| 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
- Probe launched after Hospital Authority 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 over 56,000 patients served by the Hospital Authority, which reported the unauthorised retrieval of a variety of information. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data said on Saturday that it received a report from the authority on Friday, noting […]
- 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 on the weekend, with the weather forecaster issuing an amber rainstorm warning on Saturday morning. The Hong Kong Observatory announced the amber warning, the lowest […]
- KMB told to probe machines that gave free bus rides as revised HK$2 scheme launchedby Edith Lin on April 4, 2026
The Hong Kong government has demanded that the city’s largest franchised bus operator investigate the malfunctioning of its fare rebate machines, which provided free trips to passengers on the day a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport subsidy scheme was implemented. The government told the South China Morning Post on Saturday that KMB would be […]
- 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
Kamrup (Assam) [India], April 3 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused the Nehru-Gandhi family of 'never having good feelings for Assam,' recalling former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's remarks during the 1962 Chinese aggression. Addressing a gathering in the rally here, Shah asserted that no one can seize even an inch of Assam's land and […]
- Domestic helper arrested after 6-month-old girl dies in Hong Kongby Lam Ka-sing on April 3, 2026
Police have arrested a domestic helper on suspicion of child neglect following the death of a six-month-old baby in northern Hong Kong. The force said it received a report from the baby girl’s family at 11.39am on Friday that she had been found unconscious on a bed at home in the Fairview Park development in Yuen Long. Emergency personnel rushed the […]
- 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
(260403) -- LOME, April 3, 2026 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Togo Wang Min (3rd L) and Afo Salifou Ousmane (3rd R), secretary-general of Togo's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Togolese Abroad, attend a handover ceremony for China's emergency food aid to Togo in Lome, the capital of Togo, on April 2, 2026. A handover […]
- 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
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 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 […]
- 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 […]















