China

China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is divided into 33 province-level divisions, including two special administrative regions. Beijing is the capital. Shanghai is the most populous city by urban area. China has many kinds of land. It has the Central Plain, large rivers such as the Yangtze and Yellow River, deserts, subtropical and temperate forests, plateaus, and mountain ranges such as the Himalayas. China is the world's second-most populous country, after India. A population of more than 1.4 billion people lives there, which is about 17% of the world's people. It covers 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq mi), making it the third largest country by area.

People first arrived in China during the Paleolithic. In the 2nd millennium BCE, dynastic states began to form. In 221 BCE, China was brought together under the Qin. Then the Han dynasty ruled. For about two thousand years, China was ruled by emperors. Sometimes the country was united, and sometimes it was split. During the imperial era, the Silk Road grew, and people invented gunpowder, paper, printing, and the compass. Later, Western countries had a growing influence on China's politics, economy, and ideas. After the 1911 Revolution, the empire was replaced by the Republic of China (ROC). The Warlord Era and the Chinese Civil War followed. A Second Sino-Japanese War interrupted these conflicts. China won that war.

In 1949, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) proclaimed the PRC. The ROC retreated to Taiwan. Both sides still say they are the rightful government. The CCP tried to carry out its political program, but these efforts did not go well. There was famine and political unrest. The reform and opening-up began in 1978. This moved China toward a socialist market economy, and the economy grew.

China is a unitary state, where the CCP is the sole ruling party. China is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. It also belongs to many multilateral organizations. China is the world's largest manufacturer. It has the second-largest economy by nominal GDP. Some international groups have criticized China for human rights abuses and for being very controlling. China has a large military, a space program, and a nuclear stockpile. Because of its influence in world affairs, science and technology, manufacturing, economics, and culture, China is often called a superpower.

Chinese art and culture have influenced much of Asia. China has a literary tradition that goes back thousands of years, to the Chinese classics. China is where Confucianism and Daoism began. These two, along with Buddhism, are part of the traditional three teachings of Chinese philosophy. Folk religion is also important. Chinese cuisine is varied and changes a lot from region to region. Rice is a main food in the south, and wheat is a main food in the north. China has 60 World Heritage Sites, including the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. The Han are China's largest ethnic group. They speak Sinitic languages. China is also home to 55 recognized minorities, such as the Hui, Mongols, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Zhuang.

Etymology

Main article: Names of China

The word "China" has been used in English since the 1500s. The Chinese people did not use this word for themselves at that time. The word comes from the Portuguese, Malay, and Persian languages, and goes back to the Sanskrit word Cīna (चिन), which was used in ancient India. Cīna appeared in early Hindu texts, including the Mahabharata and the Laws of Manu. In 1655, the missionary Martino Martini suggested that the word China comes from the ancient state of Qin. Many people still accept this idea. Another possible source is Yelang, an ancient state in Guizhou. People there were known as ʐina in Loloish languages.

The official name of the modern state is the "People's Republic of China" (中华人民共和国; Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó). Its shorter name is 中国; Zhōngguó, which means roughly "central state." This name was first used for the demesne (royal lands) of the Western Zhou dynasty. Over time, the names of ruling dynasties were often used to refer to the country and its lands. In the 1800s, the Qing dynasty officially chose Zhongguo as the country's name.

History

Main article: History of China

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Chinese history.

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistory of China

Early humans such as Homo erectus lived in China during the Paleolithic, about 1.7 million years ago. Modern Homo sapiens have been found in China from about 50,000 years ago. After the Last Glacial Period ended, around 8,000 BCE, people began making pottery in Neolithic cultures. By the 6000s BCE, farming communities had spread across the lower Yellow River basin. These communities grew bigger and more complex. Many of them declined in the late 2000s BCE, but the reasons are not clear.

Ancient China

After 2000 BCE, a Bronze Age culture appeared in the Central Plain. It is called the Erlitou culture, after its main site. The Shang dynasty followed the Xia around 1600 BCE. The Shang wrote on bones and shells using the oracle bone script. This is the earliest known form of writing in China and the ancestor of modern Chinese characters. The Zhou overthrew the Shang around 1046 BCE. Over time, the Zhou's central power became weaker, and fighting between regions became common. During the Eastern Zhou, many small states became seven Warring States. New schools of thought also grew during this time, including Daoism, Mohism, and Legalism. Important books from this age include the Chinese classics, such as the Analects and the Dao De Jing.

Imperial China

Further information: Chinese Empire

Classical period

In 221 BCE, Qin Shi Huang became the first emperor of a united China and started the Qin dynasty. The Qin dynasty lasted only fifteen years. The Han dynasty ruled from 206 BCE to 220 CE and brought back central control. Han armies fought the Xiongnu. This helped open the Silk Road for trade with western Eurasia. The Han Chinese are named after this dynasty. In 280, the Jin dynasty briefly reunited China, but it fell into civil war. Buddhism came to China along the Silk Road during this time.

Mid-imperial period

China was reunited under the Sui dynasty in 589. The Sui built the Grand Canal. The Tang dynasty followed and built a rich society that welcomed people from many countries. Its capital was Chang'an. The Tang fell in 907, and China again split into several states.

The Song dynasty rose to power in 960. The Song developed printing and gunpowder, and trade grew a great deal. In 1127, the Jurchen-led Jin took the Song capital Kaifeng, and the Song moved south.

Late imperial period

In 1206, Genghis Khan united the Mongols. His successor, Kublai Khan, founded the Yuan dynasty. In 1368, the Ming dynasty began under the Hongwu Emperor. The Ming later moved their capital to Beijing, where the Forbidden City became the imperial palace. In 1636, the Manchus declared the Qing dynasty. In the following years, they took control of China.

In the 1800s, European powers fought several wars with the Qing. The First Opium War led to the first of the "unequal treaties." The Taiping Rebellion caused many people to lose their lives. In 1894–1895, the Empire of Japan defeated the Qing, and China lost Taiwan. In 1911, the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing. Sun Yat-sen then declared the Republic of China in 1912.

Republic of China

Main article: Republic of China (1912–1949)

After 1912, China was ruled by warlords who often fought each other. The Kuomintang worked with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for a time, under Chiang Kai-shek. In 1927, the Kuomintang turned against the CCP. Japan invaded China in 1937, and China fought Japan during World War II. After Japan surrendered in 1945, China became a founding member of the United Nations. Then a civil war between the CCP and the Kuomintang started again.

People's Republic of China

Main article: History of the People's Republic of China

In 1949, Mao Zedong announced the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan. The PRC gained control of Tibet in 1950. Its leaders changed the economy and grew heavy industry. In 1958, Mao began the Great Leap Forward. This led to the Great Chinese Famine, during which many people died. In 1966, Mao started the Cultural Revolution, which caused about ten years of political unrest.

Deng Xiaoping led China from 1978 to 1989. His reform and opening-up policies helped the economy grow quickly. China's cities grew rapidly. In 1989, the government used force to stop protests in Beijing. Xi Jinping became leader of the CCP in 2012. He started an anti-corruption campaign and expanded China's influence through the Belt and Road Initiative.

Geography

Main article: Geography of China

Further information: Climate of China and Geology of China

China's land is very varied. The west is dry and mountainous. The east has mountains and wide river valleys. Chinese civilization grew up mainly in the lowlands around the Yangtze and the Yellow River, China's two longest rivers. Both of them start on the Tibetan Plateau. China's coast touches the Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea, which are all part of the Pacific Ocean. Its largest island is Taiwan. The largest island governed by the PRC is Hainan. Poyang Lake is the largest of China's many freshwater lakes. Tall mountain ranges such as the Himalayas and Tian Shan separate China from South and Central Asia. Mount Everest is the highest point in the world, at 8,848 metres (29,029 feet) above sea level. It lies on the border with Nepal.

China's climate is shaped by dry seasons and wet monsoons, which bring big temperature changes between the seasons. The south grows rice. The north grows crops such as wheat and maize. China often faces natural disasters. It lies near the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Alpide belt, so earthquakes are common. The 1976 Tangshan earthquake is one example of a severe quake that caused great harm. Floods and rainstorms are also common, and typhoons often hit southeastern China.

Main articles: Environment of China, Wildlife of China, and Environmental issues in China

See also: Renewable energy in China, Energy policy of China, and Climate change in China

Main articles: Borders of China, Coastline of China, Territorial changes of the People's Republic of China, and Territorial disputes of China

Politics

Main article: Politics of China

China is a unitary state with absolute leadership by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The National People's Congress holds the main power of the state. The State Council, led by the premier, runs the government. The CCP is the only ruling party. It has about 101 million members. Its top leader, Xi Jinping, took office in 2012. China is divided into 23 provinces, five autonomous regions, four direct-administered municipalities, and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The People's Liberation Army is China's main armed force, and the CCP controls it.

China is one of five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. It also has the largest diplomatic network of any country. Many human rights groups, UN reports, and foreign governments say China has seriously failed to protect people's rights, including in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. China often rejects this criticism. It says other countries should not interfere in its internal affairs.

Economy

Main article: Economy of China

See also: Income inequality in China and Industry in China

China's economy is often called party-state capitalism. In this system, both markets and the state play a big role. The government guides the economy using five-year plans. China calls its system a socialist market economy. In this system, the market decides how resources are used, but a socialist state is in charge. The economy has grown more than 20 times since 2000. It is now the second largest economy by GDP. When adjusted for purchasing power parity, it is the largest. About 800 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty. This is more than in any other country in history.

China is the world's leading maker of goods. In 2024, it made 28% of the world's manufactured goods. It makes the most steel, rare earths, ships, and cars. Its main stock exchanges are in Shanghai and Shenzhen. About one third of its workers are migrants. They move within the country and are known as the floating population. The hukou system limits access to services outside a person's registered home. This creates big differences between city workers and rural workers.

Science and technology

Main articles: Science and technology in China, List of Chinese discoveries, and List of Chinese inventions

China has created many inventions and discoveries. These include paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder. They are known as the Four Great Inventions. China has made great progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. China launched its first satellite in 1970. Since then, it has kept an active space program. Its Tiangong space station has hosted crews in Low Earth orbit since 2021.

Infrastructure and transportation

Main articles: Transport in China and Telecommunications in China

China has some of the largest highway and rail systems in the world. Its second longest rail network is one of them. Over 95% of cities with more than one million residents have access to high-speed rail. The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest power station by capacity. China has more internet users than any other country. However, the Great Firewall blocks many foreign websites.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of China

See also: Chinese nationality law and Family planning policies of China

China had 1,411,778,724 people in the 2020 Chinese census. About 18% were 14 or younger, about 63% were between 15 and 59, and about 19% were over 60. Since 2022, more people have died each year than have been born. China has one of the lowest total fertility rates in the world, and its population is getting older quickly. The National Bureau of Statistics said the population fell by 850,000 from 2021 to 2022. This was the first drop since 1961. Most people live in the eastern half of the country. From 1979 to 2015, China had a one-child policy. The government created it because of worries about overpopulation. A two-child policy began in 2015. In July 2021, limits on family size were removed. Many families preferred sons, so by the late 1990s, there were 120 boys born for every 100 girls. China also has strict immigration rules. Its Chinese diaspora has about 40 million people. Most of them come from emigrants who left China in the 1800s and early 1900s.

China has become much more urban since the 1980s. Shanghai is its most populous city by urban area. Many people speak Mandarin, and Standard Chinese is the official language. China officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups. The Han Chinese make up more than 91% of the population. Most religious life happens outside registered groups. Chinese religion mixes folk practices, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. China has nine years of free compulsory education. Health care includes both allopathic and traditional Chinese medicine. Life expectancy is over 79 years.

Main articles: Urbanization in China

See also: List of cities in China, List of cities in China by population, and Megalopolises in China

Main articles: Languages of China and List of ethnic groups in China

Main article: Religion in China

See also: Irreligion in China and Antireligious campaigns in China

Main articles: Education in China and Higher education in China

See also: Literacy in China

Main article: Health in China

See also: Medicine in China and Pharmaceutical industry in China

Culture

Main articles: Chinese culture and Culture of the People's Republic of China

Long ago, during the Qin and Han dynasties, an area of Chinese cultural influence began to spread across much of East Asia. Japan, Korea, and Vietnam borrowed many ideas from China, including Chinese characters and the tributary system. China has 60 World Heritage Sites, including the Great Wall and the Grand Canal. Only Italy has more. Family is very important in Chinese culture. People value filial piety and the veneration of ancestors. Before the 1900s, family life was strongly patriarchal, and arranged marriages were common. After the CCP came to power, it promoted equality between men and women. It created the All-China Women's Federation. Many women still face lower job rates and occupational gender segregation. China used a traditional lunisolar calendar until the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1912. Days and years were also counted with the 60-part sexagenary cycle and the twelve-year Chinese zodiac. Major holidays and festivals include the Chinese New Year, the Qingming Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day.

Chinese art has long used nature and symbols. In earlier times, skill in art showed refinement and high status. Landscape paintings became very prestigious during the Song period. Paintings are often made with ink brushes on paper or silk. Calligraphy has long been seen as the most respected art form. Porcelain, also known as china, became common in the 7th century. Blue and white patterns became especially popular. Chinese architecture uses wood as its main material. Pagodas are among China's oldest buildings. Traditional music uses many instruments, such as the erhu, guzheng, and pipa. Chinese opera and Peking opera developed over time. Chinese dance has long been part of art and religious rites. Chinese meals usually include a grain with meat or vegetable dishes. Rice is common in the south, and flour is common in the north. People often eat with chopsticks, share dishes, and drink hot tea with meals. Chinese literature has one of the longest continuous traditions in the world. The Four Classic Novels are well known. Today, China Central Television is the country's largest media company. China is also the largest online video market and the largest video game market in the world. Traditional sports such as martial arts have been practiced for over a thousand years. Table tennis is one of China's strongest sports.

Main article: Chinese art

Further information: Chinese architecture

Further information: Music of China

Main article: Chinese cuisine

Main article: Chinese clothing

Main articles: Chinese literature and Chinese poetry

Main article: Mass media in China

Main article: Sport in China

Further information: Video games in China