A long history of education and a vibrant culture make China a hot study abroad destination for students. International students from all over the world are warmly welcomed to study in China. On an average, over 300,000 students from about 180 countries pursue higher education in China every year. Chinese universities offer numerous programs for international students.
- China has the largest population in the world, with over 1.4 billion people.
- China is the 3rd largest country by area at 9,706,961 sq km.
- China belongs to the continent of Asia. Bordering countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Burma, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam.
- There are many different languages spoken in China, including Mandarin, Yue, Wu, Minbei, Minnan, Xiang, Gan and Hakka.
- The capital city is Beijing, while the most populated city is Shanghai. Other major cities include Chongqing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
- 47% of the population lives in urban areas.
- China experiences typhoons every year and also suffers from floods, tsunamis, earthquakes and droughts.
- China has the fourth longest river in the world, the Yangtze River, which reaches 5,797km (3,602 miles) in length. It also has the sixth longest, the Yellow River, stretching 4,667km (2,900 miles).
- China is the second largest economy in the world, after the United States of America.
- In 2003, China became the third country to successfully send a person to space.
- The Great Wall of China is the largest man made structure in the world, stretching an incredible 8,850 kilometres (5,500 miles).
- The famous Giant Panda is found near the Yangtze River in China.
Random Facts About China and the Chinese People
- 100 million people in China live on less than US$1 per day
- China is the world’s biggest exporter
- More than 45 billion chopsticks are being used per year
- A soup that’s made from bird saliva is considered a delicacy – Bird’s nest soup
- The Chinese language is the oldest language still in use in writing in the world
- About four million cats are eaten every year in China as a delicacy
- The Chinese consider number 8 as lucky. The reason for this is because it sounds similar to the Chinese word for “prosperity”
- One-third of the population can’t speak Mandarin, which is the country’s official language
- The color of red is a sign of happiness, and that’s why it’s so frequently used in festival decorations
- China is the largest producer of tomatoes