| 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
- Industrial costs up 50% in Hong Kong since start of Middle East war: oil executiveby Lo Hoi-ying on April 30, 2026
Operating costs for Hong Kong’s industrial and commercial sectors have jumped by 50 per cent since the start of the United States-Israel war with Iran, according to an oil industry representative, who has said distributors will pass on subsidies to customers. A taxi union leader on Thursday also called on the government to extend its subsidy on liquefied […]
- Nepal Airlines issues apology for 'cartographic inaccuracies' in distorted projection of India's mapon April 30, 2026
Kathmandu [Nepal], April 30 (ANI): Nepal Airlines on Thursday issued an apology for wrongly displaying Indian territories in its map, saying that the map did not reflect the official stance of Nepal or the airline.The airline said they removed the post as it contained 'cartographic inaccuracies' which did not reflect the official stance of Nepal or the […]
- Chinese court defends labor rights in new AI-replacement caseon April 30, 2026
HANGZHOU, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese court has ruled in favor of a human employee in a labor dispute caused by AI replacement, which experts said may send a reassuring message to labor rights protection efforts in the age of automation.The case was published on Tuesday by the Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court in Hangzhou, an AI hub in Zhejiang […]
- Xinhua Commentary: Zero tariffs forge stronger China-Africa partnership toward shared prosperityon April 30, 2026
Through technology transfer, infrastructure investment and expanded market access, China is helping Africa strengthen the industrial foundations needed for long-term development. Across the continent, China is increasingly seen as a reliable and sincere partner.by Xinhua writers Yang Dingdu, Li ZhuoqunNAIROBI, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China's announcement of […]
- Stealth vaping continues despite new Hong Kong ban, 2 penalisedby Theodora Yu,Vivian Au on April 30, 2026
Some Hong Kong residents are still vaping in hidden corners despite a new ban on the public use of alternative tobacco products, the South China Morning Post has observed, with at least two penalised by authorities. “We will issue penalty tickets without warning, and step up publicity in high-traffic areas such as business districts,” Dr Manny Lam […]
- Digital technologies build new bridges for international artistic exchangeon April 30, 2026
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- From the digital revival of cultural heritage to the global popularity of Chinese-inspired creative works, digital technology is opening new pathways for artistic exchange across borders.At the ongoing Global Dialogue on Art and Technology forum, which opened Tuesday in Beijing, experts noted that the integration of art and […]
- India's Ambassador-designate to China meets Army chief; discusses geostrategic tieson April 30, 2026
New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): India's Ambassador-designate to China Vikram Doraiswami called on the Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi on Thursday and discussed geostrategic issues, bilateral engagement and measures to strengthen existing mechanisms amid ongoing sensitivities in India-China relations.In a post on X, the ADGPI said, 'Vikram […]
- US Supreme Court to hear Cisco case over alleged role in CCP surveillance, UHRP demands corporate accountabilityon April 30, 2026
Washington DC [US] April 30 (ANI): The United States Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on April 28, 2026, in the case of Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe I, a major legal battle that could determine whether a leading American technology company can be held accountable for allegedly assisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in surveillance and persecution […]
- Tai Po fire probe: URA’s lack of price checks opened door to ‘unscrupulous consultants’by Leopold Chen,Brian Wong on April 30, 2026
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. An independent committee investigating the deadly blaze at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court residential estate is holding its 21st day of evidential hearings on Thursday, with three witnesses from the Urban Renewal […]
- Elderly man drowns during morning swim at Hong Kong’s Lung Mei Beachby Lo Hoi-ying on April 30, 2026
An elderly man drowned while swimming at Lung Mei Beach in Hong Kong’s Tai Po on Thursday morning. Police said they received a report at 7.25am of a swimmer struggling to stay afloat. Officers rescued the 73-year-old man about 100 metres (328 feet) from shore. He was taken to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po, where he was pronounced dead. […]
- Update: China adopts law to strengthen social assistance systemon April 30, 2026
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Thursday voted to adopt a law on social assistance, aimed at strengthening basic living support and providing a stronger safety net for vulnerable groups.The law was passed after its third reading at a legislative session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which runs from […]
- Hong Kong tour groups to mainland China surge by up to 40% for Labour Day weekendby Ambrose Li on April 30, 2026
Tour groups from Hong Kong to mainland China are expected to rise by up to 40 per cent year on year over the Labour Day weekend, with travel agents citing improved safety and hygiene as key factors attracting visitors. The agents also said that slight increases in fuel surcharges for flights to Asian destinations were not the main driver of shifting […]
- Avian "feces bombardment" haunts Chinese owners of aggressive petson April 30, 2026
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A black bird swoops down, deliberately splattering its droppings at a pet cat pawing behind windowpane. What sounds like a Tom and Jerry scene is, for some pet owners in China, a real-life nuisance.From east China's Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces to central China's Hubei Province, many have recently shared videos of […]
- At Beijing auto show, rising fuel costs boost China's NEV opportunityon April 30, 2026
BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Turmoil in the Middle East and the rising cost of filling a tank are giving drivers yet another reason to switch to Chinese new energy vehicles (NEVs), which are already all the rage with their competitive prices, chic designs and intelligent systems.This shift is palpable at the world's biggest auto show, which is being held […]
- HUNGARY-BUDAPEST-ELTE CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE-20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONon April 30, 2026
(260430) -- BUDAPEST, April 30, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Eotvos Lorand University (ELTE) Rector Lenard Darazs speaks during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the ELTE Confucius Institute in Budapest, Hungary, April 29, 2026. TO GO WITH "ELTE Confucius Institute marks 20 years of promoting China-Hungary exchanges" (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)
- Should the law treat autonomous AI ‘agents’ as legal persons?by Alexander Tang on April 30, 2026
Almost everyone has heard of OpenClaw, the late-2025 agentic AI release which takes artificial intelligence technology one step further. Rather than leaving the user to turn answers given in a dialogue box into real life action, the latest AI iteration promises to take the final leap of executing tasks autonomously. Users have raved about the productivity […]
- Will top Hong Kong civil servants pay price for blunders under new system?by Natalie Wong on April 30, 2026
Note: This story has been updated to clarify former transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung’s remarks about his readiness to step down following the 2012 Lamma ferry tragedy. Where exactly does the buck stop? Senior Hong Kong civil servants are asking themselves that question after the unveiling of a new accountability system targeting department […]
- GHANA-ACCRA-CHINA-ZERO-TARIFF POLICYon April 30, 2026
(260429) -- ACCRA, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Daniel Kombat, chief executive officer of Danikom Ghana Limited, a producer of natural shea butter and African black soap, poses for photos with shea butter products at an exhibition stand during the Shea 2026 conference in Accra, Ghana, April 28, 2026. Daniel Kombat has said that his company is preparing to […]
- HKMA warns of interest-rate uncertainty as Fed’s trajectory remains doubtfulby Enoch Yiu on April 29, 2026
Hong Kong’s monetary authority warned of interest-rate uncertainty amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, after leaving its base rate unchanged on Thursday in tandem with the US Federal Reserve. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) said US interest-rate movements were affected by the Middle East tensions, which had led to higher oil prices and […]
- TUC 2026: Indian men finish second in Group A after losing to defending champions Chinaon April 29, 2026
Copenhagen [Denmark], April 29 (ANI): The Indian men's team finished second in Group A after their spirited effort was not enough to beat defending champions China in their last round robin clash of the Thomas & Uber Cup 2026 in Horsens, Denmark, on Wednesday, according to a release.Having beaten Canada and Australia in their earlier group clashes, both […]
- China won't fight the US, but may still pay the priceon April 29, 2026
Beijing's cautious foreign policy reflects deeper strategic constraints The dramatic events of the first months of 2026 offer a useful lens through which to assess the evolving role of the world's major powers. Among those often cast as architects of a new international order, China stands out, arguably even […]
- China wont fight the US, but may still pay the priceon April 29, 2026
Beijings cautious foreign policy reflects deeper strategic constraintsThe dramatic events of the first months of 2026 offer a useful lens through which to assess the evolving role of the world's major powers. Among those often cast as architects of a new international order, China stands out, arguably even ahead of Russia and the United States, both of […]
- ETHIOPIA-OROMIA-BISHOFTU INT'L AIRPORT-ELECTRIC HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKSon April 29, 2026
(260429) -- ADDIS ABABA, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- An aerial photo taken on April 29, 2026 shows the electric heavy-duty trucks at the construction site of the Bishoftu International Airport, near Bishoftu town in the Oromia regional state of Ethiopia. China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) on Wednesday introduced 50 electric heavy-duty trucks to […]
- China accused of erasing Tibetan religious heritage amid fresh constructions in Drago countyon April 29, 2026
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India] April 29 (ANI): Authorities in Tibet's Drago County have come under criticism after reports revealed that a site once home to a towering Buddha statue has been converted into a horse racing track by the Chinese Communist government, while new structures have been erected over the demolished Geden Buddhist School, as […]
- U.S. plans fresh tariffs as earlier levies near expirationon April 29, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration is racing to rebuild its tariff regime after the Supreme Court struck down a key legal tool earlier this year, forcing officials to find new ways to maintain import taxes and the revenue they generate. Temporary tariffs imposed in February under emergency powers are set to expire in less than three months, leaving […]
- Dubai Police lead global operation with FBI, Chinese Police to arrest 276 fraud suspectson April 29, 2026
DUBAI, 29th April, 2026 (WAM) -- In a high-impact international crackdown on transnational organised financial crime, Dubai Police, under the umbrella of the UAE Ministry of Interior, have carried out a coordinated global operation, codenamed "Tri-Force Sentinel", in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Chinese Police, leading […]
- China's gray zone pressure forces Taiwan to reinvent coast guard strategyon April 29, 2026
Taipei [Taiwan] April 29 (ANI): In response to mounting 'gray zone' tactics from China, William Lai has unveiled plans for a sweeping overhaul of Taiwan Coast Guard Administration operations, as reported by The Taipei Times.According to The Taipei Times, speaking at the CGA's first-ever National Sea Light Awards ceremony, Lai praised coast guard personnel […]
- POTUS has reclaimed America's mineral independence, says Doug Burgum, as research finds Appalachian lithium reserves sufficient to replace 328 years of US importson April 29, 2026
New Delhi [India], April 29 (ANI): The Appalachian region of the eastern United States contains an estimated 2.3 million metric tons of undiscovered, economically recoverable lithium, a volume sufficient to replace 328 years of American imports at last year's levels, according to new research by the US Geological Survey (USGS).Doug Burgum, the 55th […]
- Iran crisis a wake-up call for India to push indigenous semiconductor design, says L&T's Sanjay Guptaon April 29, 2026
New Delhi [India], April 29 (ANI): The disruption caused by the Iran conflict should serve as a catalyst for India to accelerate its push for indigenous semiconductor design and sovereign electronics, said Sanjay Gupta, Chief Development Officer and Global Head of Engineering at L&T Semiconductor Technologies.In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Gupta […]
- Indian markets end higher despite brent crude topping $115, Nifty gains 0.8% led by ITC and Relianceon April 29, 2026
New Delhi [India], April 29 (ANI): The Indian stock markets displayed resilience on Wednesday, closing in the green despite Brent crude prices surging to $115 per barrel -- their highest level since 2022 -- amid heightened uncertainty over the Iran war and the UAE's decision to exit OPEC.The Nifty 50 settled at 24,177.65 points, up 0.8 per cent, while the […]
- Shock and opportunity: The consequences of the UAEs OPEC exiton April 29, 2026
Abu Dhabis break with the cartel could flood markets, rattle prices, and redraw power lines from Riyadh to MoscowThe United Arab Emirates has announced its withdrawal from OPEC and the OPEC+ format effective May 1, 2026, ending nearly six decades of membership. This marks the largest institutional disruption to the oil production coordination system since […]
- China announces top 10 archaeological discoveries for 2025on April 29, 2026
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday announced its 2025 list of the top 10 archaeological discoveries, with findings spanning from the forests of the Changbai Mountains in the northeast to the foothills of the Helan Mountains in the northwest, offering fresh insights into key chapters of the 5,000-year-long Chinese civilization.The annual list, […]
- #CHINA-MAY DAY HOLIDAY-RAILWAY-TRAVEL (CN)on April 29, 2026
(260429) -- BEIJING, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A bullet train departs from Suzhou Railway Station in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 29, 2026. China's railways are expected to handle 158 million passenger trips during the May Day holiday travel period -- an eight-day travel rush from April 29 to May 6, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-WANG YI-AUSTRALIAN FM-DIALOGUE (CN)on April 29, 2026
(260429) -- BEIJING, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, holds the eighth China-Australia diplomatic and strategic dialogue with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Beijing, capital of China, April 29, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
- US squares up to China over Panama Canalon April 29, 2026
Beijing has accused Washington of leading a smear campaign over its ownership of two portsThe US has announced a six-nation coalition aimed at pressuring China to relinquish its interests in two ports in the Panama Canal, accusing Beijing of infringing on Panama's sovereignty and politicizing global trade. China has called the claims "baseless."The […]
- Update: China again demands Japan to accelerate process of addressing abandoned chemical weaponson April 29, 2026
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- China again demands that Japan accelerate the process of addressing abandoned chemical weapons (ACWs) as it is Japan's unshakable responsibility, give back to the Chinese people their clean homeland, and remove the biggest obstacle to realizing a world free of chemical weapons, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian […]
- CHINA-FUJIAN-FUZHOU-9TH DIGITAL CHINA SUMMIT-OPENING (CN)on April 29, 2026
(260429) -- FUZHOU, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Wang Xingxing, founder and chief executive officer of Unitree Robotics, speaks at a main forum of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, April 29, 2026. The summit, under the theme "Accelerating Innovation and Development in Digital Technologies and Deepening the Building of […]
- 60 days later: the US-Israeli war on Iran so faron April 29, 2026
Donald Trumps misadventure in the Persian Gulf has become a quagmireSixty days into the US-Israeli war on Iran, peace talks are stalled and the world is bracing for yet more economic pain. RT asks how we got here, and who - if anyone - is really winning in the Persian Gulf?April 29 marks 60 days since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran. The […]
- CHINA-BEIJING-HAN ZHENG-AUSTRALIAN FM-MEETING (CN)on April 29, 2026
(260429) -- BEIJING, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Beijing, capital of China, April 29, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
- (FOCUS)CHINA-2025 TOP 10 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES (CN)on April 29, 2026
(260429) -- BEIJING, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This file photo shows a jade object discovered from the Changchun Site, Fuping, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. TO GO WITH "China Focus: China announces top 10 archaeological discoveries for 2025" (Xinhua)
- Manchester, Wuhan mark 40-year city partnership, pledge sustained cooperationon April 29, 2026
The Wuhan-Manchester partnership dates back to 1986, when a Manchester City Council friendship delegation first visited the central Chinese city. Over the past four decades, the two cities have developed strong ties across government, education, business, culture, and sports, becoming one of the earliest China-UK city partnerships to establish reciprocal […]
- China's innovation drive a boon to the worldon April 29, 2026
BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- China is strengthening its role as a key driver of global economic growth by promoting high-quality development through sci-tech innovation, with officials and analysts saying the innovation drive is a boon to the world.Speaking at the China Development Forum 2026 in March, Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of […]
- UZBEKISTAN-KHIVA-LAZGI DANCE FESTIVAL-CHINESE DANCERSon April 29, 2026
(260429) -- KHIVA, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A dancer from the Beijing Dance Academy performs during the third International Lazgi Dance Festival in Khiva, Uzbekistan, on April 26, 2026. TO GO WITH "Feature: Chinese dancers light up Central Asian stage at Lazgi dance festival" (Xinhua/Li Renzi)
- CHINA-FUJIAN-FUZHOU-DING XUEXIANG-DIGITAL CHINA SUMMIT-OPENING CEREMONY (CN)on April 29, 2026
(260429) -- FUZHOU, April 29, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, east China's Fujian Province, April 29, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
- Guangdong to ‘actively align’ with Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis pushby Lo Hoi-ying on April 29, 2026
Guangdong will “actively align” with Hong Kong’s strategy for the Northern Metropolis megaproject and highlight areas of collaboration as part of the province’s 15th five-year plan. The Guangdong provincial government on Tuesday published its development blueprint, with the term “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area” mentioned 57 times in […]











