PROFILE OF CHINA

Official Name: People's Republic of China
Capital: Beijing
Population: 1,321,851,888 (July 2007 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 0.606% (2007 est.)
Current Local Time: 16 hrs ahead of PST. Click here to view time.
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)
Climate/Weather: Weather Forecast
Currency: Yuan (CNY) Click here to go to currency converter.

Major exports: machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical equipment, iron and steel
Total exports: $969.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Major imports : machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, optical and medical equipment, organic chemicals, iron and steel
Total imports: $751.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Leading markets: US 21%, Hong Kong 16%, Japan 9.5%, South Korea 4.6%, Germany 4.2% (2006)
Leading suppliers: Japan 14.6%, South Korea 11.3%, Taiwan 10.9%, US 7.5%, Germany 4.8% (2006)

Gross Domestic Product: US $2.527 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP growth: 11.1% (official data) (2006 est.)

USEFUL LINKS

About China

World Bank China Data Charts: GNI per capita,education, infrastructure, external debt, labor & social protection, literacy rate, CO2 emissions, mortality rate, etc.

World Bank Country Profile:  Comprehensive information on demographics, environment, economy, technology, infrastructure, trade and finance.

CIA World Factbook: Basic information about China, covering geography, population, government, economy, etc.

U.S. Department of State - Background Note: China

Nationmaster.com: For more information on population, economy, health, transportation, etc.

Local Time: Current time in China.

Weather Forecast: Current and 3-day forecast for Beijing, China.

Economy
Currency Converter: Contains currency information on 180 currencies in over 250 geographical locations.

China Facts and Figures from the World Bank

Energy
U.S. Dept. of Energy Country Analysis: Data on China from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Transportation
Transportation Profile: Information for various modes of transportation in China.

Travel
Travel Information : For U.S. citizens traveling on tourism/business.

Medical Information for Travelers: Medical resources for Americans traveling abroad.

Health & Medical Information for Living & Traveling in China: Medical resources for Americans traveling and staying in China.

World Health Organization information on China: Health information on China from W.H.O.

General links

Hyper-C: Search for information on China in several different ways: Browse China, Search China, What's New, and Cool China Link of the Week.