Fast Facts in China
Population: 1,321,851,888
Capital: Beijing
Time Zone: UTC+8
Currency Name: Yuan (CNY)
Government Type: Communist State
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin, Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects,
Ethnic Breakdown: Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%
Religion: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%
Major Cities: Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai
Phone Country Code: 86
Health Concerns: Rabies, Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), Dengue Fever, Malaria, Cholera
Official Tourism Website: www.cnto.org
High Travel Season: June - September
Voltage: 220 V - 50 Hz
Electrical Plug Type: a, i, g
Major Holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day), January 2 (New Year's Day Holiday), Chinese New Year, April 4-5 (Qing Ming Jie), May 1-3 (Labor Day), July 1 (CPC Founding Day), August 1 (Army Day), October 1-3 (National Day)
Misc Fact / Good to Know: Red is considered a lucky color in China. At one time wedding dresses were red. New Year's banners, clothing, and lucky money envelopes are still red.