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China is the world's third largest
country after Russia and Canada. Han
Chinese, the dominant ethnic group (93% of
the total population), occupy about half of
the country, with 55 ethnic minorities
mainly living in the other half.
China's geography varies greatly,
from deserts and mountains to lush green
valleys and sub-tropical jungles. The
country's natural borders include the
Himalayas and Taklamakan desert to the west
and the Gobi desert to the north.  Major mountain
ranges include the Himalayas, Kunlun, and
Qilian mountains to the west and the
Tianshan mountains to the northwest. The
country's two longest rivers are the Yangzi
(6,300km) and the Yellow River (5,460km).
The most recent additions to China
are Macau, returned to the mainland in
December 1999 after 450 years of Portuguese
colonialism, and Hong Kong, a Special
Autonomous Region since its handover to the
motherland in July 1997. Beijing also
regards Taiwan, the home of the Kuomintang
(Nationalist) government since 1949, as an
integral part of the People's Republic of
China. In addition, Chinese sovereignty
claims extend deep into the South China Sea,
encompassing a host of strategically
important rocky islets, reefs and atolls
known as the Spratly Islands. Sporadic
conflict continues with the five other
claimants, which include China's old enemy
Vietnam. |
China in Brief
