• Official name: People's Republic of China (PRC)

• Population: Over 1.4 billion

• Geographic details: East Asia, spans five time zones, shares borders with 14 countries

• Total land area: Nearly 9.6 million square kilometers

• Administrative divisions: 33 province-level divisions

  • 22 provinces

  • 5 autonomous regions

  • 4 municipalities

  • 2 special administrative regions

• Major cities: Beijing (capital), Shanghai (largest financial hub)

• Historical Background

  • Early human habitation: Paleolithic era

  • Dynastic history: Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Tang, Yuan, Ming, Qing

  • Cultural contributions: Literature, philosophy, historiography, innovations (gunpowder, papermaking, Silk Road)

  • Significant landmarks: Great Wall

Weather in China