Major Cities: Based on 2000 census data, the largest cities are the four centrally administered municipalities, which include dense urban areas, suburbs, and large rural areas: Chongqing (30.5 million), Shanghai (16.4 million), Beijing (13.5 million), and Tianjin (9.8 million). Other major cities are Wuhan (5.1 million), Shenyang (4.8 million), Guangzhou (3.8 million), Chengdu (3.2 million), Xi’an (3.1 million), and Changchun (3 million). China has 12 other cities with populations of between 2 million and 2.9 million and 20 or more other cities with populations of more than 1 million persons.

Independence: As the result of a revolution that broke out on October 10, 1911, on February 12, 1912, the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) was formally replaced by the government of the Republic of China. The People’s Republic of China was officially established on October 1, 1949.

Public Holidays: The official national holidays are New Year’s Day (January 1); Spring Festival or Lunar New Year (movable dates—three days—in January and February), Labor Day (May 1), and National Day (two-day observance on October 1–2). Also commemorated are International Women’s Day (March 8), Youth Day (May 4), Children’s Day (June 1), Chinese Communist Party Founding Day (July 1), Army Day (August 1), and Teachers’ Day (September 10).

Flag: The flag of China is red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four

smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the

middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner. The color red symbolizes

the spirit of the revolution, and the five stars signify the unity of the people

of China under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The flag

was officially unveiled in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949,

with the formal announcement of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Click to Enlarge Image

RECENT NEWS ARTICLES

China's appetite could push ore prices higher  -  24 Oct 2006
Sydney Morning Herald,BENCHMARK iron ore prices could rise to another record next year because of surging demand for the steelmaking raw material in China, according to the world's ...

Autonomy targets China's online video market  -  24 Oct 2006
Times Online,Autonomy, the British search technology specialist, today ramped up its effort to dominate China's fast-growing online video search market by signing a ...

China warns of rising potential credit and liquidity risks in ...  -  24 Oct 2006
Forbes,SHANGHAI (XFN-ASIA) - China's top banking regulator warned of mounting potential credit and liquidity risks in the banking sector, with rapid growth in medium ...

China considers boosting China-Africa friendship a strategic ...  -  24 Oct 2006
People's Daily Online,Boosting China-Africa friendship and all-round cooperation is a long-term and strategic decision China has made, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said here ...

This series of profiles of foreign nations is part of the Country Studies Program, formerly the Army Area Handbook Program. The profiles offer brief, summarized information on a country’s historical background, geography, society, economy, transportation and telecommunications, government and politics, and national security. In addition to being featured in the front matter of published Country Studies, they are now being prepared as stand-alone reference aides for all countries in the series, as well as for a number of additional countries of interest. The profiles offer reasonably current country information independent of the existence of a recently published Country Study and will be updated annually or more frequently as events warrant.

Web www.mongabay.com