| 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’s John Lee pledges to expand after-school care for low-income familiesby Ng Kang-chung on April 4, 2026
Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has promised to allow more children from low-income families to enjoy after-school care on campus by further expanding a government scheme following positive feedback from participants. Social workers and educators welcomed the initiative on Saturday, proposing the government widen the scheme’s coverage to include more […]
- Hong Kong IP festival Con-Con draws crowds on opening dayby Theodora Yu on April 4, 2026
Fans and cosplayers flooded an intellectual property (IP) festival that debuted in Hong Kong on Saturday, featuring pop culture exports such as the hit franchise Godzilla as well as local designs and trademarks. Long queues formed at Con-Con Hong Kong 2026, a two-day event at AsiaWorld-Expo bringing together exhibitions, music performances, licensing […]
- New Guangzhou rule on handmade dim sum sparks debate on heritage food in Hong Kongby Lam Ka-sing on April 4, 2026
A new rule in Guangzhou requiring teahouses to declare whether their traditional dim sum is freshly handmade has sparked debate and calls for transparency over how similar meals are made in Hong Kong. Guangzhou authorities on Wednesday released new regulations on morning tea heritage protection, effective on May 1, which mandate that operators must […]
- ChineseToday | Self-made entrepreneur powers Chinese motorcycles to stardomon April 4, 2026
CHONGQING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- ZXMOTO, a relatively obscure Chinese brand, founded in 2024 by Zhang Xue in Chongqing, secured stunning victories in the World Supersport (WorldSSP) category at the Portuguese round of the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) in March. It sent shockwaves through the industry and quickly went viral across Chinese social media. […]
- Petroleum Ministry refutes crude cargo diversion to China due to 'payment issues'on April 4, 2026
New Delhi [India], April 4 (ANI): The Petroleum Ministry on Saturday refuted the reports alleging that an Iranian crude cargo heading to India was diverted to China due to 'payment issues'.In an X post, the Petroleum Ministry stated that India has faced no payment hurdle in securing crude oil imports. Rubbishing the media reports, the ministry said that the […]
- WUC marks 36 years of Baren Uprising, calls for justice and global action against Chinaon April 4, 2026
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- US lawmakers push Bipartisan Bill to protect Taiwan's undersea cables amid rising China threaton April 4, 2026
Washington DC [US], April 4 (ANI): Three members of the U.S. House of Representatives have put forward a bipartisan bill designed to bolster the resilience of Taiwan's undersea cables and other critical infrastructure in response to increasing threats from China, as reported by the Central News Agency (CNA).According to the proposed legislation, the United […]
- Punters hoping for happy Easter by winning HK$80 million Mark Six snowball drawby Lam Ka-sing on April 4, 2026
Heavy rain failed to dampen the hopes of punters trying their luck in Hong Kong’s Mark Six lottery on Saturday, with the estimated first prize of HK$80 million (US$10.2 million) in an Easter snowball draw. According to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, as Saturday night’s draw will carry a snowball of HK$63 million, the estimated first division prize fund is […]
- (Hello Africa) Tanzania's Zanzibar doctor achieves anesthesia breakthrough with Chinese supporton April 4, 2026
Inside an operating theater at Tanzania's Zanzibar Lumumba Regional Referral Hospital, Mwadini Maalim Simai, head of the anesthesiology department, completed the region's first ultrasound-guided brachial plexus nerve block. This marked a notable breakthrough in the application of advanced regional anesthesia techniques in the area.ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, April […]
- Stellar corporate earnings signal China's strengthening economic momentumon April 4, 2026
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- Underwater robots battle real-sea blues to boost marine ranching in Chinaon April 4, 2026
ZHUHAI, Guangdong, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The grey-green water off Zhuhai in south China's Guangdong Province churns as teams of small underwater robots compete to make a big revolution at China's marine ranches.This is not a laboratory test. It is the final round of the inaugural Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area marine underwater robot application […]
- CHINA-MOTORCYCLE-ZXMOTO-PRODUCTION-DEVELOPMENT (CN)on April 4, 2026
(260404) -- CHONGQING, April 4, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Xue, founder of Chinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO, receives an interview at the factory building of ZXMOTO in Liangjiang New Area, southwest China's Chongqing, April 1, 2026. ZXMOTO, a relatively obscure Chinese brand, founded in 2024 by Zhang Xue in Chongqing, secured stunning victories in the […]
- Hongkongers crossing border for Easter break wowed by new Shenzhen tech museumby Fiona Sun,Edith Lin on April 4, 2026
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- Posters: How the Chinese observe Qingmingon April 4, 2026
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- Self-made entrepreneur powers Chinese motorcycles to stardomon April 4, 2026
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- Interview: Belt and Road cooperation fostering green, open global economy, says Kyrgyz experton April 4, 2026
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- Column: China-Pakistan joint initiative -- a pragmatic, feasible approach to Mideast peaceon April 4, 2026
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- Hong Kong Hospital Authority apologises for data breach involving 56,000 patientsby Edith Lin on April 4, 2026
Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog and police are investigating a large-scale data leak involving more than 56,000 patients served by the Hospital Authority, which reported the unauthorised retrieval of a variety of information. The authority on Saturday apologised to affected victims – patients of hospitals in Kowloon East – for the breach that compromised […]
- Amber rainstorm warning in Hong Kong, with thunderstorms expected over weekendby Edith Lin on April 4, 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 bracing for a series of thunderstorms over the weekend, with the weather forecaster having issued an amber rainstorm warning for almost three hours on Saturday. The Hong Kong Observatory announced the […]
- KMB told to probe machines that gave free bus rides as revised HK$2 scheme launchedby Edith Lin on April 4, 2026
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- Macron urges nations not to be vassals of the US or Chinaon April 4, 2026
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- Macron urges nations not to be 'vassals' of the US or Chinaon April 4, 2026
The French president called on like-minded countries to band together in the face of Washington's "unpredictability" French President Emmanuel Macron has called on nations around the world not to become "vassals" of the United States or China, following his public spat with US President Donal
- Macron urges nations not to be vassals of US or Chinaon April 4, 2026
The French president called on like-minded countries to band together in the face of Washingtons unpredictabilityFrench President Emmanuel Macron has called on nations around the world to not become "vassals" of the US or China, following his public spat with US President Donald Trump over Iran and NATO.During a trip to Seoul on Friday, Macron urged […]
- Macron urges nations not to be 'vassals' of US or Chinaon April 4, 2026
The French president called on like-minded countries to band together in the face of Washington's "unpredictability" French President Emmanuel Macron has called on nations around the world to not become "vassals" of the US or China, following his public spat with US President Donald Trump over Iran and […]
- Iran Executes Two More Men On Terrorism Chargeson April 4, 2026
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- China Sports Weekly (3.29-4.4)on April 4, 2026
BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:1. China's ZXMOTO claims historic WorldSSP wins at WSBK Portuguese roundChinese motorcycle manufacturer ZXMOTO has secured a landmark double victory in the World Supersport (WorldSSP) category at the Portuguese round of the Superbike World Championship, marking a […]
- Tipping scales in fighting against pollenon April 4, 2026
BEIJING, April 4 (Xinhua) -- As an allergist who also suffers from pollen allergies, Li Lisha is keenly aware of the arrival of pollen season. The blast of wind that makes the Associate Professor of the Allergy Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) sneeze reminds her that pollen season has come again.Every year from early March onward, […]
- Hong Kong airport opens sensory space for passengers with invisible disabilitiesby Emily Hung on April 4, 2026
Hong Kong International Airport has opened a sensory corner to ease travel stress for passengers with invisible disabilities, ranging from autism to dementia. Major airports around the world, including Singapore Changi and London Heathrow, have introduced sensory rooms or quiet zones for neurodivergent travellers in recent years, as part of a wider effort […]
- "Trump muddled on war aims": Bolton warns of prolonged Iran conflicton April 3, 2026
Washington DC [US], April 4 (ANI): Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has raised concerns over the strategic clarity of US President Donald Trump's approach to the ongoing Iran conflict, warning that contradictions in messaging and undefined objectives could prolong the war.Speaking in an interview with ANI, Bolton said, 'Well, I think Trump's […]
- Amit Shah accuses Nehru-Gandhi family of neglecting Assamon April 3, 2026
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- Domestic helper arrested after 6-month-old girl dies in Hong Kongby Lam Ka-sing on April 3, 2026
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- TANZANIA-ZANZIBAR-CHINA-SUPPORT-ANESTHESIA-BREAKTHROUGHon April 3, 2026
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- ROMANIA-BUCHAREST-CHINA-XIZANG PHOTO EXHIBITIONon April 3, 2026
(260403) -- BUCHAREST, April 3, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit a photo exhibition themed on southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region in Bucharest, Romania, April 2, 2026. (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
- TOGO-LOME-CHINA-EMERGENCY FOOD AIDon April 3, 2026
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- China signals fresh push for balanced foreign tradeon April 3, 2026
BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- China has sent fresh signals of promoting more balanced development of imports and exports to optimize its trade structure and pursue high-quality growth.A recent commentary article in the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called for concrete steps to balance import and […]
- 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
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- 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 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 the first arrest occurred two days earlier at Hong Kong International Airport when officers found 3.1kg (6.8lbs) of suspected ketamine in the baggage of […]
- 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 […]













