Before you begin your China tour, understanding these basic facts of China will help you better experience its diverse landscapes and cultures.

💡Facts of China:

 · Name: People’s Republic of China (PRC)
 · Government: Republic, communist state
 · Capital: Beijing (Peking)
 · Population: 1.480 billion people (2024)
 · Flag Colors: Red with five golden stars
 · Currency: Renminbi (yuan)(￥)(CNY)
 · National Day: 1 October
 · Location: Situated in eastern Asia on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean
Climate: Tropical, subtropical, temperate, and alpine climates
 · Time: UTC+8 (China is the largest country (in terms of area) with just one time zone)
Ethnic Groups: Han and ethnic minorities (includes Zhang, Hui, Manchu, Uighur, Miao, Yi, Tujia, Tibetan, Mongol, Dong, Buyei, Yao, Bai, Korean, Hani, Li, Kazakh, Dai, and other nationalities)
 · Dialects: Yue (Cantonese), Xiang (Hunanese), Min dialect, Gan dialect, Wu dialect, and Kejia or Hakka dialect
 · Provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Taiwan, etc.
 · Municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
 · Special Administrative Regions: Hong Kong, Macau
 · Traditional Festivals: Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Qingming, and Lantern Festival. (For more information, please read our Chinese Traditional Festivals and Customs)
 · UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Mogao Caves, Old Town of Lijiang, Classical Gardens of Suzhou, etc.
 · Religion: China is officially secular, but religious practices include Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, and folk religions.

  China is vast, rich in history, and home to a large population.

💡Vast:

Covering an area of approximately 9.6 million square kilometers, China is the third-largest country in the world by land area, following only Russia and Canada.

💡Rich in history:

As one of the oldest civilizations in the world, China boasts a history of over 5,000 years. Its cultural heritage is incredibly diverse, spanning architecture, music, cuisine, drama, literature, martial arts, ceramics, and more. Many modern inventions that we use today, such as paper, gunpowder, the compass, paper money, and countless other everyday items, originated in China. China’s literary achievements, from classical poetry to modern and contemporary works, continue to captivate audiences around the globe. In addition, the nation’s tea culture, Chinese alcohol culture, opera, culinary arts, minority cultures, and folk arts—such as paper-cutting, kite-making, embroidery, and shadow puppetry—are treasured parts of China’s cultural legacy.

💡Large population:

With the largest population in the world, China is also a multi-ethnic country, home to 56 distinct ethnic groups. The Han Chinese are the largest group, but there are also numerous minority groups, including the Zhuang, Mongol, Hui, Miao, Dong, Uighur, Manchu, Tibetan, and Yao, among others.

  This rich cultural diversity creates a vibrant and dynamic society where traditions blend with modernity, offering an opportunity to explore a unique mix of the ancient and the contemporary in China travel.

  If you’re traveling to China for the first time, browse our First Time Traveler’s Guide to China for more inspiration and tips.