China is the world's fourth largest country (after, Russia, Canada and the U.S.) and the seventh largest economy.  China is about the same size as the continental 48 states (U.S. excluding Hawaii and Alaska).  Much of the land is mountainous or unsuited to agriculture.  The population tends to be predominantly in the east and along the three major river valleys.  Population is huge compared to the U.S., 1.3 Billion people, over 25 percent of the world's total.

The official name is the People's Republic of China.  The government is controlled by the Communist Party  which is  the sole political party. The national government is headed up by a President - Hu Jintao and with a Prime Minister - Premier Wen Jiabao and a Congress.  Beijing is the capital city and home of a brand-new airport to open in 1999.  The Airport is about 30 minutes by taxi from the city center.  Beijing's population is currently around 10.5 million.  Other large Chinese cities are Shanghai – 7.4 million, Guangzhou – 5.5 million, Chonqing – 10 million and Wuhan  - 7 million. 

People: Han Chinese (93%), plus 55 ethnic minorities

Languages: China's official language is Mandarin. The Chinese call it Putonghua . Cantonese is spoken in Guangdong, southern Guangxi, and Hong Kong

Religion: Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism (no stats available); Muslim (14 million), Christian (7 million)

Currency is the Yuan (also called the Kwai) – approximate exchange rate is 8.25 Yuan = one U.S. dollar.  Largest note  in general circulation is 100 Yuan which is roughly about $12. 

Electricity: 220V, 50 AC
(Notes: plugs can be three-pronged angled, three-pronged round, two flat pins or two narrow round pins)

Weights & measures: Metric