|
| Capital city |
Beijing |
| National Day |
October 1, the country was founded in 1949. |
| Top legislature |
National People's Congress (NPC). |
| Territory area |
9.6 million square km. |
| Largest city |
Shanghai. |
| Currency |
Renminbi (RMB) yuan (CNY). |
| Exchange rate |
About 8 yuan=US$1 or 6 yuan=AU$1. |
| Time |
Local time is GMT +8. |
| Electricity |
Electrical current is 220 volts; 50Hz. Two- narrow-pin plug types are most common. Adapters are generally required.
|
| Road Rules |
Drive on the right (opposite to Australia). |
|
Foreign guests need an International Driver’s Licence to drive in China. |
| Topography |
High in its west and low in its east |
| Mountains |
Among the 19 mountains over 7,000 meters high in the world, seven are in China. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known Himalayas, with an average elevation of 6,000 meters, have the world's highest peak Mount as "the roof of the world", has many high mountains. The Qomolangma (Everest), 8,848 meters above sea level. |
| Islands |
Altogether 5,400 islands, Taiwan Island is the largest, Hainan Island the second. |
| Rivers |
The Yangtze River, 6,300 km long, is the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. The Yellow River, the second longest in China, stretches 5,464 km. |
| Canyon |
The canyon on the Yalu Tsangpo River, the world's largest, is 504.6 km in length and 6,009 meters in depth. |
| Man-made river |
The Grand Canal, built in the fifth century BC, 1,801 km long, is the longest man-made river in the world. |
| Lakes |
The Poyang Lake on the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is China's largest freshwater lake; the Qinghai Lake on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the country's largest salt lake. |
| Climate |
Most of the country is in the temperate zone; geographically, tropical and subtropical zones are in the south & frigid zone in the north. |
| Wild animals |
China has a great variety of wildlife, over 4,400 vertebrates, more than 100 rare species of the world such as the giant panda, the golden monkey, the white-lipped deer, the South China Tiger, Crossoplilon mantchuricum, the white-flag dolphin, the Chinese alligator, and the crowned crane. |
| Plants |
China has a great variety of plants, 32,000 species of higher plants, including nearly all the major kinds of vegetation found in the frigid and temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. |
| Population |
1.295 billion on November 1, 2000: urban population 36.09% & rural population 63.91%. |
| Ethnic groups |
China has 56 ethnic groups. Of the whole population, about 1.159 billion (91.59%) are of Han nationality, and 106.43 million (8.41%) are of various national minorities. |
| Weather |
Spring (Mar, Apr, May) 10-22°C. Light jackets, sports coats, woollen jackets, long sleeve shirts, jeans and walking shoes. |
|
Summer (Jun, Jul, Aug ) 22°C and above. T-shirts, short sleeve shirts, skirts, jeans, sun caps, rain coat or umbrella, walking shoes. |
|
Autumn (Sep, Oct, Nov ) 10-22°C. Light jackets, sports coats, light woollen sweaters, jeans, rain wear and walking shoes. |
|
Winter (Dec, Jan ,Feb )10°C or lower. Heavy coat, cotton clothes, lined coats. In northern China a scarf, gloves and cotton-padded shoes are required. |
|
