekong children's heart care project gives new life to Cambodian children with CHD" (Xinhua/Wu Changwei)
- CHINA-YOUNGSTERS-ANCIENT TOMBS-CONNECTION (CN)on April 3, 2026
(260403) -- YINCHUAN, April 3, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People pose for a group photo during a Hanfu parade marking the 500th anniversary of Zhang Juzheng's birth at Zhang Juzheng's cemetery in Jingzhou, central China's Hubei Province, May 31, 2025. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Young Chinese find new connection with history at ancient tombs" (Xinhua)
- AmazingAnhui | Tea industry and poetic landscapes boost tourism in Xuancheng's Jingting Mountainon April 3, 2026
XUANCHENG, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Jingting Mountain, celebrated by Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907), has long been renowned for its poetic charm. As a core production area of green tea, the mountain is surrounded by more than 10,000 mu (about 666.67 hectares) of tea gardens. In recent years, local authorities have leveraged Jingting […]
- Major projects in China's 15th Five-Year Plan open up new job opportunitieson April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Major projects outlined in China's 15th Five-Year Plan are creating jobs that require stronger technical skills, more specialized expertise or broader cross-sector capabilities, challenging the long-held view that construction work is largely manual labor.A closer look at the blueprint shows that these initiatives are far more […]
- Hong Kong documentary pulled from cinemas 3 years ago to be screened in Italyby Edith Lin on April 3, 2026
An award-winning documentary capturing the lives of six girls over 10 years by Hong Kong director Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting will be screened at a film festival in Italy, three years after it was pulled from local cinemas due to a lack of consent from interviewees. To My Nineteen-year-old Self, which centres on Ying Wa Girls’ School, was one of the four […]
- China calls for stronger trade cooperation with India after ministerial talks during WTO conferenceon April 3, 2026
New Delhi [India], April 3 (ANI): Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a meeting with China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on the sidelines of the World Trade Organisation's 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), aimed at strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation.Informing about the meeting, the spokesperson of the Chinese […]
- Tariffs, West Asia conflict impacting textile sector, India must tap domestic market potential: Telangana Ministeron April 3, 2026
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 3 (ANI): Telangana Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu on Thursday said that global developments such as US tariff measures and the ongoing West Asia conflict are impacting the textile industry, and stressed the need for India to focus on its large domestic market to sustain growth.Speaking to the media at the 13th Asian […]
- Update: China rebuts U.S. groundless accusation of so-called "detention" of Panama-flagged shipson April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday rebutted U.S. groundless accusation of so-called "detention" of Panama-flagged ships.Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the U.S. repeating wrongful allegations only reveals its ulterior motive to take over the Panama Canal.Mao made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment […]
- Rats versus pets: Hong Kong dog owners want rodent poison in boxes, not bagsby Lo Hoi-ying on April 3, 2026
Hong Kong pet owners have called for environmental authorities to place rat poison in boxes instead of hanging them in transparent bags, with one owner saying his dog had to visit the veterinarian three times in recent months after accidentally consuming pellets that spilled from broken bags onto the pavement. In response to queries by the South China […]
- Hong Kong committed to helping mainland China’s health standards ‘go global’by Ng Kang-chung on April 3, 2026
Hong Kong is committed to helping mainland China’s medical and health standards “go global”, with a local minister hailing the city’s first time hosting a national medical conference as an event of “great significance”. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said Hong Kong was striving to meet the mainland’s certification requirements for a […]
- India and China hold trade expansion talkson April 3, 2026
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, have met on the sidelines of a WTO event India and China have held talks aimed at expanding bilateral trade, on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization's ministerial conference, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said. <
- Hong Kong set for thunderstorms and showers on Saturday, Observatory saysby Theodora Yu on April 3, 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 is expected to be hit by thunderstorms and showers on Saturday, with the weather to remain unsettled for the rest of the Easter holiday, the local forecaster has warned. The Hong Kong Observatory said on […]
- Hong Kong customs seizes HK$280,000 worth of dried shark fins from Panamaby Fiona Sun on April 3, 2026
Hong Kong customs officers have seized about 162kg of suspected dried shark fins from protected species worth about HK$280,000 (US$35,720) from Panama at the airport. The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that officers inspected an air consignment declared as dried fish maw arriving from the country the day before. Upon inspection, officers found […]
- (AmazingAnhui) CHINA-ANHUI-XUANCHENG-JINGTING MOUNTAIN-TEA INDUSTRY-TOURISM (CN)on April 3, 2026
(260403) -- XUANCHENG, April 3, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A worker picks tea leaves at the foot of Jingting Mountain in Xuancheng City, east China's Anhui Province, April 2, 2026. Jingting Mountain, celebrated by Li Bai, a legendary Chinese poet of Tang Dynasty (618-907), has long been renowned for its poetic charm. As a core production area of green tea, the […]
- Revamped transport fare scheme triggers concerns about cost for working elderlyby Edith Lin on April 3, 2026
Hong Kong’s elderly residents have raised concerns about the financial burden placed on their low-income peers under a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme that came into force on Friday, with some avoiding higher-charging, long-route buses. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the implementation of the new arrangements had […]
- Operation Santa Claus: Maxim’s ramps up programmes, fundraising for Tai Po fire victimsby Sue Ng on April 3, 2026
A major Hong Kong catering and restaurant conglomerate has stepped up its annual fundraising efforts to provide emergency relief to those affected by the deadly Tai Po fire and long-term community projects for vulnerable groups. For more than 18 years, Maxim’s Group has supported Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual charitable fundraising initiative […]
- Chinese AI models harness token economy, expand global footprinton April 3, 2026
SHANGHAI, April 3 (Xinhua) -- In a downtown office building in Shanghai, nearly 200 AI engineers are busily fine-tuning one of the world's most popular large language models.By deploying this homegrown product across data centers worldwide, tech firm MiniMax is gearing up to capture a slice of this year's explosive boom in token consumption.The latest data […]
- Deeper industrial integration fuels new momentum in China's tourism sectoron April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- After attending the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in March, Wu Guoping, a national lawmaker and head of a culture and tourism company based in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, wasted no time diving back into two of his new tourism projects.The projects, set respectively on an island in the eastern Shandong […]
- University town to be fast-tracked, Eric Chan says after mainland China visitby Matthew Cheng on April 3, 2026
Hong Kong’s No 2 official has pledged to fast-track a new university town’s development following a visit to similar projects in mainland China, saying authorities will devise a strategy to attract top institutions from across the border and overseas to take part. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and his working group on the university town’s […]
- Interview: Industry leader lauds Chinese robotics breakthroughs on global stageon April 3, 2026
Robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and those made in China demonstrate real progress in advanced mobility and the ability to perform multiple tasks effectively, according to a U.S. tech industry leader.by Xinhua Writer Tan JingjingLOS ANGELES, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese humanoid robots and other robotic technologies have made "real progress" […]
- UNSC to vote on Bahrain-backed resolution to secure Strait of Hormuz transit amid West Asia conflicton April 3, 2026
New York [US], April 3 (ANI): The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote on Friday (local time) on a draft resolution proposed by Bahrain that seeks to authorise member states to use 'all defensive means necessary' to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict in West Asia, CNN reported.The proposal comes amid rising […]
- US Hit Key Bridge To 'Eliminate Military Supply Route'on April 3, 2026
New posts09:54US Hit Key Bridge To 'Eliminate Military Supply Route'Photos shared on social media showed the damaged bridge.A US Central Command (CENTCOM) defense official has told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that US forces struck a key bridge in northern Iran to eliminate a "planned military supply route for sustaining Iran's ballistic missile and attack drone […]
- France Demands Release Of Iranian Rights Lawyer Sotoudehon April 3, 2026
New posts15:42France Demands Immediate Release Of Iranian Human Rights Lawyer Nasrin SotoudehNasrin SotoudehFrance has demanded that Iran release prominent Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was arrested on April 1 at her residence in Tehran."France calls for the immediate release of Nasrin Sotoudeh and all those arbitrarily detained in Iran," […]
- Update: Chinese drug fugitive repatriated from U.S.on April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese fugitive suspected of drug-related crimes was repatriated from the United States to China, Chinese police said on Friday.This marks the first drug-related fugitive repatriated and handed over by the United States to China in recent years, representing a new achievement in China-U.S. counter-narcotics law enforcement […]
- Hong Kong police on the hunt for 2 men who attacked taxi driver after quarrelby Jeffie Lam on April 3, 2026
Hong Kong police are on the hunt for two men who allegedly attacked a taxi driver with whom they had an argument in Yuen Long in the early hours of Friday. The force received a report from the 57-year-old victim at 2.50am. The cabby said he had asked the two men blocking his vehicle off at 3 Kau Yuk Road to move aside, but his plea triggered a quarrel and […]
- CPEC's success serves as testament to unbreakable bond between Pakistan, China: officialon April 3, 2026
ISLAMABAD, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The successful implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) served as a strong testament to the unbreakable all-weather strategic bond between Pakistan and China, Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said.The partnership, rooted in trust, is strengthened through […]
- How tiny beads shape a big trend in China's experience economyon April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Wang Luyi picked up a yellow bead and set it into place with precision, while nearby, a familiar cartoon figure came to life, building row by row."It helps me forget everything else," said Wang, 24. "When I'm doing this, I don't think about pressure or deadlines."Known as pixel bead art, a form of handicraft using small plastic […]
- World’s highest hotel opens in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon in 2011 – from the SCMP archiveby SCMP on April 3, 2026
This article was first published on April 3, 2011 If the altitude doesn’t give you a nosebleed, the room rates might By John Carney You could say it is the height of luxury. And if putting on the Ritz is your thing, it’s just the place for you. The highest hotel in the world opened in Hong Kong last week, and if the altitude doesn’t give you a […]
- Taiwan detects 2 sorties of Chinese aircraft, 7 vessels, 2 ships around itselfon April 3, 2026
Taipei [Taiwan], April 3 (ANI): Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence detected the presence of two sorties of Chinese military aircraft, seven vessels, and two official ships around its territorial waters as of 6 am on Friday (local time).Both sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern part ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, '2 sorties of PLA […]
- 685,000 Hongkongers head out of city at start of Easter holidayby Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Theodora Yu on April 3, 2026
More than 685,000 residents left Hong Kong as the Easter break got under way on Friday, even as some said ongoing geopolitical tensions had made them more cautious about drawing up future travel plans. An industry leader noted that more Hongkongers had chosen to travel to mainland China, with the ongoing war in the Middle East disrupting air traffic and […]
- Chinese AI chip firms capture 41% of domestic marketon April 3, 2026
BEIJING, China: Chinese chipmakers are rapidly gaining ground in the country's artificial intelligence hardware market, capturing a significant share and chipping away at Nvidia's long-held dominance. Domestic GPU and AI chip firms accounted for nearly 41% of China's AI accelerator server market in 2025, according to data from an IDC report, highlighting a […]














