| 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
- The quiet grind behind the wig and gownby Felix Tang on July 2, 2026
If ViuTV’s Court! feels unusually grounded for a legal drama, it is because the series dares to show what the public rarely sees – and what the profession has perhaps been too polite to say out loud. There are no dramatic ambushes or theatrical monologues that turn the tide at the last minute. Instead, we watch young barristers navigate the far less […]
- Residents, visitors flock to waterfront as PLA navy ships sail into Hong Kongby Jess Ma,Kate Chan,Benjamin Fuller on July 2, 2026
Residents and tourists have flocked to Hong Kong’s harbourfronts to welcome two People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval vessels on a five-day port call to the city. The guided-missile destroyer Nanning and the guided-missile frigate Hengyang sailed into Hong Kong via Lei Yue Mun and Victoria Harbour on Thursday morning, with the ships arriving at Ngong […]
- "China trying to take over Panama Canal": Trump says "not going to let that happen"on July 2, 2026
North Dakota [US], July 2 (ANI): US President Donald Trump said that the United States should never have handed over control of the Panama Canal, arguing that Panama increased transit fees after taking control and warning that China is seeking to gain influence over the strategic waterway.Speaking at the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential […]
- Should Hong Kong ban smartphones in schools and who makes final call?by Kristen Cheung,William Yiu on July 2, 2026
When Kwun Tong Maryknoll College in Hong Kong announced that it would tighten its mobile phone rules on campus, some pupils reacted so strongly that the Catholic boys’ school was forced to put the changes on hold. The secondary school, which currently only bans pupils from using their mobile phones on campus, had planned to require devices to be stored in […]
- Hong Kong issues No 1 typhoon signal on Thursday morningby Natalie Wong on July 2, 2026
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 1 typhoon signal at 7.40am on Thursday as an approaching tropical cyclone moved south of the city. The centre of the tropical cyclone was about 800 kilometres (497 miles) from […]
- Rare momentum: Hong Kong universities, schools prop up commercial property marketby Cheryl Arcibal on July 1, 2026
Hong Kong’s educational institutions are forecast to ramp up their investment and leasing in the commercial property segment, with leading universities and international schools among those paying top dollar to acquire or lease office and retail spaces, according to Colliers. In the first five months of the year, property acquisitions by educational […]
- (Hello Africa) The journey of Kenya avocados to Chinaon July 1, 2026
Two months into China's zero-tariff policy, Kenyan avocados are booming -- from Kenyan farms to Chinese tables nationwide. Higher incomes for farmers, a taste of China-Kenya friendship.
- China-Europe Earth observation cooperation moves toward greater complementarity: ESA officialon July 1, 2026
China and Europe have developed a shared ambition to use their data and expertise for the benefit of the planet, as the two sides are complementing each other, said the head of ESA's Department of Climate Action.by Xinhua writers Zhao Jiasong, Gao Wencheng, Zhang JiaweiDUBLIN, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China and Europe have developed mature Earth observation […]
- TRKIYE-ANKARA-XI JINPING-BOOK-PROMOTIONAL EVENTon July 1, 2026
(260701) -- ANKARA, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Celal Adan, deputy speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Trkiye, addresses a promotional event for the fifth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in Ankara, Trkiye, July 1, 2026. A promotional event for the fifth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" was held on Wednesday, bringing […]
- Global condemnation mounts as China accused of using ethnic unity law to erase Tibetan identityon July 1, 2026
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 1 (ANI): The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has intensified its criticism of China's newly enacted Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, calling it a major step toward institutionalising the assimilation of Tibetans and other ethnic minorities, as reported by Phayul.According to Phayul, speaking at a […]
- U.S.-NEW YORK-SHANGHAI-CITY DIALOGUE-URBAN COOPERATIONon July 1, 2026
(260701) -- NEW YORK, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Guests attend the launching ceremony of the third season of "Our Water: Flowing from Shanghai - Intercultural Dialogues among World Cities" in New York, the United States, June 30, 2026. TO GO WITH "Shanghai, New York hold themed dialogues on urban cooperation" (Photo by Zack Zhang/Xinhua)
- How Chinese clay shapes world's porcelain standardson July 1, 2026
NANCHANG, July 1 (Xinhua) -- For centuries, the word kaolin has been closely connected to porcelain worldwide. For Dutch ceramic collector Marc van Hevel, however, it's more than just a term; it serves as his guiding compass.Hevel has spent eight years living in Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital in Jiangxi Province. Drawn by the name's origins, he […]
- Masterful hands in China's porcelain capital captivate, assist global artistson July 1, 2026
NANCHANG, July 1 (Xinhua) -- For many creators, Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital, serves as a massive and living workshop, with numerous local artisans dedicating themselves to a specific niche within the craft in the eastern Chinese city.Such intricate division of labor is a centuries-old tradition, in which young apprentices spend years perfecting a […]
- China tightens grip on Hong Kong as Taiwan warns autonomy, freedoms rapidly erodingon July 1, 2026
Taipei [Taiwan] July 1 (ANI): China's emphasis on national security and executive-led governance has severely weakened Hong Kong's legislative and judicial checks and balances, according to a new report released by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) ahead of the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China. The assessment warns of growing […]
- Xinhua Headlines: Xi hails CPC's 105-year "epic," urges building modern socialist Chinaon July 1, 2026
BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hailed the 105-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as the "most magnificent epic" of the Chinese nation and urged the Party to press ahead to build China into a modern socialist country on schedule.Addressing a gathering marking the CPC's 105th founding anniversary in […]
- Xi's Album | Xi hails CPC's 105-year "epic," urges building modern socialist Chinaon July 1, 2026
BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hailed the 105-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as the "most magnificent epic" of the Chinese nation and urged the Party to press ahead to build China into a modern socialist country on schedule. Addressing a gathering marking the CPC's 105th founding anniversary in […]
- Taiwan Tourism Administration Concludes Successful Three-City Roadshow Across Australia and New Zealandon July 1, 2026
PRNewswireSydney [Australia], July 1: The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) has concluded a three-city trade roadshow across Australia and New Zealand, engaging more than 225 travel industry professionals across Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. Running from 17 to 25 June, the Taiwan Tourism Roadshows brought together airlines, hotels, travel agencies and […]
- Bangladesh wants to maintain mutual relation with India based on trust, equity, respect: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameeron July 1, 2026
Dhaka [Bangladesh], July 1 (ANI): Bangladesh wants to maintain a mutual relationship with India based on trust, equity and respect, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Bangladesh Shafiqur Rahman said on Wednesday, while asserting that Dhaka's domestic projects, including the Teesta Master Plan, should remain its own […]
- Tibetan activists protest China's new 'Ethnic Unity' lawon July 1, 2026
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 1 (ANI): Tibetan activists representing four major non-governmental organisations (NGOs) converged on Wednesday in a coordinated Global Day of Action to voice strong protests against the formal implementation of China's 'new national law', which they say systematically strips Tibetans of their identity.The date […]
- China's law on ethnic affairs takes effect, bolsters legal basis for ethnic unityon July 1, 2026
BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law, China's fundamental law on ethnic affairs, entered into force on Wednesday, strengthening law-based governance in the country's ethnic affairs.Adopted in March by the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, the law is designed to enhance cohesion and common […]
- (RailwayAlbum) CHINA-GUANGDONG-FOSHAN-RAILWAY STATION (CN)on July 1, 2026
(260701) -- FOSHAN, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A drone photo taken on July 1, 2026 shows an exterior view of the Foshan Railway Station in Foshan, south China's Guangdong Province. The Foshan Railway Station opened on Wednesday, becoming another pivotal hub of the railway network in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. (Xinhua)
- ChineseToday | Veteran with hidden glories dedicates to lifetime grassroots serviceon July 1, 2026
(260701) -- SUZHOU, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This undated file photo shows Wang Yuchang working at a department store in Xiaoxian County, east China's Anhui Province. Born in 1936 in Xiaoxian County, east China's Anhui Province, Wang Yuchang joined the military in 1954, and became a technician in a surface-to-air missile unit four years later. Responsible […]
- American family finds horseback bonds on Chinese grasslandson July 1, 2026
HOHHOT, July 1 (Xinhua) -- This summer, the rolling grasslands of Xilin Gol in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region welcomed a group of American horse lovers.Clayson Benally, a 49-year-old horse trainer and artist from Arizona, the United States, traveled thousands of miles with his family to meet Julaa, a 12-year-old ethnic Mongolian girl. The […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-CPC-105TH FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY-GATHERING (CN)on July 1, 2026
(260701) -- BEIJING, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a gathering marking the CPC's 105th founding anniversary at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao […]
- Afghanistan launches drone strikes inside Pakistanon July 1, 2026
Islamabad said its forces intercepted and shot down four drones in the southern resource-rich province of BalochistanAfghanistan has carried out drone strikes inside Pakistan, just days after Islamabad launched border attacks that left 28 dead in the country.The Afghan Defense Ministry claimed to have struck an Islamic State facility in Pakistan's border […]
- Hong Kong police arrest 2 after man dies following dispute at flatby Wynna Wong on July 1, 2026
Hong Kong police have launched a murder investigation and arrested two men after a man died following a dispute in a Mong Kok flat where drugs were also found. A police spokesman said on Wednesday that officers received a call at about 2.50pm on Wednesday from a man who reported that his friend, 45, was attacking another acquaintance, 58, with scissors […]
- (InXizang) CHINA-XIZANG-DAMXUNG-QINGHAI-XIZANG RAILWAY-TATSO-LIFE CHANGES (CN)on July 1, 2026
(260701) -- LHASA, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Tatso (1st L) has fun with her three daughters on a pasture in Damxung County of Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, June 21, 2026. Twenty-one years ago, as the construction of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway was in full swing, Xinhua photojournalist Chogo took a vivid photo at the construction site in […]
- Digikore Studios Signs China Distributor for Kingdom Games at MIFA Annecy; Major Step Towards Global Release of the Filmon July 1, 2026
PNNPune (Maharashtra) [India], July 1: Digikore Studios Limited (NSE: DIGIKORE), a leading technology-driven Visual Effects studio, is pleased to inform stakeholders that its original AI-assisted animated feature film, Kingdom Games, received a fantastic response at MIFA, Annecy, one of the world's most important animation markets. A major highlight was the […]
- Western "traitors" help boost PLA pilot trainingon July 1, 2026
Hong Kong, July 1 (ANI): The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has no shortage of modern aircraft platforms, but one thing that China's air force lacks is combat experience. Recognising this, the PLA has been deviously recruiting pilots and experts from Western countries to pass along their expertise to Chinese pilots.In the latest bombshell, the Daily Mail […]
- China to build space-ground monitoring network for asteroid defenseon July 1, 2026
BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China is working on a space-ground integrated monitoring and early-warning network as a core component of a planetary defense system that is under feasibility study, according to a scientist familiar with the plan.Li Mingtao, chief scientist at the asteroid monitoring and early-warning research center under the China National […]
- CHINA-JIANGXI-JINGDEZHEN-CLAY-PORCELAIN STANDARDS(CN)on July 1, 2026
(260701) -- JINGDEZHEN, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This file photo taken on April 9, 2025 shows a sample of kaolin clay (L) at China Ceramics Museum in Jingdezhen, east China's Jiangxi Province. TO GO WITH "Feature: How Chinese clay shapes world's porcelain standards" (Xinhua/Du Juanjuan)
- Why is Hong Kong holding Communist Party anniversary events? One word: stabilityby Leopold Chen on July 1, 2026
Greater social and political stability in Hong Kong will allow the city to hold high-profile celebratory events for the anniversary of the Communist Party’s establishment, analysts and politicians have said, encouraging residents to learn more about the party. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Wednesday that the government would organise a […]
- InPics | Flag-raising ceremony, reception held to mark 29th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to motherlandon July 1, 2026
HONG KONG, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The government of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday held a flag-raising ceremony and a reception to celebrate the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.
- CHINA-GUANGDONG-HKUST (GZ)-NEW EDUCATION MODEL (CN)on July 1, 2026
(260701) -- GUANGZHOU, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A student (L) talks with a teacher at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 30, 2026. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), which opened in 2022, has adopted an innovative academic structure featuring "Hubs" and […]
- Mainland Chinese tourists pack landmarks as Hong Kong marks 29th anniversaryby Emily Hung on July 1, 2026
Festive events and promotions across Hong Kong marking the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty have drawn large numbers of mainland tourists to major attractions and landmarks in the city. Amid a sea of red national flags and celebratory banners on Wednesday, visitors told the South China Morning Post that they thoroughly enjoyed the perks […]
- Interview: China's development offers valuable inspiration for developing countries, says Saudi experton July 1, 2026
RIYADH, July 1 (Xinhua) -- China's development, which is based on an integrated approach that combines long-term planning, practical implementation and continuous adaptation to evolving realities, offers valuable inspiration for developing countries, said a Saudi expert.China's development was not "a mere historical coincidence," but rather the result of […]
- Thailand’s Bangchak takes over Hong Kong Caltex petrol stations in HK$2.1b dealby Lam Ka-sing on July 1, 2026
One of Thailand’s largest energy conglomerates has bought Caltex petrol stations in Hong Kong in a HK$2.1 billion (US$270 million) deal, which the firm will use as a springboard into North Asia. Semi-privatised Bangchak Corporation Public Company on Tuesday completed the acquisition of 100 per cent of the shares of Chevron Hong Kong from Chevron Companies […]
- China completes in-orbit test of muscle monitor for astronautson July 1, 2026
SHENZHEN, July 1 (Xinhua) -- An electromyography (EMG) monitor device developed by a Chinese research team recently completed its in-orbit experiment. The device can be used in space for real-time assessment of astronauts' muscle status and human-machine interaction, providing key technical support for astronaut health protection and space-based […]
- CIA chief warns of AI-powered digital nuclear weaponson July 1, 2026
The remarks follow a Five Eyes spy alliance warning that cyberwarfare could become a critical threat within monthsAI-driven cyberoffensive tools can be compared to "digital nuclear weapons," CIA Director John Ratcliffe has said, warning that they could fuel rivalries among global powers.Ratcliffe made the comparison on Tuesday in a speech at the Amazon Web […]
- (Hello Africa) China-aided water supply project brings clean water to communities in southern Chadon July 1, 2026
For years, people in southern Chad's Mandoul and Salamat provinces endured long daily journeys to collect water that was often unsafe to drink, until Chinese engineers began drilling deep beneath the arid land in late October 2024, a project that has delivered more than 500 hand-pump wells, 57 centralized water supply stations and over 100 public […]
- CHINA-HONG KONG-RETURN TO MOTHERLAND-29TH ANNIVERSARY-CELEBRATIONS-CRUISE (CN)on July 1, 2026
(260701) -- HONG KONG, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A fishing vessel takes part in a cruise held by the Hong Kong Fishermen Consortium to celebrate the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland at Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong, south China, July 1, 2026. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)
- ‘More space, better service’: Hongkongers flock to mainland for July 1 holidayby Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu,Kristen Cheung on July 1, 2026
Hongkongers poured across the border on Wednesday for a wider range of dining, shopping and family leisure options, seeking a short getaway on the public holiday marking the 29th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule. Major border checkpoints, including the West Kowloon rail terminus and Shenzhen Bay, were packed with holidaymakers carrying […]
- Xiconomics: A railway express that goes beyond tradeon July 1, 2026
by Xinhua writer Liu BoweiBEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The inaugural freight train of China Railway Express (CR Express), departing from Chongqing in southwest China to Duisburg, Germany, in 2011, established a high-speed logistical link between western China and Europe.Fifteen years later, the railway service has grown into a rail network spanning much of […]
- Shenzhen's Robot Valley emerges as global hub of robotics innovationon July 1, 2026
SHENZHEN, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Nestled within a 10-kilometer stretch flanked by the Tanglang and Yangtai mountains in Shenzhen's Nanshan District, China's "Robot Valley" has rapidly evolved into a global epicenter for robotics innovation, driven by an unparalleled supply chain and deep industry-academia integration.Home to over 200 robotics firms and nearly a […]
- U.S.-NEW YORK-SHANGHAI-CITY DIALOGUE-EVENTSon July 1, 2026
(260701) -- NEW YORK, July 1, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Yu Jin, president of China Institute of America, delivers a speech during an event of the Water Season III: Shanghai-New York City Dialogue series at the China Institute of America in New York City, the United States, June 29, 2026. TO GO WITH "Roundup: China-U.S. dialogue in New York draws inspiration from Mei […]












