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The
third-largest country in the world, with the largest
world's population, China is bounded to the north by
the deserts of Mongolia, to the west by the Tibetan
plateau and the Himalayas, and to the east by the East
and South China seas. China's 22 provinces and five
autonomous regions are governed from Beijing, along
with some 5,000 islands. China is a country of great
contrasts, with picturesque rural landscapes and congested
cityscapes, and natural beauty that ranges from the
untamed to the idyllic - from the windswept plains of
the Gobi Desert and Mt Everest's notorious northern
face to Yangshuo's gorgeous karsts scenery. Foreign
investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable
economic growth.
Area: 9.59 million sq km
Population: 1.28 billion
Capital: Beijing
People: Han Chinese (93%), plus 55 ethnic minorities
Language: Chinese
Religion: Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism (no stats available); Muslim (14 million), Christian (7 million)
Government: Communist Republic
GDP: US$4.5 trillion
Major Industries: Iron, steel, coal, machinery, automobiles, petroleum, chemicals, telecommunications, and textiles
Major Trading Partners: USA, Japan, Germany, South Korea, and Taiwan
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