Overview
China is the world's most populous country, with a continuous culture stretching back nearly 4,000 years. Many of the elements that make up the foundation of the modern world originated in China, including paper, gunpowder, credit banking, the compass and paper money. After stagnating for more than two decades under the rigid authoritarianism of early communist rule under its late leader, Chairman Mao, China now has the world's fastest-growing economy and is undergoing what has been described as a second industrial revolution.
Map
Facts
| Full name | People's Republic of China |
|---|---|
| Population: | 1.34 billion (UN, 2009) |
| Capital: | Beijing |
| Largest city | Shanghai |
| Area: | 9.6 million sq km (3.7 million sq miles) |
| Major language: | Mandarin Chinese |
| Major religions: | Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Taoism |
| Life expectancy: | 71 years (men), 75 years (women) (UN) |
| Monetary unit: | 1 Renminbi (yuan) (Y) = 10 jiao = 100 fen; |
| Main exports: | Manufactured goods, including textiles, garments, electronics, arms |
| GNI per capita: | US $2,940 (World Bank, 2008) |
| Internet domain: | .cn |
| International dialling code: | +86 |
BBC iPlayer
TV
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HARDtalk - Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU TradeBaroness Catherine Ashton, EU Trade Commissioner, 31 Mar 09India's banned Chinese toys, China has banned various European goods and there are 'buy American' initiatives in the US. Baroness Catherine Ashton is the EU Commissioner in charge of trade.
Watch " HARDtalk - Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU Trade " now -
Around the World in 80 Days - Episode 4Episode 4, 03 Nov 09Banned from entering China, the pair hope that they can make the 10,000 mile trip through Russia, South Korea and across the Pacific in time to reach America and the next team. It is not all plain sailing.
Watch " Around the World in 80 Days - Episode 4 " now -
A History of Christianity - 1. The First1. The First Christianity, 05 Nov 09Instead, he shows that the true origins of Christianity lie further east, and that at one point it was poised to triumph in Asia, maybe even in China. The headquarters of Christianity may well have been Baghdad not Rome, and if that had happened then western Christianity would have been very...
Watch " A History of Christianity - 1. The First " now
Radio
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The Strand - The Strand - Monday 2nd NovemberThe Strand - Monday 2nd November 2009., 02 Nov 09Taipei Museum Since Taiwan split from China at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, the two countries' relationship has been, to say the least, uncomfortable. But now, 60 years on, they've come-together to organise their first joint museum-exhibition. Animal...
Listento " The Strand - The Strand - Monday 2nd November " now
Knowledge
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Religion & Ethics - Subdivisions and groups:Religion & Ethics
While specific rites and organizational patterns changed, there is a distinct line from the early millenarian movements to the Celestial Masters today, and one can see a clear link between the ritual of medieval China and contemporary liturgies, both lay and monastic.
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Radio 4 In Our Time - The Needham QuestionRadio 4 In Our Time
The answer is that they were all invented in China, a country that, right through the Middle Ages, maintained a cultural and technological sophistication that made foreign dignitaries flock to its imperial courts for trade and favour. But then, around 1700, the flow of ingenuity began to dry up and...
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Religion and Ethics - The Missionaries: JapanReligion and Ethics
Andrew Ross Clip in China where, where they, they, they, they...where they actually went much further i...in...
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Films - Review - Platform (Zhan Tai)Films
Reviewed by updated 26th July 2002 reviewer's rating User Rating Director Writer Stars Length 155 minutes Distributor Artificial Eye Cinema 2nd August 2002 Country Hong Kong/China Genres Shot without the consent of the authorities, the follow-up to "Xiao Wu"
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Religion & Ethics - Islam in China (650-present):Religion & Ethics
The Ch'ing were Manchu not Han, and were themselves a minority in China. They employed the tactics of divide and conquer to keep the Muslims, Hans, Tibetans and Mongolians in conflict with each other. During...
Blogs
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Danish PM issues plea for leaders to attend29 Oct 09 | Susan Watts - Newsnight: Susan Watts
The team included the architect of China's climate legislation, Congressman Wang Guangtao. He chairs the Environment & Resources Protection Committee of the National People's Congress, and wrote ground-breaking climate legislation passed in China only this August.
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Eighty years after Wall Street crashed, what did23 Oct 09 | Paul Mason - Newsnight: Paul Mason
This stands at the heart of the relationship between China and the west and represents, as Paul Krugman points out in today's New York Times, one massive "beggar thy neighbour"
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To $30bn, and beyond18 Oct 09 | Douglas Fraser - Douglas Fraser's Ledger
That helps explain why they've got creative teams working on new story lines in Japan, India and China. "We...
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Tackling the Chinese climate change conundrum13 Oct 09 | Susan Watts - Newsnight: Susan Watts
It's an exaggeration to describe this as a G2 situation, but there's some expectation that President Barack Obama's trip to China next month could seal what is essentially a trade deal between the two countries. If that goes well, Europe may feel that it has missed a chance to seal such a deal with...
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RUSSIA CHINA FUTURE12 Oct 09 | Dan Damon - World Update with Dan Damon
THANKS, DAN TOP LINE Russia and China signing a new energy deal allowing Gazprom to export gas to China for the first time. WHY ARE WE DOING THE STORY * Russian prime minister, Vladimir Putin, is meeting his Chinese counterpart today (Tuesday)
News
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Return to Planet Stoke09 Nov 09 | Businessis working flat out making bone china mugs designed for specific areas of the UK - Brummie mugs, Geordie mugs etc. - with boldly drawn images and joke local sayings.
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China chequebook draws Africa nations09 Nov 09 | AfricaThe relationship between China and African nations has grown steadily China sees vast opportunity in Africa. Since 2001 total trade has grown tenfold - last year it stood at $107bn (£63.7bn). Add...
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Nine executed over Xinjiang riots09 Nov 09 | Asia-PacificNearly 200 people were killed during riots between ethnic Uighurs and members of China's dominant Han group. The nine were convicted of murder and other crimes during the riots, the state-owned China News Service said.
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Chinese bank to list in Hong Kong09 Nov 09 | BusinessMinsheng's Hong Kong debut is expected on 26 November China's seventh-largest bank, China Minsheng Banking Corp, is to list its shares on the Hong Kong market, raising about $4bn (£2.4bn), reports say. A...
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China official dies from alcohol09 Nov 09 | Asia-PacificThe China Daily reported that Shen Hao - party secretary in Xiaogang village in eastern Anhui province - was found dead in bed after a banquet. It is the third reported case so far this year where the death of a government official has been attributed to alcohol poisoning.
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China protest over Dalai Lama visit09 Nov 09The Dalai Lama has held a mass audience with tens of thousands of devotees on a visit to a region near India's border with Tibet drawing protests from China. More than 30,000 people packed into grounds near the remote Tawang monastery in the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh to hear the...
Watch " China protest over Dalai Lama visit " now -
Africans finding success in China09 Nov 09Young Africans are increasingly heading to China in search of success instead of Europe and the US. Africa sees China as a key political and economic ally and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged to give Africa $10bn (£6bn)
Watch " Africans finding success in China " now -
China in $10bn loan pledge to Africa08 Nov 09China has already invested tens of billions of dollars in African economies. Christian Fraser reports.
Watch " China in $10bn loan pledge to Africa " now -
Dalai Lama defends India visit08 Nov 09The Dalai Lama has hit back at China over criticism of his return to a remote monastery in north-eastern India. Beijing is opposed to the week long visit to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and has accused the Tibetan spiritual leader of trying to harm its relations with India.
Watch " Dalai Lama defends India visit " now -
Dalai Lama in Tibet border visit08 Nov 09Speaking to a crowd which had gathered, the Dalai Lama denied reports from Beijing that had suggested that his visit was anti-China and damaging to India-China ties, by calling them "baseless". READ MORE:...
Watch " Dalai Lama in Tibet border visit " now
Around the web
News From Other Sources
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World markets get G-20 boost09 Nov 09 | Miami Herald
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TABLE-Taiwan October exports down 4.7 pct y/y09 Nov 09 | Forbes.com
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Ratings changes lift Hong Kong, China shares09 Nov 09 | MarketWatch
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CORRECTED-Q+A-APEC expected to maintain stimulus09 Nov 09 | Reuters
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World markets track US higher after jobs report09 Nov 09 | Washington Post
Weather
Weather for Beijing
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  light rain |  light snow |  sunny |
| Max Temperature | Max:4°C/39°F | Max:4°C/39°F | Max:5°C/41°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:1°C/34°F | Min:0°C/32°F | Min:-2°C/28°F |
Sport
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Mickelson delighted with China win08 Nov 09American Phil Mickelson says he is playing some of his best golf ever, after edging out Ernie Els by a shot to win the Champions tournament in Shanghai.
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Mickelson holds off Els in China08 Nov 09 | GolfPhil Mickelson beats Ernie Els by a shot to win the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
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Casey forced to quit in Shanghai08 Nov 09 | GolfCasey's season could now be over Paul Casey retired after just two holes of the final round of the HSBC Champions tournament in China after suffering a recurrence of a rib injury. The 32-year-old, who only returned to action last week after three months out, will now re-visit a specialist in...
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Schedule/results 200908 Nov 09 | Results & Schedule
26: Shanghai, China, Daisuke Naito bt Xiong Zhong by unanimous decision (WBC flyweight).
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Mickelson leads Woods in China07 Nov 09Tournament leader Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods will play together in the final round of the HSBC Champions tournament in China - a prospect that delights both players.
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Mickelson leads Woods in Shanghai07 Nov 09 | GolfPhil Mickelson will take a two-shot lead over Tiger Woods into the final round of the HSBC Champions tournament in China.
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Katie Still's sports round-up06 Nov 09 | Scotland
They are in New Zealand for the World Cup Qualifiers where they take on the hosts, China, Malaysia, Austria and Wales. These are big matches for him to begin with and I hope that his interim period is a successful one, which may then become more permanent.
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Woods savours 'unique' China experience05 Nov 09After closing on a first-round five under, Tiger Woods admits it was difficult coping with the attention he received at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.
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Table tennis hopeful 'gains perspective'29 Oct 09Table tennis player Darius Knight believes training in China and around the world will make him stronger as he bids for a medal at London 2012. He is speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's London Calling programme, with former swimmer Steve Parry, heptathlete Kelly Sotherton and presenter Eleanor Oldroyd.
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Scots qualify for Golf World Cup28 Sep 09Scottish golfer Alastair Forsyth speaks to BBC Scotland's Geoff Webster after he and partner David Drysdale qualified to represent Scotland in November's World Cup in China.
Listento " Scots qualify for Golf World Cup " now
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