China : Country overview

Geography

• Full country name: People’s Republic of China
• Population: 1.34 billion
• Border countries: India, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Vietnam, North Korea.
• Climate: varied, ranging from tropical and sub-tropical to cold and dry.
• Terrain: extremely varied including the Himalayas (along the border with India, Bhutan and Nepal) and the North China Plain.
• Natural hazards: earthquakes, typhoons, flooding, droughts and earth subsidence.

Living in China

• Cost of living: generally lower than the UK. A meal for example, can be as little as £1 in a noodle bar, but can also be equivalent to Western restaurant prices. Living costs do depend on the location.
• Utilities: the average monthly bill for each utility is around 55 RMB.
• Internet domain: .cn
• Health: rabies is present in China. Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  website for current health information, as well as the website of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NATHNAC)  or Fit for Travel (NHS Scotland) .
• Laws and customs: there are strictly enforced regulations against public demonstrations that do not have prior approval. Penalties for drug offences are severe, including the death penalty. There are restrictions on certain religious activities. For full details on laws and customs, see the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website. 

Economy and finance

• Currency: renminbi (yuan) (RMB)
• Type of economy: a market-orientated economy with a rapidly growing private sector.
• Health of economy: in 2011, China became the world’s largest economy and is the second largest economy in the world after the USA.
• Unemployment rate: 4%
• Main exports: manufactured goods, including textiles, garments, electrical machinery, iron, steel, optical and medical equipment.

Culture

• People: majority Han Chinese (91.5%) but other groups include Zhuang, Tibetan, Manchu, and Mongol.
• Major religion: officially atheist, but religions include Taoist, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim.
• History: see BBC Timeline: China   
• Local etiquette: the British Embassy in China website includes a guide to Business Etiquette in China .

Politics

• Type of government: communist state
• Major political parties: Chinese Communist Party

Travel advice

China is a vast country. Relations with neighbouring countries vary. It is vital to research current conditions in your destination. Find the latest travel advice at Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) .