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Population: 1,338,612,968 Dialing Code: +86 Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages Religions: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2% Internet TLD: .cn Located: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam Area: 9,596,960 sq km Residents with HIV: 700,000 Literacy: 90.9% Comparative Size: slightly smaller than the US Nationality Noun: Chinese (singular and plural) Nationality Adjective: Chinese currencyCNY |
Five thousand years of checkered past has bestowed China with social wealth. It shares borders with as many as 14 countries and has a huge sea surface constellated with more than 5000 islands. It contains hundreds of different ethnic groups, making it the most populous country in the world, and its population presents as much cultural diversity as its land offers geographical diversity.
Historical hotspot
Historically, China is a cradle of civilization wherein one of the earliest humans, the Peking Man, was excavated. The country advanced the fields of art, science, astronomy and medicine and contributed major inventions such paper, gunpowder and printing to humankind.
The world's longest wall, the Great Wall of China, is among the world's most popular landmarks. Other keys to understanding China's past are the 8,000-throng Terracotta Army and the 15th-century Forbidden City, which has the world's biggest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures. Apart from these, China has over 30 other World Heritage Sites from where some of the world's greatest philosophers like Lao Tse, religions like Confucianism, leaders like Mao Zedong, and martial arts like kung fu, were born.
Emerging superpower
In 1945, Communism pervaded over China. Despite having an anti-capitalist regime, the country is now among the planet's emerging economic superpowers. A proof to this is the billion-dollar Mega Dam, the largest dam and public works project in history.
Such wealth was brought about by China's booming manufacturing industry centered on its capital, Beijing, and business capital, Shanghai. X'ian, another famous city in China, is a melting pot of culinary and cultural marvels like silk and dimsum, some of the country's native goods popular since the nation's Silk Road heydays.
Best landscapes under heaven
Guilin, frequently described as the best landscape under heaven, bears a history of attracting many poets and painters. Apart from Guilin's caves and karst systems, China's terrain is a mosaic of rivers (Yangtze), snowcapped mountains, plateaus, rainforests (Kunming), beaches (Haikou), and deserts (Turpan).