China, located on the western Pacific coast in East Asia, covers a vast area of 9.6 million square kilometers. Its extensive sea territory includes about 5,000 islands, with Taiwan and Hainan being the largest. China’s coastline extends roughly 18,000 kilometers along the continent. The country is rich in diversity and has been home to Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism, and Christianity. The Constitution protects religious freedom, allowing for customary religious practices.
Chinese is the primary language spoken nationwide and is one of the United Nations’ five official working languages. Of China’s fifty-five recognized ethnic groups, many preserve their native languages, highlighting the nation’s cultural depth. The Chinese written language has been in use for over 6,000 years.
The capital city, Beijing, stands as a global center for politics, business, and culture, where imperial history harmoniously coexists with modern development. With over 1.2 billion people, or 22% of the world’s population, China is the most populous country globally. The terrain slopes downward from the inland toward the ocean, enabling humid air and rivers to flow eastward. Among China’s vast network of rivers, the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers are particularly renowned. China’s landscape, adorned with mountains, highlands, plains, basins, and hills, offers breathtaking natural beauty.