Capital        
Beijing (Peking)

National Day  
October 1st

Population    
1.38 billion (till the end of 2006)

Nationality    
In the long course of historical development, all the nationalities have joined in the effort to create the great heritage for their motherland.
Officially, China has 56 “nationality” groups, including the Han. Approximately 93 percent of China’s population is considered Han.

History       
China, representing one of the earliest civilizations in the world, has a recorded history of about 3,600 years.

Area           
9,560,900 square kilometers

Geography    
China is situated in eastern Asia, bounded by the Pacific in the east, and the third largest country in the world, next to Canada and Russia. The
land boundary exceeds 20,000 kilometers in length bordering the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the east; Vietnam, Laos and
Myanmar (Burma) in the south; India, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal in the southwest; Pakistan and Afganistan toward the west; Russia, Kazakstan,
Kirghizia and Tajikstan toward the northwest and Mongolia toward the north. China faces Japan across the Yellow Sea, and looks toward the
Philippines beyond the South China Sea. The coastline extends well over 18,000 kilometers, washed by the waters of the Bohai, the Huanghai,
the East China and the South China seas. The Bohai Sea is the inland sea of China. There are 6,536 islands larger than 500 square meters,
and the largest is Taiwan, with a total area of about 36,000 square kilometers, and the second, Hainan. The South China Sea Islands are the
southernmost island group of China.

Traditional Chinese Festivals  
Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon and Boat Festival, Mid-autumn Festival

Education     
In China, the education is divided into three categories: basic education, higher education, and adult education. The Compulsory Education Law
of stipulates that each child have nine years of formal education.