China

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 budget must help those who need it most
    by Alice Wu on February 22, 2026

    Maybe it’s because we are riding on the euphoria of good fortune and luck that is associated with the celebration of the Lunar New Year that there hasn’t been much of the noise that we usually hear ahead of the annual budget speech. Typically, the weeks leading up to the speech are filled with groups petitioning and suggesting how the government should […]

  • Holi trade to cross Rs 80,000 crore this year; Markets witness surge in swadeshi products: Praveen Khandelwal
    on February 22, 2026

    New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General and Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal said that the upcoming Holi festival is expected to generate business exceeding Rs 80,000 crore across India this year, reflecting a growth of nearly 25 per cent compared to last year's […]

  • #CHINA-SPRING TRAVEL RUSH-INTER-REGIONAL PASSENGER TRIPS-HALFWAY POINT (CN)
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- BEIJING, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Passengers are pictured at a platform of Harbin Railway Station in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 22, 2026. China's 2026 Spring Festival travel rush had passed its halfway point as of Saturday, with inter-regional passenger trips reaching 5.08 billion in the first 20 days, the Ministry of […]

  • 5 dogs found poisoned to death in Hong Kong’s New Territories in single week
    by Lo Hoi-ying on February 22, 2026

    A dog suspected to have been poisoned was found dead in Hong Kong’s New Territories on Sunday, the fifth such case in the past week, according to police. The force on Sunday said that between February 16 and Saturday, it had received four reports involving the discovery of five dead dogs suspected to have been poisoned in an open space on Liu Pok Road in […]

  • Eileen Gu retains halfpipe crown, sets Olympics freestyle medal record
    on February 22, 2026

    (Photo credit: Reuters/Marko Djurica)LIVIGNO, Italy -- China's Eileen Gu successfully defended her women's halfpipe crown at the Winter Games on Sunday with a high-flying run that made her the most decorated Olympic freestyle skier of all time with six medals.Gu's compatriot Li Fanghui won silver and the bronze went to Zoe Atkin of Great Britain.After a […]

  • (SP)SINGAPORE-TABLE TENNIS-WTT SMASH 2026-MEN'S SINGLES
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Wang Chuqin serves during the men's singles round of 64 match between Wang Chuqin of China and Finn Luu of Australia at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash 2026 in Singapore on Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

  • Hong Kong eyes booking system, fees after campers overrun hotspots
    by Danny Mok on February 22, 2026

    Hong Kong authorities are looking at implementing a booking system and charging fees for camping hotspots as part of a review of management strategies in response to public concerns about overcrowded beaches and litter during the Lunar New Year holiday. The Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) posted its plan on its Facebook page on […]

  • China tracks, monitors Australian warship transit Taiwan Strait
    on February 22, 2026

    Beijing [China], February 22 (ANI): An Anzac-class warship of Australia, an ally of the United States, transited through the Taiwan Strait, a Chinese military source told State media, which said that the frigate was tracked and monitored throughout the transit.A Chinese military source told the Global Times that on February 20 and February 21, the Royal […]

  • Economy | Ice and snow activities boom during Spring Festival holiday
    on February 22, 2026

    BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Many people across China went outdoors and embraced the joy of various ice and snow-themed activities during this year's Spring Festival holiday.

  • Chinese museums use technology for immersive Spring Festival experiences
    on February 22, 2026

    YINCHUAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At the foot of the Helan Mountain in Yinchuan, capital city of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a corridor within the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum has been transformed into a bustling street scene from a millennium ago during the Spring Festival holiday.Actors clad in traditional costumes of the Song (960-1279) […]

  • Ride with films: Year of the Horse sees movie-inspired tourism surge in China
    on February 22, 2026

    BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Blockbusters are doing more than leading the holiday box office at the beginning of the Year of the Horse in China -- they are reshaping holiday travel patterns, fueling a nationwide boom in movie-inspired tourism.According to online ticketing platforms, the total Spring Festival box office revenue (including pre-sales) […]

  • Economy&Life | Ice and snow activities boom during Spring Festival holiday
    on February 22, 2026

    BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Many people across China went outdoors and embraced the joy of various ice and snow-themed activities during this year's Spring Festival holiday.

  • CHINA-GUANGDONG-PUNING-YINGGE DANCE (CN)
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- PUNING, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Artists perform Yingge dance in Puning, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 22, 2026. The Yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song," is a folk dance of south China's Guangdong Province which has enjoyed growing popularity nationwide in recent years. As many shops in Puning chose to open their doors to start […]

  • (SP)SINGAPORE-TABLE TENNIS-WTT SMASH 2026-WOMEN'S SINGLES
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- SINGAPORE, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Ser Lin Qian hits a return during the women's singles round of 64 match between Ser Lin Qian of Singapore and Zhang Mo of Canada at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Singapore Smash 2026 in Singapore on Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

  • Crosstalk teahouses enjoy rising popularity in China's Tianjin
    on February 22, 2026

    TIANJIN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- A traditional crosstalk teahouse in a shopping mall in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin is experiencing one of its biggest crowds of the year during the Spring Festival holiday. Most of the audience consists of out-of-town visitors, and tickets are often sold out quickly.Qianxiangyi, a century-old brand once known as a […]

  • Cradle next to a greenhouse: China brings daycare to the fields
    on February 22, 2026

    by Xinhua writers Zhou Yan and Zhang LiyuanQINGDAO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- In the sprawling tomato greenhouses of Cuijiaji town on the outskirts of Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong Province, farmers start working at daybreak. Some of them had by then already dropped off their toddlers at a vibrant, colorful daycare facility just a few steps […]

  • (MICO2026)ITALY-TESERO-OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES-CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING-WOMEN'S 50KM MASS START CLASSIC
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- TESERO, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Heidi Weng (R) of Norway and Ebba Andersson of Sweden compete during the cross-country skiing women's 50km mass start classic match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Tesero, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/He Canling)

  • PERU-LIMA-CHINESE TRADITIONAL CULTURE-ACTIVITIES
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- LIMA, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A girl learns to write Chinese calligraphy in Lima, Peru, Feb. 21, 2026. Various activities were held by the Confucius Institute at Ricardo Palma University in Lima to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Saturday. (Photo by Mariana Bazo/Xinhua)

  • Designer behind Victoria Harbor fireworks in Hong Kong
    on February 22, 2026

    HONG KONG, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- As more than 30,000 shells soared from barges over the Victoria Harbor on Wednesday night, the sky of Hong Kong was transformed into a luminous canvas, with rippling reflections of the fireworks on the water seamlessly merging with the glittering city skyline.The fireworks show, a much-anticipated event among Hong Kong […]

  • "My religious identity shouldn't be mocked": Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Devaswom chairmanship
    on February 22, 2026

    Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], February 22 (ANI): Union Minister Suresh Gopi inaugurated a special memorial event marking the 50th anniversary of MS Mani, the founder editor of Kala Kaumudi, one of Kerala's most respected publications.He addressed the ongoing religious attacks targeting him, especially in the context of his interest in the Devaswom […]

  • Column: From Nobusuke Kishi to Shinzo Abe to Sanae Takaichi: How Japanese militarism is staging a comeback
    on February 22, 2026

    Japan's failure to fully confront its wartime crimes has fueled historical denial, empowered right-wing revisionism, and enabled a dangerous resurgence of militarismby Wen WuAN INCOMPLETE RECKONINGThe failure to thoroughly reckon with Japan's wartime crimes after World War II (WWII) has left militarism dormant, only to erupt some day in the future if going […]

  • China's Mandarin-only schooling in East Turkistan sparks fears of Uyghur language erasure
    on February 22, 2026

    Washington DC [US], February 22 (ANI): On International Mother Language Day, observed annually on February 21 and proclaimed by UNESCO, conversations around linguistic diversity have taken on renewed urgency as concerns mount over education policies affecting Uyghur students in East Turkistan.In a video shared on X, residents of East Turkistan, including a […]

  • More advanced maths students needed for science, tech sectors: Hong Kong committee head
    by William Yiu on February 22, 2026

    Hong Kong must more than double the number of secondary school pupils studying advanced maths to ensure a sufficient pipeline of students pursuing science and technology courses at university and careers in those sectors, according to the head of a curriculum review. The government plans to review the admission score calculations for some of the […]

  • NEW ZEALAND-WELLINGTON-SPRING FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- WELLINGTON, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A child performs lion dance during a Spring Festival celebration in Wellington, New Zealand, Feb. 22, 2026. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua)

  • CHINA-TIANJIN-CROSSTALK TEAHOUSES-RISING POPULARITY (CN)
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- TIANJIN, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People watch crosstalk, or Xiangsheng in Chinese, a popular Chinese comedic performance art, at a crosstalk teahouse in north China's Tianjin, Feb. 19, 2026. TO GO WITH "Economic Watch: Crosstalk teahouses enjoy rising popularity in China's Tianjin" (Xinhua)

  • CHINA-SHANDONG-QINGDAO-DAYCARE CENTER (CN)
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- QINGDAO, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Zhu Xiuqin plays with a child at the Kangbei Childcare Center in Lyujia Village of Cuijiaji Town, Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 30, 2025. TO GO WITH "China Focus: Cradle next to a greenhouse: China brings daycare to the fields" (Xinhua/Zhang Liyuan)

  • CHINA-ZHEJIANG-DEQING-AI VIRTUAL FILM BASE (CN)
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- DEQING, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on Nov. 26, 2025 shows a virtual scene of the main stadium of Hong Kong's Kai Tak Sports Park at Versatile Media's AI virtual film base in Deqing, east China's Zhejiang Province. TO GO WITH "Across China: AI-powered virtual technologies elevate Chinese filmmaking via grand realism, efficiency" […]

  • (MICO2026)ITALY-LIVIGNO-OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES-FREESTYLE SKIING-WOMEN'S FREESKI HALFPIPE-FINAL
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- LIVIGNO, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Gu Ailing of China reacts during run 2 of the freestyle skiing women's freeski halfpipe final at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

  • Roundup: U.S. major ports seek stability over court ruling against Trump's tariff policy
    on February 22, 2026

    The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling against Trump's sweeping tariffs is expected to have a significant impact on two of the nation's busiest trade hubs -- the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles -- which together form the largest gateway for international trade in the United States.by Julia Pierrepont IIILOS ANGELES, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Leaders […]

  • Hong Kong jewellery sales sparkle amid 13% jump in mainland Chinese visitors
    by Oscar Liu on February 22, 2026

    Hong Kong recorded a 13 per cent increase in visitors from mainland China during the Lunar New Year holiday against a year ago, with the influx boosting jewellery sales by 10 per cent during the period despite a sharp rise in gold prices. Industry representatives said on Sunday that overall business was better than last year, although the recovery remained […]

  • Pokemon cards worth HK$8,000 stolen in Hong Kong shop burglary
    by Danny Mok on February 22, 2026

    A man has reported the loss of Pokemon trading cards worth about HK$8,000 (US$1,023) after a burglary at a shop in Hong Kong – the second reported criminal case involving the collectibles in two months. Police said they received a report at about 2.50am on Sunday from a 25-year-old man that his 1,000 sq ft shop in Chung Mei Centre on Hing Yip Street, Kwun […]

  • "World's supermarket" gallops into Year of Horse with vision, vigor
    on February 22, 2026

    HANGZHOU, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Under the festive lights of a shop in Yiwu, the eastern Chinese city known as "the world's supermarket," Vivian Li, a veteran exporter of hairpieces, smoothed the strands of a product from her latest line, "Ponytail," and turned it lightly in her hands.Speaking to a longtime Ethiopian client, she elaborated on the cultural […]

  • #CHINA-SPRING-RAPESEED FLOWER-SCENERY (CN)
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- BEIJING, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- A bee flies over rapeseed flowers in Xinyin Village of Siba Town, Luocheng Mulao Autonomous County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Feb. 20, 2026. (Photo by Wu Yaorong/Xinhua)

  • Hong Kong fans were right to bet on lottery picks from K-pop star G Dragon
    by Lo Hoi-ying on February 22, 2026

    Some lucky Hong Kong fans of K-pop star G Dragon pocketed at least HK$320 (US$41) from the record HK$200 million Lunar New Year Mark Six draw after they chose lottery numbers he suggested. G Dragon fans took to social media to share news of their earnings after the winning numbers were announced on Saturday. During a fan meeting earlier this month in Seoul, […]

  • Silent suffering: how a domestic helper’s Hong Kong dream became a nightmare
    by Emily Hung on February 22, 2026

    Sanju*, a foreign domestic helper of Nepalese ethnicity, never imagined her Hong Kong dream would turn into a nightmare. The 34-year-old arrived in Hong Kong in 2023, driven by a simple wish to work in the city of her dreams. But she said her first employer paid her 30 per cent below the statutory minimum wage, allowed her only two hours of sleep a day, and […]

  • (Hello Africa) Dragon dances and dumplings: Cape Town locals embrace Chinese New Year at vibrant temple fair
    on February 22, 2026

    An annual Chinese New Year temple fair was held in South Africa's legislative capital of Cape Town on Saturday, offering local residents a vibrant feast of Chinese culture and cuisine while highlighting cultural exchange and integration between the Chinese and South African peoples.CAPE TOWN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- An annual Chinese New Year temple fair was […]

  • "Rahul Gandhi speaks responsibly, based on facts": Jairam Ramesh on Rijiju's 'dangerous for India's security' remarks
    on February 22, 2026

    New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday came out strongly in defence of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, calling him a responsible parliamentarian and refuting claims made by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju that Gandhi is a 'dangerous person for India's security.''He is a LoP. He speaks responsibly. He doesn't […]

  • Europe sees shift from US to Asian travellers
    on February 22, 2026

    BRUSSELS, Belgium: Europe is increasingly looking to Chinese and Indian travellers to sustain tourism growth, as signs emerge of a slowdown in demand from American visitors, according to a survey published on February 18 by the European Travel Commission. International arrivals to Europe are projected to rise 6.2 percent this year, with stronger growth from […]

  • CHINA-FUJIAN-FUZHOU-CHINESE NEW YEAR-TOURISM (CN)
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- FUZHOU, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People visit the historic and cultural city block Three Lanes and Seven Alleys in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, Feb. 21, 2026. Many visitors flocked to historic blocks in Fuzhou to celebrate the Chinese New Year during the Spring Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

  • As Ukraine War Enters Fifth Year, Europe Faces Hard Truth On China
    on February 22, 2026

    BRUSSELS --Since the startof Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western policymakershave debatedwhether diplomatic pressure and sanctions could persuade China to curb its support for Moscow.But as the war enters its fifth year, China's support hasdeepened, providing Russia with a vital economic lifeline throughenergy purchases, critical minerals […]

  • U.S.-CALIFORNIA-HUNTINGTON LIBRARY-CHINESE NEW YEAR-CELEBRATION
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- CALIFORNIA, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Kunqu Opera artists perform at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, Los Angeles County, California, the United States, on Feb. 21, 2026. The Chinese New Year was celebrated at the Huntington Library with arts and crafts, music and a lion dance performance. […]

  • Hong Kong official warns of lower payout if Tai Po fire victims reject buy-back plan
    by Edith Lin on February 22, 2026

    The acquisition price for properties damaged in Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po fire will be “far lower” if homeowners reject the government’s buy-back offer and authorities are forced to use legislation to acquire the remaining properties, a senior official has said. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun on Sunday dismissed claims that the […]

  • ARGENTINA-BUENOS AIRES-CHINESE NEW YEAR-CELEBRATION
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Visitors attend a Chinese New Year celebration event in La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 21, 2026. A series of activities to celebrate the Chinese New Year were held here on Saturday, attracting large numbers of local residents. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

  • U.S.-NEW YORK-CHINESE NEW YEAR-PARADE
    on February 22, 2026

    (260222) -- NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2026 (Xinhua) -- People watch a lion dance during a Chinese New Year parade in New York, the United States, Feb. 21, 2026. A parade was held here to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Saturday. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

  • Chef, 34, arrested for allegedly spraying unknown liquid on 3 women in Hong Kong
    by Danny Mok on February 22, 2026

    A 34-year-old chef has been arrested for allegedly spraying an unknown liquid on three female pedestrians near Hong Kong’s Tai Wai MTR station in separate incidents during the Christmas and Lunar New Year holiday periods. The first incident took place on Christmas morning, when a woman crossing a footbridge on Mei Tin Road felt liquid dripping on her hair […]

China map