Area (only Total) total: 9,596,960 sq km

Climate: extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Terrain: mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

Population: 1,330,044,605 (July 2008 est.)

Main Language (only first): Standard Chinese

Government type: Communist state

Capital (Name): Beijing

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+8

Independence: 221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic established)

National holiday: Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1 October (1949)

HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year's Day Holiday

February 7 Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year

February 21 Lantern Festival

March 8 International Women's Working Day*

March 12 Arbor Day

May 1 International Labour Day

May 4 Youth Day

June 1 International Children's Day

July 1 Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party

August 1 Army Day

September 14 Mid Autumn Festival

October 1-2 National Day

*Holiday for women only

Non-Holiday Observances

April 5 Qing Ming

June 8 Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival

Weekend Saturday, Sunday