221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing or Ch'ing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established)
3 September 1971 (from UK)
Religions
Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2% note: officially atheist (2002 est.)
Muslim 77.5%, Christian 8.5%, other 14% (2004 census)
Languages
Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)
Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Exports
electrical and other machinery, including data processing equipment, apparel, textile, iron and steel, optical and medical equipment
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
External Debt
$697,200,000,000 $
$125,300,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Renminbi yuan (RMB) per US dollar - 6.9385 (2008 est.), 7.61 (2007), 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004)
Qatari rials (QAR) per US dollar - 3.64 (2008 est.), 3.64 (2007), 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
4.300%
10.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
100
0
Location
Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Area
9,596,961 km sq
11,586 km sq
Coastline
14,500 km
563 km
Climate
extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
